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Sixty-three years after it first hit theaters, The Longest Day is still one of the most impressive war movies ever made — and now it’s free to watch on YouTube (with ads). The 1962 black-and-white epic set out to capture the story of D-Day in a way no one had tried before, showing the invasion not just from the American side, but through the eyes of British, French, and German soldiers as well.

Producer Darryl F. Zanuck, who was already known for putting together huge productions like Tora! Tora! Tora!, was boldly attempting to capture the invasion of Normandy through multiple perspectives: American, British, French, and German. To achieve this, he enlisted three directors — Ken Annakin,...

Let's get this out of the way from the start: John Wayne was a problematic figure, and he is reviled in some quarters for his track record of bigoted views and Commie-bashing during the Red Scare. However, there is little denying that the Duke was a true Hollywood legend and one of the most memorable actors in the history of cinema. Over 45 years since he passed away, Wayne is still one of the first names that spring to mind when we think about Western movies, and rightly so. But he also transcended the genre that made him a superstar, standing alongside the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Mickey Mouse, and Marilyn Monroe as an icon of the 20th Century.

Like many modern viewers, I didn't know a ton about Wayne until quite recently when I started writing about his movies for /Film; as a progressive type, I felt an aversion towards...

Whenever a Hollywood epic gets so drunk on its own cultural importance that it attempts to pre-legitimize itself by casting every available star in town, you can be quite certain that the finished product will be either a terminal bore or a full-blown disaster. Darryl F. Zanuck's "The Longest Day" is very much the former, a 178-minute grind that tries and largely fails to thrust moviegoers into the middle of the D-Day invasion via docudrama techniques; it's often technically impressive, but it quickly turns into a game of spot-the-star, which pulls us straight out of the movie. And then there's 1967's "Casino Royale," a celebrity-studded James Bond parody that feels like watching an exclusive, booze-fueled bash from the house across the street.

There are obvious exceptions, but they come with the caveat of knowingly satirizing Hollywood's insularity (Robert Altman's "The Player") or simply being a hot project that...

Mix of films including Pearl Harbor and Schindler’s List feature on list compiled by War Movie Theatre podcast

Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk has been voted the UK’s favourite second world war film, beating classics such as The Dam Busters and The Bridge on the River Kwai.

The 2017 film, starring Harry Styles, Cillian Murphy and Barry Keoghan, portrays the 1940 evacuation of more than 330,000 Allied troops from the French coast.

Dunkirk (2017)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The Great Escape (1963)

The Dam Busters (1955)

Battle of Britain (1969)

The Longest Day (1962)

A Bridge Too Far (1977)

Pearl Harbor (2001)

Schindler’s List (1993)

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)...

The sun turns into a mute spectator for once. The desert sands shift in the wind. History holds its breath, still trembling in the aftermath of the bloodbath it has just witnessed. A locomotive—a proud symbol of the Ottoman Empire—lies in ruins. Smoke rises from the smoldering tangle of metal and flesh. And then, the camera shifts focus. Amid the war cries of a band of Bedouin warriors, he rises—Thomas Edward Lawrence—in a flowing white robe, his face smeared with soot and dust. His footsteps are deliberate, almost exaggerated, like a king surveying his new dominion. His white robe flutters like a conqueror’s standard. The obstinate warrior is now more than a cog in His Majesty’s army. He has buried his past in the sun’s anvil and emerged as a mythical figure. His gait proves his point. The war-cry of the rifle-brandishing Bedouin warriors reaches a crescendo.

Alright, let’s get this out of the way: Dawson’s Creek was the guilty pleasure of the late ‘90s and early 2000s. It was the TV equivalent of a high school breakup that you never really got over. The angsty love triangles, the tragic back-and-forth between Dawson and Joey, and of course, Pacey – who was just too cool for the entire show.

We were hooked, we were obsessed, and we just knew we’d be watching those familiar faces for years. But like all good things, Dawson’s Creek didn’t last forever. After six seasons, the show wrapped up in 2003, leaving fans asking, “Why, oh why, did you have to pull the plug so soon?”

Joshua Jackson in Dawson’s Creek (1998) | Credit: The WB

Don’t worry; we’re not here to leave you hanging, not like some of the show’s love triangles. So, let’s not waste any more...

Given their long and illustrious careers in acting and filmmaking, it's no surprise that both John Wayne and Henry Fonda starred in quite a number of World War II films. These films vary in quality, with some being great and the others falling short in different ways. That said, it goes without saying that the biggest and best World War II film that Wayne and Ford starred in was The Longest Day.

Based on countless first-person accounts of Operation Overlord (better known as D-Day) that occurred on June 6, 1944, The Longest Day showed how the Allied Forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and brought the fight to Nazi Germany. Wayne and Ford played prominent characters and real-life soldiers in the film, but believe it or not, they weren't even the main attraction.

John Wayne & Henry Fonda Were Two of The Longest Day’s Most Important Characters The Film Cast the Actors...

As one of the most narratively rich and visually impactful genres in cinema, war movies often resonate with viewers through impressive technical design, well-executed action and memorable characters. Moreover, the audience’s engagement through a war film’s complex characters oftentimes heightens the combat elements and the emotional facets. At the same time, the actors who bring these important characters to life do a wonderful job of capturing the narrative’s tone, where many of these stars can refer to similar military experiences.

As one of the most integral and deadly aspects of human history, war demonstrates the harsh realities of humanity and also reveals a sense of duty from the soldiers who aim to fight for a noble cause. In this instance, several Hollywood stars have joined the military, as well as served in war, and upon making the jump to acting, these performers have brought depth to a...

When audiences think of war films, there are certain expectations that come with the genre. Notably, epic battles, heroic soldiers and intense drama. Films like Saving Private Ryan and The Longest Day fit that mold perfectly. They’re about sacrifice, friendship and the bleak realities of war. But The Dirty Dozen took a completely different approach.

Released in 1967, The Dirty Dozen didn’t follow the usual path of praised soldiers and noble bravery. Instead, it focused on twelve convicts sent on a suicide mission. A group of outcasts thrown together for one last chance at redemption. The film mixed dark humor with war action, challenging the clichés that defined other World War II films. By doing so, The Dirty Dozen became an iconic entry in the genre, standing out from the pack of more conventional war films.

The Dirty Dozen Tells a Redemption Story Set in WWII

Set in the months leading up to D-Day,...

Quick Links Robert Mitchum Was a Legendary Actor Mitchum Played an Underrated Role in Tombstone Tombstone Is a Classic Western

A few short years before his death, Robert Mitchum proved that he was still a Western movie star. It was not wholly an atypical move. At the tail end of their career, some legendary actors have taken minor roles in significant movies as they begin to phase out of Hollywood. Some brilliant stars, including John Hurt, Adam West, and Carrie Fisher, each appeared in roles for movies that would only be released after their deaths. The same was true for Mitchum, who appeared in James Dean: Race With Destiny. It was released three months before his death and was a disappointing swan song.

Still, Mitchum managed to secure one last extraordinary role before he passed. Known for starring in Western movies and film noir, the actor earned worldwide renown. He...

While John Wayne had been open about his frustration with having to play the same kinds of characters, his moral compass led him to turn down a different role in a classic war movie. John Wayne movies are a genre of their own, and he was such an immensely popular actor during the "Golden Age of Westerns" that he rarely played anyone other than the straight-shooting and heroic protagonist. Some of John Wayne's personal best roles are in the Western genre, where he got his career break, but he also appeared in some critically acclaimed war movies.

John Wayne's best war movies often reflected the wars around the time of filming, and just as in his Westerns, Wayne usually played the hero. Wayne tended to play patriotic characters in positions of authority in his war movies, like Flying Tigers and The Longest Day, as he was extremely patriotic himself. The...

John Wayne was one of the greatest actors during Hollywood's Golden Age and gained universal recognition for his no-nonsense, tough-guy roles in Western and war films such as True Grit, The Longest Day, and Red River. Born in Winterset, Iowa, Wayne, also known as the Duke, never intended to become an actor, but after an injury lost him his football scholarship at the University of Southern California, he landed a job working as a prop boy for several John Ford productions. In 1939, Wayne delivered his breakthrough role in Ford's iconic Western, Stagecoach, as Ringo the Kid and went on to become one of cinema's most beloved leading men.

A great 1945 war movie called The Story of G.I. Joe led to Robert Mitchum's only Oscar nomination even though the celebrated actor deserved at least one more. Mitchum has starred in some of the best film noirs of all time, such as The Big Sleep (1978), Cape Fear (1962), and The Night of the Hunter (1955). Mitchum was so exceptional in his prime that Roger Ebert called him his favorite movie star. Despite his acclaim, Mitchum was only nominated for one Oscar in his career for 1945's The Story of G.I. Joe.

Mitchum's acting career left a legacy as a classic figure in both film noir movies and Westerns. He starred alongside John Wayne in the Western drama El Dorado (1966) and in the classic war film The Longest Day (1962). He first rose to prominence in 1944's Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo alongside Spencer Tracey and Van Johnson. Because of his overwhelming influence on...

When John Wayne named his personal favorite top five out of the movies he’d starred in, he left out the classic that finally earned him an Academy Award: 1969’s True Grit. Over the course of his legendary, decades-long film career, Wayne starred in some truly great movies. He starred in hits like Big Jake and El Dorado and appeared alongside fellow screen legends in the sprawling ensembles of classic epics like The Longest Day and How the West Was Won.

So, when Wayne was asked to name the best movies he’d starred in, he had a lot of gems to choose from. Wayne co-starred with Jimmy Stewart in the character-driven western drama The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. He made Rio Bravo, one of the greatest hangout movies ever made, as a response to the cowardice displayed by Gary Cooper in High Noon. But surprisingly, when Wayne named his top five,...

Hollywood is full of war movies filled with the gallantry and fiery combat viewers have come to expect with the genre across numerous conflicts throughout history. However, not as many of these films are based on true stories as one might expect, instead taking a historical battle and fabricating a story around it. Whenever a war movie has a real-world basis inspiring it, there is a greater emotional weight in knowing that some version of these events were experienced by actual people. That isn't to say that every war movie based on true stories is necessarily historically accurate, but the heightened verisimilitude still elevates the narrative.

Beyond direct adaptations of historical events and accounts, there are also many war movies inspired by anecdotes from incidents in actual armed conflicts. Though the stories derived from these experiences are largely fictional, there's enough of a real-world basis that grounds the movies in history and genuine emotion.

Sean Connery and Michael Caine co-starred in A Bridge Too Far, a massively underrated war epic that received mixed reviews from critics on its initial release, but deserves a lot more love. Connery is best known for playing James Bond in six official movies (and one unofficial one), but he was a screen legend outside his connection to the role of 007. He starred in a wide range of movies, from the psychological thriller Marnie to the Agatha Christie whodunit Murder on the Orient Express. He worked with such legendary directors as Alfred Hitchcock, Sidney Lumet, and John Huston.

These days, Caine is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Christopher Nolan, having played Alfred Pennyworth in The Dark Knight trilogy and Professor John Brand in Interstellar. Caine played his own iconic spy character, Harry Palmer, across five movies, and starred in such classics as Get Carter, The Italian Job, and Hannah and Her Sisters,...

James Bond is one of the most celebrated characters in the literary and cinematic world alike. The adventures of the suave British spy have entertained audiences for decades. To play the role of James Bond on screen is a highly coveted opportunity among actors. And since the release of the first Bond film, Dr. No in 1962, only six actors have officially played 007 in the Eon Productions franchise. And they will go down in history for having played the icon that is James Bond.

However, the lineup of “actors who have played James Bond” would have looked very different, had things gone differently in some places. Many desperately sought the role; while the number of actors who were offered and almost chosen to play the MI6 agent and decided not to, is not small either.

It will be interesting to look back at the past and see which actors missed out...

Band of Brothers episode 6, "Bastogne", is credited as one of the most powerful and evocative installments in the celebrated miniseries. Centering on medic Eugene Roe as he and Easy Company navigate the ferocious conflict around the titular Belgian town in 1944, the episode is simultaneously a vivid recreation of the physical hardships facing Allied soldiers in the Second World War and a heartbreaking reminder of the emotional cost of conflict. While the episode undoubtedly works in isolation, one of "Bastogne"'s more unexpected legacies is the way in which it corrected a previous cinematic disappointment.

Although "Bastogne" is understandably focused on the specific experiences of Easy Company, a relatively small number of the Allied forces engaged in the wider campaign, the episode remains one of the most successful recreations of a notorious Second World War engagement the Battle of the Bulge. This battle was the last major offensive conducted by German forces on the Western front,...

John Wayne and Robert Mitchum were two of the biggest Western stars of their day, and their eventual team-up in El Dorado was worth the surprisingly long wait. There exists an unofficial Rio Bravo trilogy, with director Howard Hawks and leading man John Wayne making the same movie three times. Rio Bravo is the original and most acclaimed, where Wayne's Sheriff has only a drunken deputy and a cocky young gunfighter to rely on while defending his besieged jailhouse. The film is a classic, with both John Carpenter and Quentin Tarantino labeling it one of their favorites.

Rio Bravo was Wayne's retort to High Noon, with the star detesting the politics of that 1952 Western. Hawks and Wayne liked the basic premise of Rio Bravo so much that they remixed its characters and themes twice more with El Dorado and Rio Lobo. The latter proved to be Hawks' final film, and...

On June 6th, 1944, 160,000 Allied soldiers landed on occupied France via parachute, glider, and watercraft, in order to liberate Western Europe from the Nazis. It is an event that is almost legendary in its scale and consequences, so it is little wonder that filmmakers have visited the subject time and again. From The Longest Day in 1962 to Steven Spielbergs brilliant opening scene in Saving Private Ryan, directors have used the beach landings to show heroism and bravery against harrowing odds. While there certainly were heroes on that terrible day, those stories were not what interested British director Stuart Cooper when he set out to make his own D-Day film, 1975s Overlord. Instead, Cooper delivers a more intimate, grittier, and tragically accurate historical fiction, one that will stay with audiences long after the credits roll.

Few battles in human history have been as viscerally captured on film as the storming of the beaches of Normandy by Allied troops in 1944. Some iconic documentaries come to mind, as well as recreations in classics like Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers (both with the involvement of Steven Spielberg). However, the film depiction of the event that is most effective in translating the scale and intensity of the battle, as well as the inner strategic and political mechanisms of it, remains the 1962 classic, The Longest Day.

Saving Private Ryan has regularly been praised by historians for its accuracy and harrowingly realistic portrayal of the June 6, 1944 D-Day landings at Normandy. Its defining scene, showing the beach landings, is considered one of the most significant war movie scenes of all time and breaks expected war movie clichs. Saving Private Ryan's cast includes Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, and it is considered one of the best D-Day movies ever made. However, it is rivaled by a 1962 John Wayne movie that is, arguably, more realistic.

The Longest Day's cast is an enormous international ensemble, which includes Sean Connery and Henry Fonda. John Wayne plays Benjamin H. Vandervoort: a real soldier who had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel just five days before D-Day. On release, The Longest Day was immediately praised for its thorough covering of the D-Day landing from many different perspectives and the movie went on to win five awards.

An epic romance on Dawsons Creek was between Pacey and Joey and its always exciting to relive their story. Season 1 had viewers thinking Joey and Dawson Leery were meant to be, but in season 3, the series switched things up, bringing Joey (Katie Holmes) and Pacey (Joshua Jackson) together. It changed the course of the show not only with Joey and Dawsons relationship but also with Pacey and Dawsons friendship.

Most of Joey and Paceys love story in Dawson's Creek is in seasons 3 and 4, but there are a handful of episodes in other seasons that allow glimpses of their relationship. There are many stories that happen throughout seasons 3 and 4, but focusing on these episodes can help fans relive them falling in love and their season-long relationship.

Episode Title

Episode Number

Double Date

Season 1, Episode 10

"Four To Tango"

Season 3, Episode 9

"Weekend In The Country"

Season 3, Episode 12

Crime & Punishment

Season 3, Episode 15

"Neverland...

John Wayne was a humbled man early in the 1960s. His passion project, "The Alamo," had fallen well short of box office expectations in 1961. An epic Western about the siege of the basement-less San Antonio mission, Wayne directed the film and took its failure personally. He didn't need a hit; even at his lowest point in the 1970s, a Wayne picture at a certain budget level was an automatic greenlight. Still, Wayne was a prideful man who actively tended to his legacy; he was mindful of his fan base, and sought their approval. So Wayne came charging out of his corner in 1962, and knocked out every last naysayer with Howard Hawks' "Hatari!," "How the West Was Won," "The Longest Day" and John Ford's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance."

The Ford movie could've been Wayne's Western swan song, but a rifle-toting Wayne astride a horse still held commercial appeal,...

The Longest Day boasts one of the most iconic war movie ensembles ever assembled, rivaling even modern blockbusters like Saving Private Ryan. Featuring a star-studded cast with international talent, this 1962 film captures the intensity and historical significance of the D-Day landings. The camaraderie and talent displayed in The Longest Day's cast is a cinematic achievement that may never be replicated in today's film industry.

John Wayne's classic war movie The Longest Day still has one of the most war movie ensembles ever assembled. The Longest Day is often considered one of the greatest war movies about D-Day ever made and is right up there with other World War II classics such as Saving Private Ryan (1998). At 2 hours and 58 minutes long, The Longest Day offers a phenomenal depiction of the infamous D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944, a day that will always be remembered in American history.

While The...

High budgets don't always make great war films, but when paired with artistry and talent, they can result in visually stunning masterpieces. The Longest Day, with a large budget of $10 million for its time, was monumental in depicting the D-Day invasion, boasting an ensemble cast and historical accuracy. Dunkirk's portrayal of the evacuation of Allied soldiers during WWII set a new standard in war films, with compelling cinematography and a focus on realism.

Many war movies have spent tens of millions of dollars on visually spectacular productions to capture the excessive brutality of warfare. While inflation and uncertain production costs mean it's not always easy to quantify the most expensive movies ever made; several war films stood out among the rest as being particularly costly when it came to their budgets. The most expensive war movies ever represented the full spectrum of Hollywood filmmaking as they included releases by...

Great movies usually have stellar ensemble casts; successful directors often gather big-name stars to attract viewers. Key films like "The Deer Hunter" and "The Longest Day" thrived due to exceptional casts, not necessarily with an abundance of actors. Event cinema delights audiences with star-studded ensemble casts; efforts like "Marvel's Avengers: Endgame" and "Barbie" exemplify this trend. (138)

Some of the greatest, most popular movies of all time also included a few of the most impressive ensemble casts of all time. Casting is a hugely important part of the filmmaking process, especially in an age where it's so much of what audiences care about. As such, it's not unsurprising that the best directors will often try to assemble a cast of as many big-name stars as possible to draw attention to the movie.

While sometimes these stars are up-and-coming and taking part in a movie alongside already established A-listers, or it's a...

Breakthrough was praised for its realistic portrayal of D-Day and the brutalities of war. The film featured actual American and British military films along with real-life WWII footage. Breakthrough was profitable at the box office, earning over $3 million against a $784,000 budget.

A classic 1950 war movie called Breakthrough was the first great film about D-Day. After World War II ended on September 2, 1945, several WWII films about D-Day were released soon after, particularly in the year 1950. D-Day took place on June 6 1944 and is widely regarded as one of the most significant days in American military history. According to BBC, "D-Day was the largest military seaborne operation ever attempted and marked the start of the campaign to liberate Nazi-occupied north-west Europe." Breakthrough is not currently available to stream but physical copies can be purchased online.

Breakthrough stars David Brian as Captain Tom Hale, John Agar as Lt. Joe Mallory, and Frank Lovejoy as Sgt.

Academy Award-winning actor Brendan Fraser has been tapped to star as Dwight D. Eisenhower in the new film, Pressure, which is being billed as a "ticking-clock drama" that will tell the true story of the days leading up to the Normandy landings in 1944. Before serving as the 34th President of the United States, Eisenhower was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe, who supervised the invasion of Normandy (codenamed Operation Overlord), which lasted for nearly three months and resulted in a victory for the Allies.

Per Deadline, Fraser joins the previously announced Andrew Scott, who will portray Group Captain James Stagg, the Allies Chief Meteorologist who played a key role in the Normandy victory, informing Eisenhower of the weather conditions that led to its success. Pressure is to be directed by Anthony Maras (Hotel Mumbai), with filming expected to begin in September in the UK. Check out...

The Longest Day is an epic portrayal of the D-Day landings from American, British, French, and German perspectives. A star-studded cast including John Wayne, Sean Connery, and Henry Fonda brought the historic event to life. Directed by three filmmakers, the film balances historical accuracy with personal accounts for a captivating experience.

John Wayne, Sean Connery, and Henry Fonda headlined an all-star ensemble cast in The Longest Day, one of the greatest cinematic portrayals of the D-Day landings. The Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Since then, filmmakers have been trying to recreate the visceral terror of D-Day on the big screen. The D-Day landings were chronicled in Budd Boettichers Red Ball Express in 1952, Arthur Hillers The Americanization of Emily in 1964, Samuel Fullers The Big Red One in 1980, and, of course, Steven Spielbergs Saving Private Ryan in 1998.

But those movies usually depict the Normandy...

Revisionist war films rip the shiny veneer off war, showing the grit, the moral ambiguity, and the devastating cost of war. Tora! Tora! Tora!, arguably one of the best World War II films for its exploration of multiple sides in the Japanese attack on America's Pearl Harbor, had a challenging production, including a fatal accident on set. As per the Telegraph, then 20th Century Fox's chairman Darryl Zanuck, wanted to make the most authentic epic film about the attack, making a movie that gave both the American and the Japanese perspective of the conflict. Together with his son Richard Zanuck (then Fox's CEO) and his trusted collaborator, producer Elmo Williams (The Longest Day), they set up two production teams in the US and Japan, with each team providing the respective country's version of these events.

The Longest Day accurately showcases the collaboration required on D-Day, highlighting different tasks and roles during the invasion. The movie features real-life figures and accurately portrays the complexities of communication and planning on D-Day. Historian Dan Snow's assessment of The Longest Day emphasizes the importance of accurate historical representation in war movies.

John Waynes 1962 war movie The Longest Day is assessed by historian Dan Snow. Following Allied and German forces, The Longest Day portrays real-life figures who invaded and fought on the beaches of Normandy during World War II. Praised for its depiction of D-Day, the Oscar-nominated movie is often considered among the most realistic in that category. Along with Wayne, who portrayed Benjamin H. Vandervoort, the cast includes Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Eddie Albert, Richard Burton, Rod Steiger, and more.

In a recent video for History Hit, Snow looked at scenes from The Longest Day, including...

Overlord, released in 1975, is a highly accurate D-Day movie, using real footage and diaries for authenticity. Overlord was lauded by critics for its unique approach, blending newsreel and fiction for a powerful impact. While Saving Private Ryan is celebrated, Overlord's realistic portrayal of D-Day events sets it apart in accuracy.

Steven Spielberg's 1998 war movie Saving Private Ryan is often hailed as one of the most unflinching and brutally realistic war movies ever made, yet it is not actually the most accurate depiction of the D-Day landings. The movie's notorious opening sequence remains a watershed moment in movie history, highlighting the grim reality faced by the soldiers on Omaha beach. Stories of combat veterans rendered unable to watch the film due to its powerfully evocative content are well documented. As a result, it's somewhat surprising to consider that another film brings D-Day to life more effectively.

Saving Private Ryan is...

Exclusive: In the week the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of the historic Normandy Landings — and President Biden touches down in France on a state visit timed to the celebrations — we can reveal that European major Studiocanal is teaming up with Darkest Hour producer Working Title on timely D-Day movie Pressure.

The film will chart the extraordinary true story of the pressure-cooker environment facing the decision-makers behind D-Day, and how their liberation of Europe was entirely at the mercy of the weather.

The story will hone in on Group Captain James Stagg, Chief Meteorologist at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expedition Force, whose job it was to inform General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces, of weather conditions that would make-or-break the Allied invasion.

Despite a prolonged heat wave and the tide and moon conditions aligning, Stagg made a bold case for the invasion being delayed from June...

Several top stars put their careers on hold and their lives on the line to serve during World War II including Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable, Henry Fonda, Robert Taylor, Alan Ladd, William Holden, Robert Ryan and Robert Montgomery. And numerous young men who weren’t yet actors during the global conflict including Lee Marvin and Charles Durning saw action and suffered severe injuries.

With the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which was the largest amphibious invasion in military history with five naval assault divisions invading the beaches of Normandy, France, on June 6, let’s look at some actors who participated in the massive operation.

Charles Durning

The versatile character actor, who earned supporting actor Oscar nominations for 1982’s “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and 1983’s “To Be or Not to Be” and nine Emmy nominations, was just 21 when he was one of the first group of soldiers to land and...

John Wayne, who died of cancer in 1979, wasn't really known for his gentleness or commitment to open-minded, multicultural thinking. Every few years, the internet rediscovers Wayne's infamously racist, misogynist 1971 Playboy Magazine interview, and are offended afresh. He used the three-letter F-word to describe the characters in "Midnight Cowboy," calling it "perverted," before actually saying out loud  "I believe in white supremacy." He also ranted about how in the heyday of his career, there were more white people in movies. 

This interview didn't really expose anything the public didn't already know about Wayne, a man who used antisemitic slurs when talking to Richard Nixon, and who allegedly tried to storm the stage at the 1973 Academy Awards to interrupt Sacheen Littlefeather's speech about how Westerns hurt the public's perception of Native Americans. One can only imagine what Wayne would have thought of Haysi Fantayzee's bawdy 1982 single "John Wayne is Big Leggy.

The 1962 war epic "The Longest Day" starred the infamously brusque John Wayne as Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin H. Vandervoort, a real-life American soldier who was present for the titular "day," aka D-Day. Wayne was 55 at the time of filming, however, making him a full 28 years older than Vandervoort was on June 6, 1944. Wayne was still a major star, though, so the filmmakers simply had to ignore the massive age gap.

The studios also had to begrudgingly pay Wayne a massive $250,000 for his work, which was 10 times larger than most of the film's other stars. It seems that Wayne sought such a high salary not because of greed or ego, but out of spite. Wayne, you see, had a beef with 20th Century Fox executive Daryl F. Zanuck, and the actor wanted to actively butt heads with the CEO. It wasn't that Wayne wanted the money, he just wanted to make sure that Zanuck didn't have it.

The Birth of a Nation, while a groundbreaking film, is extremely racist and, obviously, does not hold up today. Director D.W. Griffith's controversial work set new standards for cinema despite ethical concerns. Thomas Dixon Jr., a white supremacist, shaped his political beliefs into novels and films, including the first-ever movie sequel.

The movie sequel has become Hollywood's bread and butter. When a movie catches the public's attention and brings in money, studios have ample reason to try to head back to the well, and that continues to be the case in 2024. While this approach does not always work out, with some truly terrible sequels, it is still considered normal practice within an industry always looking to turn a profit and find the next big franchise. But what was the first movie sequel? Well, that honor goes to The Fall of the Nation (1916), a follow-up to the highly successful The Birth of a Nation (1915).

However,...

Since classic Hollywood productions like The Longest Day, the Second World War has served as an inspiration for some of cinema's greatest stories. The 2010s and up house some brilliant films set during the war, everything from biopics of key figures to adventurous superhero stories. These films even represent some of the best of their decade, as well as some of the greatest examinations of war since the beginning of cinema.

World War II makes for a surprisingly versatile setting, with genres from romance and drama to horror and science fiction finding a home in the conflict. Thanks to the inclusion of some visionary directors, the last decade has raised the bar for what a good WW2 movie can be. Not every war movie needs to focus on combat, though it's great when they do, and dramatic takes on the Second World War are every bit as interesting as explorations of key battles.

Adherence to historical accuracy is crucial in war movies to create a compelling and immersive experience for viewers. Military historians praise films like "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Longest Day" for their realistic portrayal of combat events. Movies like "Dunkirk" and "Das Boot" utilize practical effects and authentic training to ensure historical authenticity.

War movies are often judged by their adherence to historical fact, and authenticity can make a war movie feel much more compelling and immersive. Few conflicts receive as much attention in the war genre as World War II. The global scale of the conflict and the extreme violence of the combat surpassed anything that came before it, and there are countless fascinating stories from across the globe waiting to be given the big-screen treatment. Whether World War II movies focus on the Pacific Theater, the European campaign or the home front, they should all commit to historical accuracy.

John Wayne's career extended beyond Western films, with a notable focus on war movies aligning with the wars of his time. Some war films had political agendas, controversies, while others earned awards and acclaim, despite some box office flops. Key war movies in Wayne's repertoire include Operation Pacific, Sands of Iwo Jima, and The Longest Day, each with unique strengths and legacies.

Actor John Wayne has gone down in history as an icon of the Western genre, however, The Duke was known for more than just his cowboy movies, and in fact, Wayne made a number of popular war movies. Though Wayne's career started all the way back in the 1920s as a prop boy and extra, he had his breakthrough in the 1940s and 1950s. In that time, Wayne starred in many Western movies, but his war movie career began as well. Wayne's war movies typically aligned with the wars of the time,...

Sci-fi actioner "Edge of Tomorrow" mashed up the repeating time loop of the classic "Groundhog Day" with the World War II epic "The Longest Day," wherein Private Cage (Tom Cruise) repeatedly relives and dies in a doomed military operation against unstoppable alien creatures called Mimics. The film delivers a relentless barrage of action and twists as Cage learns from his experiences and becomes a better man as a result. The film's tagline, "Live Die Repeat," could just as well have been "Saving Private Cage."

Like most blockbusters, "Edge of Tomorrow" demanded a meticulous fusion of practical and visual effects to depict this near-future world in all its gritty grandeur. What's surprising is where effects were employed and for what purposes. Watching the film, you know the Mimics are visual effects, because how could they not be. But you have no clue that shots of actors walking through a military base...

Warfare has formed the basis of some of Hollywood's greatest stories, from The Longest Day to the upcoming aviation show, Masters of the Air. One of the most persistent tragedies in the history of humanity, war has a habit of demoralizing nations, destroying societies, and breaking spirits. However, through the conflict and pain, heroes do emerge, and later generations can learn from their forebears' mistakes.

War movies have made for some of the most powerful and thought-provoking stories in the realm of both fact and fiction, and even fabricated events can speak some truth. The genre has been explored by some of cinema's most influential directors, writers, and actors, from ensemble epics to smaller tales of heroism and violence. These movies continue to earn praise from critics and viewers alike for their representation of some of the darkest hours in human history.

Apocalypse Now Showcases The Heart Of The Vietnam...

The action scenes in war movies are essential for satisfying audiences and can make or break the overall experience, regardless of the accuracy of the story. Saving Private Ryan stands out for its highly realistic action sequences, especially the jarring and gory depiction of the D-Day invasion on the beaches of Normandy. Other movies like Zero Dark Thirty, All Quiet on the Western Front, Hacksaw Ridge, and Lone Survivor also excel in crafting highly realistic and accurate action scenes that capture the harsh reality of war.

Not every war movie has realistic action scenes, some movies in the genre stand out for doing an excellent job of crafting highly realistic action sequences. War movies vary in terms of their commitment to creating the most realistic portrayal of war possible, and some movies that tell highly fictionalized stories can still have realistic action scenes. The reverse is also true, with many...

Quicker Review Of Salaar (Picture Credit: Facebook)

The D-Day is finally here as one of the most highly-anticipated Indian films, Salaar, has released in theatres. The film has been in the making for almost three years, and the excitement of watching Prabhas in the cinematic world of Prashanth Neel has been at its peak all these days. So, is this long wait worth all the hype? Let me share my experience of watching the film’s first half!

So, I am watching the first-day first show of the film at 7 am, and surprisingly, the theatre is almost 40% full, which clearly shows the film’s buzz on the ground. With the loaded atmosphere in a theatre, we’re straightaway introduced to the dark world of director Prashanth Neel.

From the first frame itself, Neel impactfully shows a strong bond of friendship between Deva and Varadha. Prabhas as Deva is the mass...

Throughout its more than a century-long existence, Hollywood has turned to patriotic stories to bring audiences together. These stories highlight some impressive feats of American history, historic figures and the spirit of the country. Everything from sci-fi epics to historic dramas have proven to be great vehicles for telling these moving, inspirational stories of unity, hope and perseverance.

Patriotic movies do a great job of impressing audiences, often earning impressive sums at the box office. These movies have especially great word of mouth support, especially when related to significant events in American history. When combined with equally popular tropes like a solid underdog story, these films go the extra mile in pleasing audiences, some of whom make traditions out of watching them.

Related: Great Movies That Have The Same Plot

American Sniper

Directed by Clint Eastwood, American Sniper told the story of famed sniper Chris Kyle during his deployments to Iraq.

Spoiler Alert: The following review contains mild spoilers.

Taking a cue from the movie’s soon-to-be-infamous spanking scene between Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, someone ought to paddle whoever let Martin Scorsese take three and a half hours to retell “Killers of the Flower Moon.” You could read David Grann’s page-turner — about an audacious 1920s conspiracy to steal resources from the Osage people by murder — in less time, and you’d learn a whole lot more about how J. Edgar Hoover and the newly formed FBI used this case to establish their place in American law enforcement.

Granted, this is cinema legend Martin Scorsese we’re talking about. For years, he fought studio execs telling him what to cut, going head-to-head with Harvey Weinstein on “Gangs of New York” (a movie that probably would’ve been better longer). Now he’s earned the right to tell stories as he sees fit.

Marion Robert Morrison, more commonly known as John Wayne or ‘The Duke,’ left a lasting imprint on American cinema. His career spanned five decades, during which time he starred in 179 films and delivered countless illustrious performances.

He rose to fame with his starring role as Ringo Kid in the 1939 classic ‘Stagecoach,’ and would go on to play characters like Ethan Edwards in Ford’s 1956 ‘The Searchers’ – cementing his place in American film history.

In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best John Wayne movies, which capture the actor’s undeniable talent and unforgotten legacy. From westerns like ‘True Grit’ (1969) to war films like ‘The Longest Day’ (1962), Wayne left an indelible mark on our collective culture.

The Highest-Rated John Wayne Films on IMDb ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’ (1962) – 8.1/10 ‘Rio Bravo’ (1959) – 8/10 ‘The Searchers’ (1956) – 7.9/10 ‘Stagecoach’ (1939) – 7.8/10 ‘Red River’ (1948) – 7.8/10 ‘The Longest Day’ (1962) – 7.7/10 ‘The Quiet Man’ (1952) – 7.7/10 ‘The Shootist...

“Mobile 101, a Nokia Story,” a series about the dramatic rise and fall of the Finnish phone company, has been acquired by Disney+ and Walter Presents in multiple territories. The series was produced by Finland’s Rabbit Films and is represented in international markets by the outfit.

The six-part series, which sheds light on how a small Finnish company specializing in rubber boots became the world’s biggest mobile manufacturer at the turn of the 21st century, has been picked by Disney+ Italy, Netherlands and Belgium. Walter Presents, meanwhile, bought it for the UK & Ireland. Ruv Iceland has also acquired season one of the series.

“Mobile 101” was originally commissioned by Finnish broadcaster MTV3 Finland and streamer CMore for Sweden, Denmark and Norway. It premiered in 2022 to both critical and commercial acclaim.

Directed and written by Maarit Lalli, the series zooms in on how Nokia switched from rubber boots to...

It was an epic night for the Academy, with now-classic films and performances in competition, an anomaly between Best Picture and Best Director nominations, a young actress redefining the acting categories and the culmination of a decades-long feud. Let’s flashback to when first-time host Frank Sinatra guided the 35th Academy Awards ceremony on April 8, 1963.

In the years of the Best Picture category being limited to five films, the Best Director category typically fell in line with those productions, with maybe one variation. In 1963, only two directors from Best Picture nominees received bids; unsurprisingly, those two films also had the most nominations and the most wins. David Lean‘s sprawling epic biopic “Lawrence of Arabia” led the pack, coming into the night with ten bids and leaving with seven statues, including Best Picture and Lean’s second career win for Best Director. It has the unusual distinction of being the...