Paul Anka – The Longest Day Theme

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Original movie poster for the film The Longest Day.jpg
Original movie poster
Directed by
Produced by Darryl F. Zanuck
Screenplay by
Based on The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan
Starring
Music by Maurice Jarre (score) Paul Anka (theme)
Cinematography
Edited by Samuel E. Beetley
Production company
Darryl F. Zanuck Productions, Inc.
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • September 25, 1962(France, U.S.)
  • October 4, 1962 (Canada)
  • October 23, 1962(Germany, Mexico, UK)
Running time
178 minutes
Country United States
Language
  • English
  • German
  • French
Budget $7.75 million
Box office $50,100,000


The Longest Day
 is a 1962 epic war film based on Cornelius Ryan‘s 1959 book The Longest Day (1959), about the D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944, during World War II. The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, who paid author Ryan $175,000 for the film rights. The screenplay was by Ryan, with additional material written by Romain GaryJames Jones, David Pursall and Jack Seddon. It was directed by Ken Annakin (British and French exteriors), Andrew Marton (American exteriors), and Bernhard Wicki (German scenes). The Longest Day, which was made in black and white, features a large ensemble cast including John WayneKenneth MoreRichard ToddRobert MitchumRichard BurtonSteve ForrestSean ConneryHenry FondaRed ButtonsPeter LawfordEddie AlbertJeffrey HunterStuart WhitmanTom TryonRod SteigerLeo GennGert FröbeIrina DemickBourvilCurt JürgensGeorge SegalRobert WagnerPaul Anka and Arletty. Many of these actors played roles that were essentially cameo appearances. In addition, several cast members – including Fonda, Genn, More, Steiger and Todd – saw action as servicemen during the war; Todd was among the first British officers to land in Normandy in Operation Overlord, and he participated in the assault on Pegasus Bridge. The film employed several Axis and Allied military consultants who had been actual participants on D-Day. Many had their roles re-enacted in the film. These included Günther Blumentritt (a former German general), James M. Gavin (an American general), Frederick Morgan (Deputy Chief of Staff at SHAEF), John Howard (who led the airborne assault on the Pegasus Bridge), Lord Lovat (who commanded the 1st Special Service Brigade), Philippe Kieffer (who led his men in the assault on Ouistreham), Marie-Pierre Kœnig (who commanded the Free French Forces in the invasion), Max Pemsel(a German general), Werner Pluskat (the major who was the first German officer to see the invasion fleet), Josef “Pips” Priller (the hot-headed pilot) and Lucie Rommel (widow of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel). A colorized version of this film was released on VHS in 1994, the 50th anniversary of the invasion. The movie won two Academy Awards and was nominated for three others. The movie is filmed in the style of a docudrama. Beginning in the days leading up to D-Day, it concentrates on events on both sides of the channel, such as the Allies waiting for the break in the poor weather and anticipating the reaction of the Axis forces defending northern France. The film pays particular attention to the decision by Gen. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of SHAEF, to go after reviewing the initial bad-weather reports as well as reports about the divisions within the German High Command as to where an invasion might happen or what the response to it should be. Numerous scenes document the early hours of June 6 when Allied airborne troops were sent in to take key locations inland from the beaches. The French resistance is also shown reacting to the news that an invasion has started. The Longest Day chronicles most of the important events surrounding D-Day, from the British glider missions to secure Pegasus Bridge, the counterattacks launched by American paratroopers scattered around Sainte-Mère-Église, the infiltration and sabotage work conducted by the French resistance and SOE agents to the response by the Wehrmacht to the invasion and the uncertainty of German commanders as to whether it was a feint in preparation for crossings at the Pas de Calais (see Operation Fortitude), where the senior German staff had always assumed it would be. Set-piece scenes include the parachute drop into Sainte-Mère-Église, the advance inshore from the Normandy beaches, the U.S. Ranger Assault Group‘s assault on the Pointe du Hoc, the attack on Ouistreham by Free French Forces and the strafing of the beaches by two lone Luftwaffe pilots. The film concludes with a montage showing various Allied units consolidating their beachheads before they advance inland to reach Germany by crossing France.

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D-Day 75th anniversary: commemorating the Normandy landings

  • Filming ‘the Longest Day’ (1960-1962)

Filming 'the Longest Day' (1960-1962)

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The Longest Day Theme Instrumental

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The Longest Day (From "The Longest Day")

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