The Longest Day (1962)
In 20th Century-Fox studio chief/producer Darryl F.
Zanuck's semi-documentary war epic, with over three dozen international
stars (including John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, Sean Connery,
Rod Steiger, Robert Wagner, Richard Burton, etc.) and three directors
(Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, and Bernhard Wicki):
- the recreation of the Allied invasion of Normandy
Beach (D-Day, June 6, 1944) from five separate invasion points,
with sweeping B/W Cinemascopic views of the assault as the various
Allied troops left their gunships and advanced onto the beachhead
Allied Invasion of Normandy - D-Day
- the spectacular POV sequence of the beach being
hit by strafing gunfire from Luftwaffe planes
- the U.S. Ranger Assault Group's ascent up the 100
foot tall steep cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, in order to take over German
fortifications and artillery
- the counter-attack sequence of US 505th group of infantry
paratroopers parachuting into Sainte-Mère-Église, where
one of the soldiers, Pvt. John Steele (Red Buttons) - who was caught
in a high church steeple, watched in horror as his fellow paratroopers
were gunned down on the ground by the Germans when they landed
Ascent up the 100 Foot Steep Cliffs
Paratrooper Steele Caught in Church Steeple