The Longest Day

The Longest Day is an American war film from 1962 about the Normandy landings. It is the film adaptation of the 1959novel. Writer Cornelius Ryan got $ 175,000 for the film rights to his book. [1]

The film is one of the few movies from the 60 's that is included in black and white . There are established names as Richard Todd (who took part in the real invasion),Robert Mitchum and John Wayne.

The film was a commercial success in cinemas and the proceeds in financial trouble saved the studio 20th Century Fox from bankruptcy.



Content
[hide] *1 Story  ==Story[ Edit] == The film provides a historical overview of the first 24 hours of the landing of Allied troops on d-day in Normandy.  The Longest Day  is set up as a docudrama and here and there also uses footage from World War II. The film shows first how the German and allied forces on both sides of the English channel are preparing for d-day and waiting for the time of the invasion. As the bad weather threatens to throw a spanner in the works, but if there is a short weather improvement occurs gives the opperbevelhebbter of the allies, General Eisenhower the sign that the invasion is about to begin. First, we follow the landing of the British and American paratroopers units and of the troops that are transported in gliders (sailplanes). Highlights include the landing of Americans in St. mere-Ëglise and the robbery of British units on a strategically important bridge. As the day dawns to go the allies land on the beaches. Much attention is paid to free the landing of French troops at Ouistreham, the storming of the rock of Pointe du Hoc by the American Rangers and the massacre on the beach codenamed Omaha, where the 1st and 29th u.s. Infantry Division landed.The film ends with a collage of images in which we see that the allies consolidate the various bridgeheads. ==Division Of Roles[ Edit] == ===Americans[ Edit] === ===British<span class="mw-editsection" len="336" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===French<span class="mw-editsection" len="336" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Germans<span class="mw-editsection" len="337" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Paul Hartmann and Curd Jürgens as field marshal Gerd von Rundstedt and General Günther Blumentritt ==For History<span class="mw-editsection" len="345" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The former war correspondent Cornelius Ryan summed up the idea in the 1950s to write a book about one of crucial days in the second world war, 6 June 1944. On that day the allies landed on the beaches of the coast of Normandy in France, the beginning of the battle of the West of Europe. Ryan interviewed countless soldiers, officers and citizens of the various countries that are active in the day were concerned, las war diaries and official combat reports. He then wrote the text that he shows above all the human aspect of the war. The result was published in 1959 under the title  The Longest day, June 6, 1944: d-day  and was an instant success.
 * 2 Cast
 * 2.1 Americans
 * 2.2 British
 * 2.3 French
 * 2.4 Germans
 * 3 history
 * Scenario 4
 * 5 Actors
 * History or fiction 6
 * 6.1 errors in display historical events
 * 6.2 inaccuracies in vehicles, aircraft and equipment
 * 6.3 inaccuracies in wallpaper, scenery, language
 * 7 Production
 * 7.1 Budget
 * 7.2 Locations
 * 7.3 preparations
 * 7.4 Recordings
 * 8 Versions
 * 9 awards and nominations
 * 10 Sources
 * 11 external links

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Producer Darryl f. Zanuck was very interested in the book because he wanted to make a war film that deviated from the traditional war film from Hollywood. No heroic feats, but the story of the ordinary soldiers and officers. Zanuck negotiated with Ryan and bought the film rights for $ 175,000, while he also hired the writer for the screenplay. Zanuck took a huge financial risk with the film. The total budget would amount to $ 10 million. This was The Longest Day for a long time was the most expensive black and white film ever made. This record was broken in 1993 by Schindler's List.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-TIME-1962-10-19_1-1" len="190" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"> [1]  <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2" len="174" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[2]  to prevent the movie would catch on tried to hire for the Zanuck as many stars different reels, veterans like Robert Mitchum and John Wayne, as well as Teen stars like Fabian and Paul Anka for the young generation of moviegoers. All those stars at the same time the idea of ' ondergroeven ' to see ' The Longest Day ' as docudrama. ==Scenario<span class="mw-editsection" len="337" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Apart from Ryan worked there several screenwriters to the scenario. Romain Gary, James Jones, David Pursall, Jack Seddon and gave all a contribution, while there are also intensively Zanuck interfered. As Zanuck had to each other, and Ryan had to hate co-produent Elmo Williams constantly mediate and keeping the peace between the two men. A large number of military advisers was attracted to the movie and the screenplay as good as possible. Most of these advisers had played a role during the second world war and some are portrayed by actors in the film. On German side were the advisors: Günther Blumentritt (ex-general German Wehrmacht), Max Pemsel (ex-general German Wehrmacht), Werner Pluskat (former Wehrmacht officer). Lucie Rommel (widow of field marshal Rommel) and Josef Priller (pilot at the German luftwaffe). For the French contribution were Philippe Kiefer (ex-captain of the French commands) and Pierre Koenig ex-(Commander free French) consulted, while James Gavin (American General) represented the Americans. The British side of the case was explained by former British General Frederick Morgan, Lord Lovat (Commander British commandos) and John Howard (ex-major British Airborne). ==Actors<span class="mw-editsection" len="336" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Producer Daryl Zanuck wanted to as many stars in the film. He managed to put together a big star cast with actors such as John Wayne, Kenneth More, Richard Todd, Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Rod Steiger, Red Buttons, Leo Genn, Peter Lawford, Gert Fröbe, Irina Demick, Bourvil, Curd Jürgens, Robert Wagner, Paul Anka and Arletty. A large number of them has really only a kind of glorified cameo in the film.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">For the role of the Commander of allied forces in Europe, Dwight Eisenhower, wanted Zanuck Eisenhower itself questions. That did have interest but was now considerably out of date. His new role as president of the United States had taken its toll. The makeup Department made an attempt but soon had to admit that it's not as succeed Eisenhower there convinced to look like his younger self. The role eventually went to Henry Grace, seemed strikingly on Eisenhower. Grace was only not an actor, but involved in the setting up of movie sets. His appearance, however, gave decisive.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">All the stars were given a standard amount of $ 25,000 for their role. The only one tegenmaakte object was John Wayne. John Wayne would play the role of Lt. Col. Ben Vandervoort, the captain of the American paratroopers who had to countries at St. Mère-Eglíse. Charlton Heston was long in the race for this role, but fell off at the last minute when Wayne was contracted. Problem was that John Wayne was now 54, 27 years older than Vandervoort was in 1944. After Wayne had signed his contract, he read an interview with Daryl Zanuck. In it he told the producer that little ophad with actors with their own production company. He gave as an example the movie The Alamo which was produced by Wayne. The film was a financial fiasco been. Wayne kindled in great anger and said to Zanuck that he would play only the role of Vandervoort as he got $ 250,000. The producer went through the knees. Wayne was on set with the neck looked at by most actors. Many of them had during World War II, participated actively in the fighting while Wayne itself according to them had printed and had continued to make movies. Another actor who was too old for his role actually was Robert Ryan. Ryan was 52 and played the role of Maj. Gen. James Gavin who 37 was on d-day. Gavin was one of the youngest generals from World War II and also looked young. Robert Ryan seems totally not on him. This was the case with the much younger Mel Ferrer, who was also in the race for the role.Problems with the movie schedules forced Ferrer the role of Gavin had to let shoot.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">An actor who was virtually unknown even in 1962, was Sean Connery. He played a British soldier who constantly has bad luck. Zanuck was made Connery a terrible actor who looked sloppy and there was barely able to reproduce its text. Not much later Connery breaking with his most famous role, that of James Bond, 007. Actor Richard Todd played the role of major John Howard, the Commander of the British unit that with gliders was argued and the conquered Ornebrug. Todd was in the second world war one of the paratroopers that relieved the unit of Howard. After the war he was actor and got from Zanuck the offer to play himself. Todd, however, wanted a larger role and chose Howard to put down. In the film says an actor against Todd in his role as Howard, that they only have to wait for the reinforcement in the form of the British paratroopers. Todd then replies: "the paratroopers are always too late". This was a private joke by Todd, who in June 1944 arrived at the bridge itself almost too late. The British actor Dirk Bogarde was asked to play the role of British para-chaplain who so desperately to the diving is to his briefcase. Bogarde declined the role. In the film arrives Peter Lawford in his role as Lord Lovat at the Ornebrug. He is accompanied by a bagpipe player. In 1944 was that Bill Millin. Many are convinced that Millin played himself in the movie, but that's not true. That role was fulfilled by major Leslie de Laspee, which in 1961 was the official Piper for the British Royal family.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Roddy McDowall is in ' ' The Longest Day ' ' briefly shows up as an American soldier who lands on the beach codenamed Utah. Actually, he was not even cast, but Dowell was bored stiff in Italy where he was involved in the shooting of the film '' Cleopatra ' '. The shooting continued but be interrupted and he begged Zanuck to a roll. The role of the who to the church tower of St. mere-Eglíse hung, went to Red Buttons, an actor known for his comedic roles. Zanuck caste him after he the actor was encountered in a café in Paris. Among the actors who thanked for a role as an American soldier was Robert Evans. He was dissatisfied with his existence as an actor and wanted to be concentrating on producing. One of the extras that can be seen at the storming of Pointe du Hoc was Joseph Lowe, who in 1944 the same art piece in the really did. Lowe served in 1961 at the 505th Airborne Battle Group, which was offered by the US unit to participate as extras. One of the few female roles in the film is that of the French resistance. Zanuck had already offered the role to Brigitte Bardot and Marina Vlady, but who had no feeling. Not long after the Zanucks eye fell on French actress Irina Demick who not only got the role, but also the mistress of Zanuck was., the only Dutchman in the movie is Arnold Gelderman who plays the role of German soldier and ended up in the water together with Irina Derrick.'' ==History or fiction<span class="mw-editsection" len="348" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Although the film is brought as a docudrama is actually more a restaging of the events that occurred on June 6, 1944 in Normandy. The film generally gives an accurate picture of the invasion, but inevitably there are also errors crept in. Despite the fact that the film takes almost three hours, there is a certain degree of compaction and romanticizing of what was going on during the invasion. In addition, there are just made mistakes in deploying vehicles and equipment or even historical errors are made. The following is a list of large and smaller errors ===Inaccuracies in view historical events<span class="mw-editsection" len="381" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Inaccuracies in vehicles, aircraft and equipment<span class="mw-editsection" len="383" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===Inaccuracies in wallpaper, scenery, language<span class="mw-editsection" len="373" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ==Production<span class="mw-editsection" len="339" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Budget<span class="mw-editsection" len="336" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Making ' ' The Longest Day ' ' would eventually cost $ 10,000,000. This would continue for a long time the most expensive black and white film production. This record was broken only in 1993 by the film Schindler's List. At the time that producer Daryl f. Zanuck wanted to start to the recordings, he heard that the studio 20th Century Fox wanted to go only agreement if Zanuck would work with a fixed budget. The reason for this was that the movie Cleopatra that 20th Century Fox at that time in Italy was recording had gone far beyond his budget. Zanuck accepted the requirement of Fox and when the money ran out, he used his own money to make the movie. However, at some point the studio threatened to pull out the project to pick up. Zanuck flew to New York to ' save ' The Longest Day ' '. He managed all sat the Fox out of sorts that the film cost $ 10 million, especially when it turned out that Cleopatra already had cost 40 million. Eventually it would be  The Longest Day  are that Fox would save the financial ruin. ' ' Cleopatra ' ' end cost 44 million and despite the success in cinemas, could recoup the costs no longer Fox. The success of ' ' The Longest Day ' ' However, Fox saved from destruction. ===Locations<span class="mw-editsection" len="338" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The film was shot in France on Isle of rhé, Saleccia Beach in the Saint-Florent, Haute-Corse, Corsica, and on on Port-en-Bessin-Huppain at Bayeux that also were the prototype for Ouistreham, recordings made on historical places such as Pegasus Bridge (formerly the Orne bridge) at Bénouville, Calvados, the town of Sainte-Mere-Eglise and the rock Pointe du Hoc. The Studios de Boulogne in Boulogne-Billancourt warden used for the indoor images. Commissioned just before Zanuck to film in Corsica was given the producer visit from a man who said that all owners of the Corsican beaches represented. He told the bewildered Zanuck that he wanted $ 15,000 as compensation for the use of the beaches. If Zanuck wouldn't pay than would be faced with the owners who in modern cars would drive on the beaches. Zanuck went through the knees and paid. He Later learned that there were no private beaches in Corsica and that he was scammed. Only after eight years of litigation, Zanuck his money back. ===Preparations<span class="mw-editsection" len="345" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Zanuck could have twenty-two war boats of the American sixth fleet maneuvers held between 21-30 June 1961 at Corsica. During the shooting had to Zanuck make sure that the cameras don't accidentally filmed the fleet aircraft carrier. The u.s. Navy also landing craft (though that actually too modern). In particular, the USS Springfield, and USS Little Rock two light cruisers who still were from World War II were made available.They are clearly visible in the film (and there's not tried to hide the fact that both ships were adapted intensively after the war). Zanuck, who had more soldiers among themselves at some point, than any other Commander from World War II, also had many extras. The us, Britain and France suggested approximately 23,000 soldiers available. These extras often alternately played the role of American, British or German soldier. There were no German soldiers or Extras. France suggested about a thousand French commands available.
 * The Canadian Army on June 6 1944, stormed the beach codenamed Juno Beach and moisture after dapper in Normandy. In the movie is nothing to see of the Canadian landing.
 * Although there are 1700 African-American soldiers participated in the landings on d-day there is no one seen in the movie. This led in 1963 to an indictment of the NAACP roads racial discrimination.
 * As the paratroopers landed, sneaking units in the night by the French countryside. In the background are to hear the sounds of frogs. However, it is the croaking of American frog species. Supposedly at the sound synchronization uses American sound recordings.
 * One of the dramatic highlights of the film was blowing up a part of a huge stone wall at the end of the Omaha Beach. Several soldiers die to this breakthrough. If the wall is inflated flows through it and know the Germans soldiers to expel. In it was real, despite talk of a stone wall on the Omaha Beach, but who was not much higher than a meter and was not intended to be verdedingsmiddel, but intended for the control of erosion. The wall was used as cover by the exhausted survivors. The story of blowing up the zeemuur is so utter crap.
 * Cornelius Ryan also had a mistake. In his book he describes the casino of Ouistreham that was stormed by French troops. There was built a whole set for the shots of Ouistreham, including casino and just at the moment than we wanted to film, discovered one of the researchers was that there is no casino in Ouistreham on June 6, 1944. It was destroyed during the preparations for the verdedeging and replaced by a bunker. Zanuck left however the reality here for what it was and filmed the attack with the casino.
 * During the landing of the paratroopers broke Lt. Col. Ben Vandervoort his ankle. In the film it is suggested that it is a complex fracture. This would mean that blood should be visible and/or the bones sticking out of the wound. Of this is, however, nothing to see. It would further be impossible that someone with a complex fracture could hobble as in the movie can be seen.
 * Landings of paratroopers were always preceded by landings of the so called ' pathfinders ' that the mark had to landingzones, paratroopers. In the movie is to see how British pathfinders accidentally end up in the headquarters of General Von Salmuth, Commander of the Fifteenth army. But that was impossible, Von Salmuths headquarters sat in Pas de Calais. In the really landed the pathfinders in the headquarters of General Reichert, Commander of the 711th Division in Normandy.
 * One of the highlights of the film is the appearance of beach master commander Colin Maude with his Bulldog that urges the British troops to leave the beach soon. In the film however, Maude at the wrong State Beach, a British beach and Juno Beach where Canadians landed. His dog was also not a bulldog, but a German Shepherd. Not more highly-the uniform of Maud, he has the distinguishing signs of a ' captain ' (four stripes) in place of the three stripes of a ' commander '.
 * Very strange is the scene where the French peasant is to be welcomed as the Allied bombardment ship erupts and the farm is affected. The Germans had everyone at the coast cleared away and certainly a farm with views of the sea they would not have spared from fear that someone could send signals to passing ships. In addition it would ship bombardment the farm and all that was in it fully to barrels have shot, if only the shock waves of the farmer and the farmer's wife would ship erupting grenades have killed immediately.
 * At the landings are landing boats of the type LCM-8s. However, this type was built in 1954.
 * In the preparations of the landings, we also see landing boats that are loaded in the hold of a ship. These ships, however, were not present at d-day.
 * At the moment the Allied Navy gears up to shoot at the beaches is a group to see aircraft. The planes that are on display, are Douglas Sky Raiders, which introduced only at the end of 1940s warden.
 * Oberstleutnant Priller and Unteroffizer Wodarczyk flew on 6 June with their Focke Wulf FW 190 to the beaches. Also In the movie is to see this only is it shown the type BF-108 Taifun
 * In the movie is to see how American paratroopers jump from a British Lancaster. But those were bombers. The paratroopers were transported with C-47 Dakotas. Also it can be seen that the jageer at the door of the plane is and shouts "Go! Go! ", after which the paratroopers jump. On d-day was no time for such matters. The first followed the jageer jump, followed by the rest of the paratroopers.
 * American soldiers in the film are equipped with a Thompson machine gun have the wrong ammunition bags and be used for the M1-guns.
 * Pointe-du-Hoc stormed the rangers wore helmets with an orange-coloured on the back and a number of their battalion. In the movies is nothing here to see.
 * The film follows a paratrooper that Schulz, an American soldier among other things get lost after the landing. In the film, the actor that Schulz not the normal ' jump boots ' of the paratroopers but the so called infantry combat shoes. This type of shoe was after June 1944 was general. On d-day the infantry wore field shoes and canvas ankle ligaments.
 * Actor Peter Lawford who played the role of Lord Lovat wears in the film a carbine Mannlicher Schoenauer Model 1903 type. However, always wore an old eccentric Lovat the what Winchester rifle.
 * In the movie is to see an advanced rubber doll named ' Rupert '. Rupert has the appearance of an American para in miniature. In the film, suggests that when Rupert at landing a mechanism would be stated that the sound of rifle and machine gun fire would display and Fireworks to inflammation would come. In reality it was ' Rupert ' more a a padded fabric bag with sand or straw, and had but a vague resemblance to a human body. At the amount of pop, came an explosive destroyed the ignition that pop total to true to prevent the Germans would discover that the dolls were. The sounds of rifle and machine gun fire came from SAS units with the ca. 500 Rupert's were dropped. The SAS soldiers played plates with war sounds, throwing smoke grenades and shot with their own weapons.
 * In the scene in which the ' Rupert's ' be dropped is to see the German air defenses. Prominent in image turns a antiaircraft gun are four walk up and fires into the air. This allows the German Flakvierling for, but which looked very different. In reality, it is the American Maxson M45 Quadmount.
 * In the beginning of the movie is to see a group marching German soldiers. Behind is as the back of the Citroën 2 CV to see. The 2CV was only introduced in 1948..
 * In the film is the German General to see Max Pemsel. The German actor Wolfgang Preiss who plays Premsel says at one point: "Wir haben starke RADAR-störungen". The Germans used the word ' radar ' not yet in 1944. One spoke about "Funkmeßgeräte".
 * In the movie is to see how French resistance fighters sabotage the phone lines of the Germans. We then see a German soldier angry: "Hello, hello!" and not as expected the German: ' Hello, Hello! "

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">At the last minute, John contracted for the role of Lt. Colonel Wayne Vandervoort. Wayne not only demanded a salary of $ 250,000 (against the $ 25,000 that got the rest of the "stars") but also a separate listing on the end credits. All actors were called in alphabetical order, there will be only called Wayne. In revenge for Wayne's requirements set Zanuck apart the name of John Wayne, but at the back. He did this to the requirements of Wayne, but not like these had desired.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">Zanuck was enquiring that the film was historically sound, were looking for town country for suitable aircraft. He came across four Spitfires MK9 used by the Belgian air force were used as training targets, they had the serial numbers MK923 and MK297, MH434 MH415, and were in a neglected state. Under the supervision of the former Spitfirepiloot Pierre Laureys (340 squadron RAF), the aircraft were reequipped with Rolls Roycemotoren and further revised and with the right distinguishing signs. Zanuck also found two Messerschmitt Me-108 traiiningsvliegtuigen which were used by the Spanish air force. Because there is no authentic gliders were two more build by the company that duplicates Zanuck left during the war had built the real gliders. ===Recordings<span class="mw-editsection" len="337" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p lang="en" len="49" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">It employed a total of five directors to the film:

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">A striking feature of the film is that for the first time all the characters speak in their own language, and not, as is usual in Hollywood, only English. During the recording of the landing on Omaha Beach not most Extras wanted to jump into the water because they were afraid that this would be too cold. Actor Robert Mitchum, who played General Norman Cota's role, urged them to this anyway to do by itself as the first to jump in the water. Actor Kenneth More, who plays the role of commander Colin Maud had to during the shots with a shillelagh, a kind of stick that is used as a hand weapon on the hood of a bren carrier store. The shillelagh that he was used by the real Colin Maud used during the invasion and made available by him. Major John Howard donated the helmet he wore on d-day to actor Richard Todd who played him in the film. For the recordings of the shots of the battle around the casino in Ouistreham was a helicopter used by Gilbert, who was flown a Alouette Chomat. The eight-minute recording which was made from the helicopter to see the movie in its entirety is in the shooting of the landing of the American paratroopers in the village of St. mere-Eglise, were made on historical ground. Zanuck left it close to all traffic, the village shops close and the electricity shutdown. However, landing in the night by real paratroopers almost a disaster. Only two paratroopers landed on the little square. Pretty much everyone was injured and one para broke his both legs.Zanuck was startled so of all this crap that all landings from an airplane were deleted and replaced with jumps from a high crane. ==Versions<span class="mw-editsection" len="337" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The length of the movie (178 minutes) ensures that broadcasts on the tv with a quarter can be shortened. Also is circulating a colored version. ==Awards and nominations<span class="mw-editsection" len="351" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p lang="en" len="476" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">In 1962 The Longest Day won the Academy Awards for:<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-awards_3-0" len="181" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[3]
 * Ken Annakin for the British and French outdoor images
 * Andrew Marton for American outdoor images
 * Bernhard Wicki for the German outdoor images
 * Gerd Oswald for the paratroopers landing
 * Darryl f. Zanuck (already gives this to the title role).

<p lang="en" len="19" style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:22.399999618530273px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;">The film won further:
 * Best cinematography (Jean Bourgoin, Walter Wottitz and for 2 x)
 * Best special effects

==Sources<span class="mw-editsection" len="337" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[ Edit<span class="mw-editsection-bracket" len="1" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ==
 * 1962: NBR Award for best film-English language
 * 1963: the Eddie Award for best editing
 * 1963: the David di Donatello Awards for best foreign language film
 * 1963: Golden Globe for best cinematography-black and white
 * 1963: Golden Laurel for Top Action Drama
 * Ken Annakin, "So You want to Be a Director", 2001
 * Rudy Behlmer, "Memo from Daryl f. Zanuck, the golden years at 20th Century Fox, 1995
 * George f. Custen, "Twentieth Century Fox: Daryl f. Zanuck and the culture of Hollywood", 1997
 * Robert Eberwein, "The Hollywood War movie", 2009
 * Jay Hyams, "War movies, 1984
 * Michael Munn, "John Wayne, the man behind the myth", 2005
 * Aubrey Solomon, "Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow filmmakers Series)" 1989.