The Longest Day

The longest day is D Day. We see the Normandy Invasion in interwoven stories of the combatants. Among the numerous characters are prescient Field Marshall Erwin Rommel (Werner Hinz), tough Lt. Col. Vandervoort (John Wayne), Pvt. Flanagan (Sean Connery), Brig. Gen. Cota (Robert Mitchum), Theodore Roosevelt Jr.(Henry Fonda), and unpleasant Flight Officer Campbell (Richard Burton). The film shows the landing on the beaches, and the fighting farther inland where the paratroopers have landed. The plight of the French is well portrayed as their country becomes the battleground. The films shows the fighting from the points of view of both sides, and shows the Allies as taking advantage of the poor preparation of the Germans.