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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...

All hail Blu-ray 3-D … a format still hanging on as one of the best features of home theater. Budd Boetticher’s trim action meller gives us Van Heflin (good) and Julie Adams (respectable) in a Mexican rebellion mini-epic with a backlot feel but rather good 3-D. The 3-D Film Archive’s experts have optimized the depth effect and included a colorful, very depth-y Woody Woodpecker cartoon. And Boetticher advocate Jeremy Arnold provides the audio commentary.

Wings of the Hawk

3-D Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1953 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 81 min. / available through Kino Lorber / Street Date February 9, 2021 / 29.95

Starring: Van Heflin, Julie Adams, Abbe Lane, George Dolenz, Noah Beery Jr., Rodolfo Acosta, Antonio Moreno, Pedro González González, Paul Fierro, Mario Siletti, Rico Alaníz, Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr., Rosa Turich, Lyle Talbot.

Cinematography: Clifford Stine

Film Editor: Russel Schoengarth

Original Music: Frank Skinner

Written by James E. Moser, Kay Lenard from the novel by Gerald Drayson Adams...

Trucks for victory! No deadheads on this run! Bald Tires for Adolf! Budd Boetticher’s two-fisted teamsters haul General Patton’s supplies through a France not completely cleared of German resistance, a gearshift in one hand and a buxom mam’selle in the other. The movie is not bad, especially in the casting department — it least includes some black troopers to portray a mixed outfit that was more than half black. Red Ball Roughneck roll call: Jeff Chandler, Sidney Poitier, Alex Nicol, Hugh O’Brian, Charles Drake, Bubber Johnson, Davis Roberts. At Ease.

The Red Ball Express

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1952 / B&w / 1:37 flat Academy / 83 min. / Street Date , 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95

Starring: Jeff Chandler, Sidney Poitier, Alex Nicol, Hugh O’Brian, Charles Drake, Jacqueline Duval, Judith Braun, Bubber Johnson, Davis Roberts, Frank Chase, Gregg Palmer, Jack Kelly, Howard Petrie .

Cinematography: Maury Gertsman

Film Editor: Edward Curtiss

Dialogue director: Irvin Berwick...