Today, 81 years after D-Day, one of the most revered war epics ever made is surging in popularity again – and it’s now available to stream on Apple TV and to rent on Amazon Video.
The Longest Day (1962), the sprawling black-and-white retelling of the Allied landings in Normandy, is widely regarded by history buffs and veterans alike as the definitive cinematic account of D-Day.
Clocking in at nearly three hours and boasting a cast of Hollywood legends and real-life war heroes, it’s often cited as more historically accurate than Saving Private Ryan – and still just as powerful today.
“This is an absolute classic war movie,” one reviewer wrote on Rotten Tomatoes, whrre the film boasts an 84% score. “Yes, it is long, but tells about the events of D-Day from all perspectives. Stellar cast.”
The film features a lineup that reads like a roll call of Golden Age heavyweights: John Wayne, Richard Burton, Sean Connery – in his last pre-Bond role -, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, and Rod Steiger, just to name a few.
But the film’s standout moment for many comes with Richard Todd, who portrayed Major John Howard – the very same man Todd fought alongside in real life during the actual mission to capture Pegasus Bridge.
“One thing I didn’t know until recently”, a viewer noted, “is that the part Richard Todd played… he was actually there alongside Major Howard when they took and held the two bridges.”
Released less than two decades after the war ended, The Longest Day was based on Cornelius Ryan’s bestselling book and told in a semi-documentary style. Filmed in France with the cooperation of both Allied and German military advisers, it shows the events of June 6, 1944, from all sides: American, British, German and Free French.
Unlike later war movies that focus on small-unit narratives, this one aimed for global scope and strategic detail – from paratrooper drops and naval bombardments to Hitler’s inaction and civilian involvement. Even today, many military historians consider it a piece of essential cinema.
“While Saving Private Ryan has by far the best action scene of the landings… this old timer still reigns for scope and retelling the story of the Normandy invasion,” wrote another.
Shot in black and white to reflect the tone and footage of the period, the film went on to win two Academy Awards and remains a major piece of war cinema – often shown during military commemorations and educational programming.
The Longest Day (1962) is now streaming on Apple TV and available to rent on Amazon Video.