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You know the other nonarticulated part was when the Catering Truck during the Movie had Tacos served for Lunch... They Didn't have Tacos at D Day... it's a Movie .. so fucking stupid...
When discussing actors from The Longest Day who had military experience, you left out Eddie Albert. Famous for his role in Green Acres, Albert played Colonel Lloyd Thompson, a staff officer of the 29th Infantry Division who was killed on Omaha Beach. Mr. Albert was a Naval Reserve officer who commanded a Higgins Boat (a plywood landing craft) at Tarawa in the Pacific. The landing didn't reckon with fickle tides at Tarawa. A number of Marines there were stuck in neck-deep water hundreds of yards from shore and taking enemy fire. Albert picked up a number of them and took them in. When his craft was partially disabled, he directed other boats to pick up stranded Marines, while he used his boat to shield them from continuing enemy fire. He did this in violation of his orders. He was principally responsible for saving over 70 Marines. For this he received the Bronze Star (should have been a Navy Cross or higher IMO).
As both a history buff and pilot, my favorite scene has long been the glider assault on Pegasus Bridge. The depiction is as true-to-life as humanly possible. Even with the cinematic limitations of the time, that scene is nothing short of breathtaking. What a tribute to the selfless heroes who actually carried it out!
Did you know that the actor Richard Todd was an officer in the Parachute Regiment that re enforced Major Howard at the Orne River bridge and the Para Regiment officer standing next to Major Howard as Lord Lovard commando's was in real life Richard Todd
I'm 73 and have seen many movies on WWII and other subjects. I try not to over think a movie and only watch to see a good story that entertains me. This movie more than meets that criteria. If I want factual history I'll read a book on the subject. This is one of my favorite movies and I watch it at least once a year. Everything about it was so well done it puts most other movies to shame.
I totally agree! I never bought the Wayne character in the film. A better casting would have been James Coburn, or Lee Marvin. Wayne's build was more Mech Infantry, but no way airborne. Still, I'm sure he was a major box office draw to an other wise excellent project, that deserved to be paid. The great battle was the tipping point of WWII. Failure, and Hitler retains all Europe, and threatens the US and Canada as next in the hopper. Again, never has so much been owed to so few.
Believe it or not a lot of young Brits who have seen Band of Brothers and Saving Ryan’s Privates don’t realise there were actually British troops at D Day. Of course we all know that they made up over 70% with troops, landing craft and Royal Navy crews as well as Aircrew including the famous Dambusters squadron who all through the night flew a circular flight dropping window (aluminium foil) so that the German radar picked up a false armada heading for Calais. DID YOU ALSO MENTION THE ACTOR MICHAEL TODD WHO WAS ACTUALLY AT THE PEGASUS BRIDGE ON D DAY AND PLAYED HIS COMMANDING OFFICER IN THE FILM. ( HOLD UNTIL RELIVED)
Um, no. The Longest Day DOES NOT have any color segments at all. Not its 1962 original edition and any colorized version that you may have seen is a "colorized" version that altered the original movie. And, until Steven Spielberg made Schindler's List, The Longest Day was the most expensive black and white movie in Hollywood history.
there were no colour/Black and white segments in the theatre version in 1962, the actors spoke in their own languages with subtitles as required. If you think John Wayne was too old for the person he portrayed then Robert RyN was wat too old for the part of General James Gavin.
Edward Albert Heimberger or Eddie Albert served in the United States Coast Guard and was discharged in 1943 to accept an appointment as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for his actions during the invasion of Tarawa in November 1943, when, as the coxswain of a US Navy landing craft, he rescued 47 Marines who were stranded offshore (and supervised the rescue of 30 others), while under heavy enemy machine-gun fire. Mr Albert was a true US Military Hero. Semper Fi
Albert would have likely been a USCG enlisted Boatswain Mate in 1943. They served as small boat coxswains during landings because of their heavy surf and shallow water training with the Coast Guard. He likely afterwards mustanged over to Navy in 1943 to serve as a Reserve LT. I am a retired USCGR LT who mustanged thru the ranks.....first as a Boatswain , then later as an officer.
Richard Todd is worth checking. During the British paratroops operation he met Major John Howard on the bridge and was involved in helping to repulse counter-attacks by the German forces in the area. Five days after D-Day, while still in the bridge defence area, he was promoted to captain. Richard Todd later played Howard in the 1962 film The Longest Day, recreating these events. He is also famous for playing Guy Gibson leader of 617 squadron in The Dambusters.
@@eurogael Todd was one of the Para officers who actually landed with reinforcements for Howard’s force…why would he need to borrow Howard’s beret for the film when he had his own one??
"The Longest Day" is one of my favorite all-time films. John Wayne's portrayal of Lt. Colonel Vandervoot does nothing to disturb my enjoyment of this classic. I fully realize that in movies like this, producers take license to ensure that they will get enough "buts in the seats" to make as certain as possible a successful first-run motion picture.
John Wayne may have been too old for the part, but when he saw the paratroopers dangling from their parachutes, his expression and reaction convinced me.
@@donyoung1384 John Wayne was a terrible actor. He only got his big break because so many US stars volunteered to serve in the US forces during WW2, Henry Fonda, Clarke Gable, Jimmy Stewart, even a 50 year old John Ford volunteered, they should be feted for action men. Whilst pretend action man Wayne refused, so the studios were forced to use him as there was nobody else. I watched the longest day again over the D-Day anniversary, Wayne was as dreadful as ever. He made a reasonable cowboy in which he could play John Wayne on a horse, but in any movie that required him not to play John Wayne on a horse, awful. Watch "the Conqueror" where John Wayne plays Genghis Khan - with a US accent, or the Quiet man - where he plays an Irishman - with a US accent, and so forth.
@@philldavies7940 I agree that in The Conquerer he was “pants!” He made some decent westerns. And I know he didn’t join up in WW2, but a large part of that was the Studio Execs, panicking because they thought they would lose all their remaining leading men. Having said that, I know he was too old for the part in “The Longest Day” but when he saw the Paras dangling in the air, in the town centre, his expression and rage, convinced me! That’s what I said previously, and I stand by it! If you don’t like it, I’m sorry, but frankly, who gives a damn? Not me!
A good many of the actors in The Longest Day served in WW2 and some were at D-Day. Actor Richard Todd was at Pegasus Bridge, and instead of playing himself he played Major John Howard the commanding officer.
Well..yes, but only later that morning... He was not part of the Coup de Main Glider party that took the bridges...(from the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry) ... he was in HQ Platoon of the relieving force from 8 Para. In the movie he wore his own red beret, the one he had worn on D-Day. THAT is just marvellous!
Richard Todd said his real life role if he had played it himself would have been too small and insignificant a part in the film. There was a scene at Pegasus bridge where a soldier hands major Howard a cup of tea. The actor handing major Howard a cup of tea was playing the part of RichardTodd during the battle.
People forget that Hollywood often interfers with actual accuracy in historical representation, adding stars for box office draw, because the idea is to profit first with movie making. Casting John Wayne as a familiar face made sense.
The scene in which Van der Voort & his men arrive to see the aftermath of the ill fated jump into St. Mare Eglise is extremely well done. The close-up on John Wayne's face expresses the absolute horror of how those paratroopers were massacred & their bodies left dangling on parachute lines. Gripping.
@@riverbluevert7814 Thank you. having made 29 drops with the 82nd when I saw the paratroopers dying I screamed in horror. I was on a live drop one night on our way to stop a coup in Panama. I was number 2 out the door just behind our platoon leader. luckily the coup was stopped before we dropped and we returned home safely. . The coup never made the papers. I was just 18. I remember accepting my death when I was assigned to be in the paratrooper infantry unit. For me there was no other way to handle the stress of knowing any day we could be killed. I thank God I never went to combat. how ever at 70 I have the skeleton structure of a 110 -120 year old and in constant pain. . Let us never forget the sacrifices our vets have made for our freedoms.
Eddie Albert was in this great movie. He received a bronze star for his heroic duty at Tarawa. He was a Coxswain of a US Navy landing craft that rescued 47 marines while under heave machine gun fire.
Glad that Mr. Albert got his due. A genuine national hero, and it is a wonder that he survived the Tarawa campaign at all given the incredible bravery and determination of keeping a slow moving craft in harm's way in order to rescue all those wounded men. Now that, my friend, is some TRUE grit!
I liked Eddie Albert portraying a less than honorable roll in this film and in Attack with Lee Marvin. A war hero that was unafraid to take rolls that uninformed people might think is his true self.
Richard Todd (for you Yanks,) was a British film star who played the Commander - Major John Howard at Pegasus Bridge, actually FOUGHT at Pegasus Bridge (as a young Lieutenant on D-Day.) He didn’t need any coaching on how soldiers behaved!
The scene when the paras arrive at the bridge sees Todd, playing Major Howard, meeting a young officer played by an uncredited actor who is playing the real Richard Todd. Art imitating life imitating art 🤔😄
The film is historically very accurate. The practice of using established big name actors who are older than actual service personnel involved in wars is a common feature of all film and television productions. One part of the film that gets this right is when a landing craft is approaching the beach and the young British officer says 'Remember Dunkirk'. Flanagan, the character played by Sean Connery, says 'D'ya hear that? Dunkirk he a says. To be sure he was still in school at the time.'
Same with The Great Escape, well over the average age. Donald Pleasance had been a P.O.W. in a Luftwaffe Stalag in real life, 20 years before the film was made.
The heroes at Dunkirk were the French soldiers that stayed behind to give the the rest the time to leave and the people who used their personal boats to help in the evacuation. Using a famous retreat as a rallying cry is a bit unusual.
@@carlreed6186 I agree that the French rearguard were crucial to the evacuation of the British and French soldiers. Churchill said: “We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations.”
@@percyprune7548 My mother's cousin Geoffrey Cornish was an Australian bomber pilot, the sole survivor of a crew shot down over Germany and was held in Stalag Luft III. His brother had been a bomber pilot shot down and killed over Milne Bay New Guinea. Geoff was supposed to go out in the escape but had been a medical student and so was the closest thing to a doctor they had in the camp, and his place was given to another man who was among the fifty executed. He felt survivor's guilt ever after. When the Americans liberated the camp Geoff was taken to Dachau concentration camp to assist in triaging the inmates. He told his daughter it was the worst two and a half days of his life. He became a well known cardiologist after he returned to Australia.
Wasn't Richard Todd actually one of the British paratroopers who helped secure the Pegasus Bridge and actually portray his commanding officer - and the Duke's performance is still epic even if inaccurate😊
The Bridges (TWO of them, Canal and River) were "secured" by a Glider Assault conducted by D Company, 2nd (Airborne) Batt. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. (Reinforced with 2 Platoons from B Coy and 20 Sappers from the RE) They belonged to the 6th Airlanding Brigade, part of the 6th Airborne Division, but they were NOT Paras. Richard Todd was in HQ Platoon, 7 Para, the unit which reinforced the Glider troops LATER on D-day. In the movie he played Major John Howard, commander of the Gliderborne assault party... but not TODDS commanding officer on the day... HIS CO was the wonderfully named Lt.Col R.G. Pine-Coffin!
Funny thing there was a photo from the movie of 3 officers at Pegasus Bridge from memory the on one the left was Richard Todd playing G John Howard and the one on the right was the Adjutant of the Ox and Bucks who was Richard Todd in real life.
Steve Forrest played Captain Harding in this epic film. During the Battle of the Bulge 1944/45 he served in the American Army. He was a modest man. But he was a brave one and a wonderful character actor as well.
I saw "The Longest Day" in early 1964, on a Sunday, during Army Basic Training, (my only day off) at a Ft. Dix. N.J. movie theater & loved it! Regarding the actors who served, you forgot British actor Richard Todd, who was actually at "D-Day"! Also, since Robert Wagner was only 14 in 1944, I doubt that he served in WWII or have ever heard of his doing any military service! Lastly, unless I saw a different version of the movie, I don't recall any color scenes in it!
@@FactsVerse Never seen a color version either , also versions I seen when when the Germans /French spoke it was in English subtitle, Was Wayne too old to play the role, yes but his name drew butts to seats didn't bother me "Hollywood" lol
There is a version where colour was added much later. The main problem is that many of the actors' mouths when speaking were still black and white original. I guess computers weren't up to the power for good digital enhancement. It is available to buy if you Google for it.
Don't forget the other actual participants. Werner Pluskatt was a shore battery controller on the day, and Lovatt's piper during the bridge relief was also the bagpiper on the day. Including German veterans of the day should be recognized, as should the service of Pacific veterans like Eddie Arnold. Tarawa, where Arnold served, made Omaha Beach look like a picnic.
My father was a sergeat at Normandy with the 82nd. At 23 he was older than most. John Wayne would have been 37 on Dday. A bit old for front line duty. I don't have a problem with him not serving in the front lines. There is more than one way to serve your country during war time.
My grandad was 41. He took a landing craft ashore on the first wave . Royal Navy PO. He fought to get in the navy as he'd taken a little ship to Dunkirk, transferred from Merchant Marine. I was privileged to go with him to Normandy 25 year commemoration. He wept in the graveyard for 18 year old twins ,4 years older than his own daughter had been. I think that is why he so soon passed away, the grief of memory. Over 200 people, ex crew came to Skippers funeral.
John Wayne wanted to serve in the military but was threatened with a lawsuit by the president of Republic Pictures apparently. He did tour three months U.S. bases and hospitals for USO in the South Pacific. During this trip he was asked by OSS to look if general MacArthur wasn't hindering OSS operations. For this he later got an OSS certificate of service.
@@lathemillwelder920 Wayne was not threatened with a lawsuit by anybody. The idea has only to be considered for its intrinsic absurdity to beome obvious.
As a 82nd Airborne veteran, John Wayne was a pretty popular actor. He was too old for the role he was cast for. But he did great job and was a loved actor in the Airborne and SF community. I recall he gave a bunch of money to the Special Warfare Museum and his picture was there as well.
I know a SF veteran who was at Ft. Bragg during the filming of the Green Berets. Parts of the movie were filmed there. He said the men loved John Wayne. Their was a feeling of mutual respect there.
John Wayne was 34 years old when he registered for the draft during WW2. He did register that's a fact. I understand the age limit then was 35. I also understand it that by that point all who entered the military did so by draft enlisting had been phased out. He had numerous injuries from doing his own stunts and the studio he was under contract to thought he could do more for the country and moral by making movies. The draft board agreed. I think the fact the SF guys at Bragg and Camp Mackall loved him speaks volumes. @@doreenfallows1895
Seriously? Not a word about British actor Richard Todd? He not only portrayed the leader of the gliderborne assault on Pegasus Bridge, but actually helped seize this key objective in the wee hours of D-Day!
No he didn't. He was part of the 7 Para relief force much later in the day. That really is a common mistake.... perhaps BECAUSE he played Maj Jogn Howard in the movie???
The original Pegasus bridge is ashore on the grounds of the Pegasus Museum, located on the east side of the present bridge's site. The guided tour there informs the visitors that the glider operation took place on the fifth (5) of June, because the bridge's capture had to prevent the enemy from counter attacking the Allied landing on the sixth of(6) of June. Also the "de-mining making the bridge safe would allow the Allied troops to break out and continue their attack inland. The "new" bridge is larger, to allow two-way traffic, and is in the same shape/profile as is the original bridge. The museum's facade has its roof in the shape of the insignia worn by the airborne attackers; double wings. Worth a visit. P.S. The scene depicting the freeing of Ouistreham was filmed at Port-en-Bessin, because Ouistreham looked too "modern" at the time of filming, and could not be changed to look like 1944. So the sign "Ouistreham" in Port-en-Bessin is a decoy, an artistic licence; just as J Wayne (54) portraying a younger Allied officer, IMO.
As others have noted, Richard Todd played Major Howard of the Ox & Bucks at Pegasus Bridge. There is a scene where 7 Para arrive at the bridge and an officer runs to speak to Maj Howard. This was Lt Richard Todd, 7 Para
The official sequel to "The longest day" is "Up from the beach" from 1965. Clif Robertson participated in it. But also 4 other actors from "The Longest Day". But it fits in seamlessly. The director also used what was collected from the cutting room floor in unused scenes in 1962 in this warfilm.
The actor, Richard Todd, who portrayed Major Howard in the film, and who dropped down in gliders at Pegasus Bridge, was a paratrooper in the British Army, and actually fought during the D-Day landings
Richard Todd fought at and helped defend Pegasus Bridge. Do you know how Pegasus Bridge got its name? It’s from the British Paratroopers Regimental Badge.
Another tidbit. The Pegasus bridge in the film. Whilst Richard Todd played Major Howard, another actor (unknown) actually played Richard Todd in the film😉
A glaring oversight of veterans, Eddie Albert (Colonel Thompson assaulting Omaha beach) was awarded the Bronze Star for his courage piloting a landing craft in the battle for Tarawa.
While l agree that The Longest Day is an epic recreation of D-Day, as a Canadian l consider it a major oversight that there was no depiction at all of the Canadian forces. The fact is that the Canadian forces were the first wave assault on Juno Beach, they had a higher percentage of losses than the Americans at the costly Omaha Beach, but nonetheless advanced farther inland than anyone on D-Day. Also , l'm sure there must have been some African-American soldiers amongst the American forces & none of them were depicted.
blacks were strictly in supply and support. Just because you want something to be true does not make it so. The military at that time due to Woodrow Wilson was very segregated
Wayne was born ten years before the actual guy he was playing, I learned today cause I looked it up cause I'm curious. So it was a 55 year old playing a 45 year old from back when he was 27.
True - OTOH There's a theory that "John Wayne" was a role that Marion Michael Morrison created for himself because it suited the kind of parts he usually played. People thought that he couldn't act when really he was acting all the time.
You mean like in his vanity propaganda piece of sh*t The Green Berets? He got EVERYTHING wrong in that movie! When it was shown to actual soldiers there, they booed heavily and threw stuff at the screen (until they pulled the plug on the projector) because it was worse propaganda than anything Goebbels did. Every advisor that actually knew about the Vietnam War either quit or was fired by wayne. Yet, they now show it on Memorial Day like it was history. Of course, way too many people believe Oliver Stone's JFK tells the true story of the Kennedy assassination, never bothering to tell you that Jim Garrison was exposed as a delusional moron. John Wayne did some commendable performances in his life but, by the end of it, he was a bitter, far right wing blowhard. Shame.
17 years later in another epic international war film, Connery and Wolfgang Preiss were the only veterans of The Longest Day to feature in A Bridge Too Far. Both had been significantly promoted by then!
I recently purchased this movie on dvd at my local market and watched it for the 1st time, I was not aware the person John Wayne portrayed was a real military officer. I liked his role, I liked the whole movie.
@@josephberrie9550 Yes but not every soldier and officer you see in the film is portraying a specific historical counterpart so, not an unreasonable assumption on his part.
I don't really care. John Wayne just plays John Wayne. He doesn't act. The film is brilliant and I fell in love with it as a child after watching it with my dad.
I'm NOT a critic or even a troll but John Wayne is a mediocre and LOUSY ACTOR...as you mentioned: he played John Wayne just like Tom Cruise, charlie Sheen, Lisa Kudrow and many others in HELLywood nowadays.
I am a 70-year-old ex-British soldier, who has been on active service and whose family members served in both world wars and other conflicts and many actors have played real-life men who were younger and older than they were when they played them and until I saw your video, I had no idea how old Lt. Colonel Van der Voot was, and I think John Wayne played the part really well, despite his lack of military service, unlike some of the other actors, he was an actor who acted the part well and did the real life Lt. Colonel Van de Voot full honour in his portrayal of him, and he also did look the part as well so I think it's a case of much ado about nothing.
The name of that young paratrooper Lt.Col. was Vandervoort. A dutch name obviously, but written without spaces, and with "r" before "t" by the way. I saw the movie first time as a kid around 1970 and it's been my favourite ever since. I don't know about real mr. Vandervoort, but Wayne was acting very much credible in my eyes as concerned combat leader. I understand though, if real mr. Vandervoort was unsatisfied, because Wayne was during filming more than twenty years older as he was 1944. Incredible, 27-years old lieutenant colonel!!! Possible only in war time. But that age difference can't be a big deal with the monumental movie like this.
About Richard Todd, the actor who played the major that secured Pegasus with his gilder unit ," hold until relieved" , as he was by a captain in the British paratroop unit who in real life was .... Richard Todd
I have read both of Cornelius Ryan’s books The longest Day and A Bridge Too Far. They have both been translated into terrific films. While many of the actors in both films are older than the actual combatants in both books, their age does not detract from the enjoyment of the films. It is their performances that matter more than their actual age. Now John Wayne’s role in The Green Berets is another story, he was definitely too old for that role.
Ryan wrote three books: The Longest Day (1959), The Last Battle (1966), and A Bridge Too Far (1974). In the early 1970s, Ryan (who was both battling cancer and working on A Bridge Too Far (originally titled The Big Jump) attempted to write a screenplay for The Last Battle (about the Battle of Berlin), but it would have been too expensive to make, so MGM canceled it.) There is evidence that Ryan planned to write five WWII books, but his health deteriorated thanks to cancer. We were lucky that he finished A Bridge Too Far before he died in 1974.
The Green Berets was nothing but a vanity propaganda piece of sh*t for wayne. There are so many things about it that rang false for everyone that served in Nam (the effing sun even set in THE EAST!). They tried to show it to active soldiers there and, almost as soon as it began, the soldiers began booing and throwing stuff at the screen. Yet, it is trotted out on Memorial Days and the 4th of July as if it is history. Wayne, during the shooting, famously ignored everything the advisors told him he was getting wrong. By the end of his life wayne had become a far right wing blowhard (he proudly proclaimed himself a white supremacist. He married a Mexican girl!) with no concern for the truth. People who think The Green Berets is an accurate portrayal of the Vietnam War probably also think Oliver Stone's JFK is too (Jim Garrison was a delusional moron). But at least it was good filmmaking. There is nothing good about The Green Berets. I head David Jansen forever regretted taking part in it.
In my humble opinion, John Wayne gave gravitas to the role of Van der Voot. It's absolutely astounding that at the age of 27 the real Van der Voot had an entire battalion under his command. He must have been one hell of an officer.
@@anthonyeaton5153 Thanks for the comment. At the time of D-Day Van der Voot was a light colonel and commanded the 2nd Batallion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division (All American). I think you may be confusing him with the divisional commander of the 82nd, General Matthew Ridgway. Finally, you are correct that Wayne was twice the age. Cheers,
Richard Todd parachuted into Normandy on D-day and his unit moved to help defend Pegasus Bidge, He met Major John Howard at the bridge. Howard's men had landed by glider and had in a 15 minute rampage captured the bridge cutting off one of the major routes for German reinforcements and tanks. Todd went on to play Major Howard in the film.
The most authentic actor in this film was the British actor Richard Todd who actually took part in the glider assault on Pegasus bridge, though as a more junior officer than the commanding officer he portrayed in the film's extremely realistic depiction of this action, which was due in no small part to Todd's first hand experience.
No he did not. This seems to be a widespread idea...but it simply isn't true. The Glider assault was by troops from the 6th Airlanding Bde ...NOT Paras. (A reinforced company from the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry) Todd was a Para ... he was in HQ Platoon 7 Para... which was part of the RELIEF force at the bridges later on D-day. Nothing to do with the Coup de main operation that TOOK the bridges.
@@trooperdgb9722 You are quite right I was under the impression that he was part of the glider assault. He did however play a key role in seeing off the German counter attack working closely with the officer commanding who he portrayed in the film so I still think he was the most authentic actor. I visited Pegasus Bridge some years ago with my Army Corps tour of the Normandy battlefields. It's a really excellent day out.
It really is. As an old "Para" myself..(Navy, but Basic and HALO qualified) Pegasus Bridge was a true Bucket List destination for me. Visited there, and St Mere Eglise and other D-Day Airborne "sites". Fantastic. @@daveh9753
@@trooperdgb9722- Exactly. He plays the CO of the Ox and Bucks. But at one point a Para officer sent to relieve him, approaches and speaks to him. That 7 Para officer was the real Lt. Richard Todd. Todd, in role, wearing the red beret he had worn on Pegasus bridge allows himself a smile having spoken to himself.
One thing that can’t be denied about John Wayne…No one could play John Wayne like John Wayne he was so good at it it’s all he ever did once he’d mastered the art. Some say he was typecast but he never flinched or changed a thing. Even playing a Mongol Ghengis Khan as John Wayne
Wayne wanted the role of Gen. Patton in the movie "Patton". It wasn't offered to Wayne, presumably because he could portray only One character ... John Wayne.
How could you fail to mention Richard Todd in your commentary, who was actually there on D-Day, and is played in this movie by another actor, with himself playing a colleague?
John Wayne stayed out of the war, he didn't want to leave Marlene Dietrich who he was having an affair with at the time, but then years later he strongly criticised the men who wouldn't go to fight for their country in Vietnam. It didn't stop him from making a fortune by acting in war films.
Honestly, YT censor, that comment you cut was just a comical take on a typical John Wayne quote. If you lack the intellect to discern what is and isn't humor you really shouldn't be in the bloody job because you're only f--king it all up. smh
--- THE LOUDMOUTH DODGER . . . always is the loudest whinger, John Wayne, who NEVER lived down his cowardice, like his bro, St.-Jesus Reagan, patron saint of stolen valour.
"Wayne was exempted from service due to his age (34 at the time of Pearl Harbor) and family status (classified as 3-A - family deferment). Wayne repeatedly wrote to John Ford saying he wanted to enlist, on one occasion inquiring whether he could get into Ford's military unit." Wikipedia
The Longest Day was a big gamble for 20th C Fox, which was in financial trouble after the failure of "Cleopatra," so including big stars in the film was a necessary safeguard to ensure good box office. To me, the casting of Robert Ryan as General Gavin was a more striking piece of miscasting. Few people would have been aware of what the real Vandervoort looked like, but Gavin was well known as one of the youngest generals of the war, and one with "film star" looks: casting Ryan who was a great actor, but much older and with a heavily lined face was probably a bigger shock to audiences who would have remembered the war less than twenty years before.
John Wayne's presence in the film added to my enjoyment of The Longest Day. I saw The Longest Day at a theater in Tuckahoe, New York when it was first released. I've owned VHS and DVD versions of the film. I myself served in the Navy. My late father served in the Navy during WWII and during much of my youth. In my opinion, The Longest Day is one of the best ever movies in reflecting World War II land fighting in the European Theater of Operations. Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Hawaii.
@@anthonyeaton5153 Endorsements usually work best when someone who is well known and well liked "endorses" a product. If we're talking about motion pictures, actors and actresses are paid more when their acting attracts more views to a movie, TV show, play, etc. This is the way capitalism works. It's why a Tom Clancy can demand---and get---more for the fiction he wrote than a Andy McKane will get for the legitimate history he writes. (This is a market driven economy.)
"Actual WW2 aircraft" was not exactly the entire case with the filming of "The Longest Day." Your clip at 8:51show four Douglas AD "Skyraiders" flying overhead. Though this aircraft was developed during the 2nd World War, it didn't become operational with the U.S. Navy until after the war ended.
He was actually loved for the role, many people including myself loved it and saw the movie many times when it cam out in '62. No one ever said one word against his role !
Wayne's swagger is dialed up to 11 in this flick. The combo of Wayne's swagger and Mitchum, running around Omaha Beach with just a cigar in his mouth is just hysterical.
How about Chirstopher Lee, who auditioned for a part in the film, but was turned down because he did not "look like a military man." Christopher Lee was in active service in the Winter War, the North Africa Campaign, the Invasion of Italy, and the Battle of Monte Cassino.
My Favorite Scene was When the Army Rangers Climb the High Cliffs Fought Their Way to the German Big Gun That Wasn't There & One of the Army Ranger Said "You Mean to Say We Came All This Way For Nothing?" Heaven & Hell is for Heroes. D-Day 80th Anniversary June 6, 2024.
John Wayne seems to be playing a caricature of himself in almost all his movies, this one is a prime example. He comes dangerously close to making a very, very good movie look like a farce. They should have gotten a younger (and better) actor.
@gruntforever7437 Why would anyone think your opinion matters? I love The Longest Day and don't object to Wayne's performance, but the man was a racist and a draft dodger.
That's why there is a 'pseudo-genre' called John Wayne Movies. His celebrity always overshadows the character he plays. But he was guaranteed to put bums on seats. And isn't that what it's all about?
The British actor Richard Todd played Major John Howard tasked with leading the successful airborn assault to capture and hold Pegasus Bridge on the night before D-Day. The actor had actually been part of that assault in real life, but as a lieutenant and not the major in charge.
Even though I'm an old John Wayne fan, and actually have two of the hats he wore in movies, Wayne was never actually in the service. He did do many war films and helped sell war bonds but he was never in any branch of the service.
@@FactsVerse A great one that shows is "In Harms Way" with John Wayne and Burgess Maridith with a cameo scene of Carroll O'conner and another that shows the true value of our Democratic Republic is "Juarez" with Paul Muni Betty Davis, John Garfield, Brian Ahearn, Gilbert Roland, and a host of others excellent film.
The film did not show enough of the British and Canadian beaches of Gold, Juno and Sword. It made it look like the American and even French did all the fighting. I first saw the film on its release with my Uncle Tom who was there. He wasn’t impressed. Also my mum’s cousin Jack was in the glider drop and my wife’s uncle Ron was in the first wave.
'twas ever thus. You'd never guess that the Royal Navy had much of a role, either. I'm correcting this with tales to my grandsons of their great grandpa's role on HM S Erebus.
I have seen TLDay several times and had a vhs recording of a colorized version which I loved .. but I have never seen a coloured and monochrome version as suggested. And yes Wayne was not only too old but too braggadocio for what should have been a more natural part.
I have a question how many people who have watched the movie notest a huge blooper in it...the scene that i am refuring to is were Field Marshal Rommel is on the beach discussing how the allies have to be stopped and in one part of it he completely vanishes but he is still talking then he reappears how it managed to get into the final cut is a surprise lol
I have my own director's cut of this movie. I call it the Longest Daydream. Whenever I see Irina Demick on her bicycle, I pause the movie and enjoy my daydream.
Back then finding actual WW2 equipment was easy. A lot of it hadn't been scrapped yet. I had a friend who fought in WW2 and he told me when he got back to the states the train depots had mountains of equipment to scrap. He grabbed a come-along like he used on tank recovery. That thing would pull a tank up a tree. Back in the 60s through to the 70s WW2 surplus equipment was everywhere and cheap.
Shame you totally missed mentioning Richard Todd, who was actually an officer in 6th Para at Pegasus Bridge on D-day. The one actor in the film who was actually there
Just guessing, but John Wayne and the real Vandervoort are not a close match physically, and John Wayne insisted on putting his typical machismo, bravado and swagger into the role, which also wasn't in keeping with the real Vandervoort who was serious minded and not overly outspoken. But one more thing to hate about John Wayne in this role, is that unlike many of the other actors who took part in the film, John Wayne didn't serve in the military, he felt it would damage his acting career and was thus beneath him.
I loved the longest day when firsr saw it nearly 60 years ago. I like John Wayne although I did have a problem with him in the movie becanse he avoided military service because he had a family, and the studio helped his deferment in 1941. Other actors that served had family and I have more respect for them.
Casting Wayne in that role was ridiculous. Commanding officers in the Second World War were young, slim, fit men, not overweight 54-year-olds. Can you really imagine a guy like Wayne jumping out with a parachute? Not me. The film also chooses not to show it. Certainly not without reason. The real Benjamin H. Vandervoort was 27. Here we see Wayne, twice his age, in his role. It's clear that he was only cast because he is Wayne. The role should have been played by Steve McQueen, maybe Paul Newman. Six years later, in The Green Berets, Wayne was even older, heavier and goofier.
I think some people just like taking a shit on John Wayne. Yes he was to old for the person he was playing but so was everyone else in the film. He was GREAT in the role and so was everyone else in this GREAT film that did it's best to show D Day June 6th from all sides. Thank you.
I suspect that at least some of the objections to Wayne in his role was the fact that a man who went out of his way to avoid military service was once again playing a war hero!
Doesn't quite make sense. Even if you discounted the war against Germany there was still a fight against Japan and they had actually attacked the USA at Pearl Harbour.
There were NO color segments filmed for "The Longest Day", as several other readers have pointed out. If there was some tinkering later on for a video version, that was not the vision of Darryl F. Zanuck. Please correct your description.
This is just my personal beef with John Wayne's portrayal. Yes, he was too old for the part. I saw the movie as a kid when it first came out and loved it. Seeing it years later, after having been in the service, what struck me about Wayne's performance was that his demeanor was more like a grizzled, old, tired soldier, gruff, somewhat dismissive to his troops. He was more like an old master sergeant than a young battalion commander. Maybe that's just me. But I thought Robert Redford's portrayal of Maj. Julian Cook, a battalion commander in the 82d Airborne, in "A Bridge Too Far" was a more accurate performance. But, well, John Wayne was John Wayne. Still a good movie.
@@FactsVerse Honestly I'd love to see a factual film about the both George Bush connection to the deaths of JFK and later his son JFK Jr. I'd also love to see a great film like yours cover the truth about the Twin Towers and building 7. None of what we've been told officially adds up and if one follows the insurance money on the towers and the fact Bush/Cheney got their Americans support to invade Iraq from the False Flag ordeal I believe they created. Pentagon was hit by a missile not a plane from footage I've seen. Who can we believe? I honestly do love your productions and this is some of what I'd love to see. No disrespect either but this request is likely over your head. Either way please keep up the excellent work. I'll be watching. Peace
Lol, look at his history. Started out as a commy till he figured out being a phony yellow belly was more profitable, he never fought for his country as so so so many others in Hollywood did !
I think the worst thing about Wayne playing soldiers whatsoever, was that he was never even in the military. On the contrary, he made efforts to dodge being drafted. The battle was far more violent and bloody than what was depicted in The Longest Day, which really does a disservice to the troops that participated. It makes it seem more like a comic book adventure, rather than a serious battle. I also object to all of the misplaced and sometimes goofy humour, such as the Frenchman laughing and waving a flag as his house is being bombarded by warships. The battle was far more accurately shown in Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan. There were multiple versions of the movie. One was all in English, one had the Allies speaking in English, and the Euros speaking in French and German. The other was a now rare colour version.
Yes, the "Boy General" or something wasn't it? Very good actor though was Robert Ryan. Can't say I've seen him in a bar film offhand. Funny enough though about the only scene I don't like in the film is when JW and he has the chalkboard conversation right on the very eve of the jump. It would have been discussed many, many times before. Just seemed basic and pointless. I know I'm over thinking.
@@garysimmonds9636 I couldn't agree more, Gary. In fact, watching the film just a couple weeks ago, the very same thought crossed my mind. WAY too late for that discussion!
Richard Todd played one of the characters in involved in securing the bridge codenamed Pegasus. What was Richard Todd's relevant military experience he was involved in securing Pegasus on D-day. I, wonder why his contribution was overlooked?
I -did- like the line Wayne has when one of his soldiers asked him about the amphibious landings. He responds that he doesn't know if they have even taken place - although this being daylight they OUGHT to have occurred. A very good moment that stands out as depicting the limited knowledge commanders have in carrying out their mission.
I've watched this movie dozens of times. And like all movies watched repeatedly, the flaws come out and other parts of the performance hold up well. John Wayne's portrayal is better every time I watch. His sincerity looking into the camera "GET THOSE BOYS DOWN!" grips me every time. Richard Burton and Robert Mitchum also stand out to me. I'd like to add one of the German Generals as well (cutting the cake) but I can't get the actors name.
@@FactsVerse Frankly I watch everything you put out especially if I know anyone involved. LOL. But I always appreciate the behind the scenes facts of making films. Thank you.
@@ajhindalou He di not s"dodge the draft"! At the outbreak of war he was 34 years old and married so not going to be drafted. He did volunteer only to be given a medical downgrade. He was ashamed of this until the day he died and spent as much time as possible doing USO work to support US troops including going abroad in WW2, Korea and Vietnam.
Duke Wayne was, well...he was a piece of work, no doubt. Too old for the role? Cry me a river. It's John Frickin' Wayne portraying you in a huge movie. You're complaining? Now, Wayne didn't serve. I can't pass judgement on that. I turned 18 in 1973. Needless to say, I wasn't first in line at the recruiting office. I'm not gonna deign to question his motives. Yeah, some Hollywood actors signed up. For every celebrity like Jimmy Stewart who served in combat (Stewart flew bombing missions over Berlin, one of the most perilous duties in the entire war), there were 10 who basked in the publicity, and posed for cameras while being stationed well behind the front. Wayne stayed in Hollywood and made some inspirational movies. It ain't combat, but it had its uses. Been a while since I saw this flick, might make a good double bill with SPR...
By all accounts, it wasmade in black and white, which allowed the use of period documentary war footage. There is a colorized version on DVD which may explain the confusion.
Robert Ryan was too old to play General Gavin. Besides Richard Todd, Eddie Albert also served with distinction. John Wayne was too much like John Wayne in this film. Still worth watching.
It is hands down one of my favourite movie depictions of WW2. For me, it set the gauge for any movies after, regarding their authennticity if that was their goal. My Father served in the RAF thru the whole of the war as a pilot with Coastal Patrol, did a stint with BOAC in the middle years, and finally Bomber Command for the last 2 years. If there's any negative view I can offer about the Longest Day is the lack of recognition of the Canadian contribution.
WW2 made John Wayne a big star as the rest of the leading men (Clark Gable was an air gunner on B-17s and Jimmy Stewart was a pilot on B-24 and both flew missions to Germany, British Holywood stars had all returned to Britain in 1939) were off fighting. He was classified 3-A at the time of Pearl Harbor due to him having 4 kids to look after but as the war went on he was reclassified as 1-A as they need men to replace casualties and killed. Rumours are that he wanted to enlist but Republic pictures said no and put pressure on the draft board by saying his making movies was a positive influence to moral and was given 2-A status. He did do USO tours in Australia and the Pacific Islands in 1943 and was booed off the stage by combat veterans who called him a draft dodger. lts been rumoured that the real reason he did not want to go he did not want to go as was he was involved with Marlene Dietricht and he was not for leaving her according to the book American Titan: Searching for John Wayne by Marc Elliot. She crossed the Rhine with Pattons 3rd Army when they invaded Germany and supposedly worked for OSS.
Talk about scurrilous rumors you managed to hit them all 1) The football injury that ended his career would have made him physically unable to qualify; even if the other injuries he suffered in the 1930's doing stunts would not have done it 2) Robert Montgomery who was a veteran supported John Wayne during They were Expendable and told Ford to stop needling Duke about it. said he was more important doing things like this and there was no way he would ever have been sent into combat as he was TOO MUCH a symbol. SO what was the point? WIth very few exceptions like JImmy Stewart they were all used NOT in combat. Especially the bigger ones. By the Way clark gable had five combat missions that were to shoot documentary film and then he was grounded. 3) that book you quoted is well known for being an attempt to smear him. Typical you use that piece of garbage
@@gruntforever7437 You are entitled to your opinion. But if his football injury made him physically unable to serve why was he not graded 4-F instead of 3-A and later 2-A by the draft board? The same shoulder injury did not stop him being a stunt man and getting into fights so why would it not stop him from serving? Donald Trump had bone spurs that kept him out if Vietnam. Why did Wayne say “I better go do some USO touring - I feel the draft breathing down my neck“. As for him being booed by combat vets one wounded marine said the following "after my evacuation from Okinawa, I had the enormous pleasure of seeing Wayne humiliated in person at Aiea Heights Naval Hospital in Hawaii … Each evening, Navy corpsmen would carry litters down the hospital theater so the men could watch a movie. One night they had a surprise for us. Before the film, the curtains parted, and out stepped John Wayne, wearing a cowboy outfit - 10-gallon hat, bandana, checkered shirt, two pistols, chaps, boots and spurs. He grinned his aw-shucks grin, passed a hand over his face and said ‘Hi, ya guys!’ He was greeted by stony silence. Then somebody booed. Suddenly everyone was booing. This man was a symbol of the fake machismo we had come to hate, and we weren’t going to listen to him. He tried and tried to make himself heard, but we drowned him out, and eventually he quit and left“. As Wayne’s third wife put it: “He would become a ‘superpatriot’ for the rest of his life, trying to atone for staying at home“. Despite having avoided service during WWII when he was of age to do so, Wayne enthusiastically encouraged others - especially during the Vietnam War - to serve in the military. As for Dietricht, its widely known that they had a three year affair and he described her as "the most intriguing woman I have ever met and the best lay I've ever had" before she dumped him for George Raft. As the Marine said he was a symbol of fake machismo that we now have come to hate, happy to send others to fight BUT not so keen to go themselves. He also was restrained by six security men When Marlon Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather to read a speech about treatment of the native Americans to explain his refusal of the Oscar for the Godfather. As I say you have your opinion others have thiers
@@johnmartin7599 You try and claim your opinions cadged from questionable sources as fact. By the way his football injury that MATTERED was a bad knee. Which just goes to show how 'ill informed' you are
Hell, most of the lead actors were already older than their counterparts. That was common even in the WWII movies of the 1940s, since the younger actors were in the real war.
I didn’t realize John Wayne’s character was so young in real life, but then again, I grew accustomed to seeing actors that were much older than the real life war characters in the various war movies of the past and present, that Wayne, curiously, didn’t seem out of place. Most soldiers and front line officers in WWII were kids. The main characters in Private Ryan for example, maybe be young, but not young adults.
Doesnt matter to me about John Waynes age. His portrayal of Van der Voot was excellent. 40 years ago if John Wayne although alot older than me wanted to play me in a movie, i would have said "hell yeah". Could not imagine doing this epic without him.
One of my favourite D-Day films. Yeah, John Wayne was too old, but he did a superb job. I think it's also one of the few WWII movies to show Churchill tanks.(I think you see one in one of the aerial views of the landing.
John Wayne’s role was hated by the cast because they found out he was getting a lot more money than any other actor in the film. Once they found out he was making a boatload more then they were, it stand to reason they resented Wayne. As for his age in the film, I never saw a problem with that. And I’m sure most of the others in this film could care less about this point. One of the best war movies ever made in my opinion, and this is why it has and will continue to withstand the test of time.
True. Years earlier Richard Zanuck personally insulted Wayne and his abilities as an actor. It can be safely said that, for whatever reason, Zanuck was trying to ruin his career. Of course Wayne never forgot it. Years, and many films later Wayne was the big star, mostly from the war movies he starred in. When Zanuck wanted to make The Longest Day he knew he needed Wayne to sell the film. At that time in Wayne's career it was unthinkable for him not to be included in a war movie this big. Wayne fielded many requests from Zanuck to be in the film. Each request came with an increase in salary. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Wayne continued to turn the part down until the salary became astronomical by the standards of the time. He eventually accepted, I believe, after the offer reached several hundred thousand. That's the gist of how Wayne got the amount over the other actors.
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You know the other nonarticulated part was when the Catering Truck during the Movie had Tacos served for Lunch... They Didn't have Tacos at D Day... it's a Movie .. so fucking stupid...
When discussing actors from The Longest Day who had military experience, you left out Eddie Albert. Famous for his role in Green Acres, Albert played Colonel Lloyd Thompson, a staff officer of the 29th Infantry Division who was killed on Omaha Beach. Mr. Albert was a Naval Reserve officer who commanded a Higgins Boat (a plywood landing craft) at Tarawa in the Pacific. The landing didn't reckon with fickle tides at Tarawa. A number of Marines there were stuck in neck-deep water hundreds of yards from shore and taking enemy fire. Albert picked up a number of them and took them in. When his craft was partially disabled, he directed other boats to pick up stranded Marines, while he used his boat to shield them from continuing enemy fire. He did this in violation of his orders. He was principally responsible for saving over 70 Marines. For this he received the Bronze Star (should have been a Navy Cross or higher IMO).
@@reserva120Where in the HELL did you see a catering truck? The movie was shot in Europe so in ‘62 there were NO tacos in Europe.
As both a history buff and pilot, my favorite scene has long been the glider assault on Pegasus Bridge. The depiction is as true-to-life as humanly possible. Even with the cinematic limitations of the time, that scene is nothing short of breathtaking. What a tribute to the selfless heroes who actually carried it out!
Its a shame that the recent effort to make a movie specifically about Operation Deadstick was not a success.
one of the actors was actually on that mission in real life..I think it was Richard Todd
Him playing himself is right up there with Audey Murphy playing himself!
@@grayharker6271Richard Todd played his commanding officer, another actor played Todd and in one scene reports to the Officer Todd is playing.
Did you know that the actor Richard Todd was an officer in the Parachute Regiment that re enforced Major Howard at the Orne River bridge and the Para Regiment officer standing next to Major Howard as Lord Lovard commando's was in real life Richard Todd
I'm 73 and have seen many movies on WWII and other subjects. I try not to over think a movie and only watch to see a good story that entertains me. This movie more than meets that criteria. If I want factual history I'll read a book on the subject. This is one of my favorite movies and I watch it at least once a year. Everything about it was so well done it puts most other movies to shame.
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I'm a couple years younger than you and that's also my view. The theme song was good too.
I totally agree! I never bought the Wayne character in the film. A better casting would have been James Coburn, or Lee Marvin. Wayne's build was more Mech Infantry, but no way airborne. Still, I'm sure he was a major box office draw to an other wise excellent project, that deserved to be paid. The great battle was the tipping point of WWII. Failure, and Hitler retains all Europe, and threatens the US and Canada as next in the hopper. Again, never has so much been owed to so few.
Read "The Longest Day" by Ryan. You will see the movie in a different light.
Believe it or not a lot of young Brits who have seen Band of Brothers and Saving Ryan’s Privates don’t realise there were actually British troops at D Day. Of course we all know that they made up over 70% with troops, landing craft and Royal Navy crews as well as Aircrew including the famous Dambusters squadron who all through the night flew a circular flight dropping window (aluminium foil) so that the German radar picked up a false armada heading for Calais. DID YOU ALSO MENTION THE ACTOR MICHAEL TODD WHO WAS ACTUALLY AT THE PEGASUS BRIDGE ON D DAY AND PLAYED HIS COMMANDING OFFICER IN THE FILM. ( HOLD UNTIL RELIVED)
Um, no. The Longest Day DOES NOT have any color segments at all. Not its 1962 original edition and any colorized version that you may have seen is a "colorized" version that altered the original movie. And, until Steven Spielberg made Schindler's List, The Longest Day was the most expensive black and white movie in Hollywood history.
There is a colourised version of The Longest Day.
@@anthonyeaton5153, yes, but it sucks, and it was not originally filmed or released in color.
@@AlexDiazGranados I only like the colourised version.
there were no colour/Black and white segments in the theatre version in 1962, the actors spoke in their own languages with subtitles as required. If you think John Wayne was too old for the person he portrayed then Robert RyN was wat too old for the part of General James Gavin.
@@nirnman Gavin was not a paratrooper.
Edward Albert Heimberger or Eddie Albert served in the United States Coast Guard and was discharged in 1943 to accept an appointment as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for his actions during the invasion of Tarawa in November 1943, when, as the coxswain of a US Navy landing craft, he rescued 47 Marines who were stranded offshore (and supervised the rescue of 30 others), while under heavy enemy machine-gun fire. Mr Albert was a true US Military Hero. Semper Fi
I always liked him. I don't know about his service.
Albert would have likely been a USCG enlisted Boatswain Mate in 1943. They served as small boat coxswains during landings because of their heavy surf and shallow water training with the Coast Guard. He likely afterwards mustanged over to Navy in 1943 to serve as a Reserve LT. I am a retired USCGR LT who mustanged thru the ranks.....first as a Boatswain , then later as an officer.
@@CRuf-qw4yv Eddie Albert was a Stalinist Communist like Burl Ives.
@@CRuf-qw4yv Albert was a Stalinist Communist.
@@CRuf-qw4yv Albert was a Communist.
Richard Todd is worth checking. During the British paratroops operation he met Major John Howard on the bridge and was involved in helping to repulse counter-attacks by the German forces in the area. Five days after D-Day, while still in the bridge defence area, he was promoted to captain. Richard Todd later played Howard in the 1962 film The Longest Day, recreating these events. He is also famous for playing Guy Gibson leader of 617 squadron in The Dambusters.
Yes. Probably the most significant meeting of actor and real experience in the whole film. Should have been prominent in this video.
Todd even wore his own paratroop beret in the film which he actually wore during the seizure of Pegasus Bridge.
Probably an american video focused on americans...
@@seanford2358 I read that it was Howards beret lent to him by Howards wife. Either way pretty cool.
@@eurogael Todd was one of the Para officers who actually landed with reinforcements for Howard’s force…why would he need to borrow Howard’s beret for the film when he had his own one??
"The Longest Day" is one of my favorite all-time films. John Wayne's portrayal of Lt. Colonel Vandervoot does nothing to disturb my enjoyment of this classic. I fully realize that in movies like this, producers take license to ensure that they will get enough "buts in the seats" to make as certain as possible a successful first-run motion picture.
Glad to know that you're a fan! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. May John find peace.
John Wayne may have been too old for the part, but when he saw the paratroopers dangling from their parachutes, his expression and reaction convinced me.
@@donyoung1384 John Wayne was a terrible actor. He only got his big break because so many US stars volunteered to serve in the US forces during WW2, Henry Fonda, Clarke Gable, Jimmy Stewart, even a 50 year old John Ford volunteered, they should be feted for action men. Whilst pretend action man Wayne refused, so the studios were forced to use him as there was nobody else. I watched the longest day again over the D-Day anniversary, Wayne was as dreadful as ever. He made a reasonable cowboy in which he could play John Wayne on a horse, but in any movie that required him not to play John Wayne on a horse, awful. Watch "the Conqueror" where John Wayne plays Genghis Khan - with a US accent, or the Quiet man - where he plays an Irishman - with a US accent, and so forth.
John Wayne is atrocious, excellent movie but goddamn his scenes are insufferable
@@philldavies7940 I agree that in The Conquerer he was “pants!”
He made some decent westerns.
And I know he didn’t join up in WW2, but a large part of that was the Studio Execs, panicking because they thought they would lose all their remaining leading men.
Having said that, I know he was too old for the part in “The Longest Day”
but when he saw the Paras dangling in the air, in the town centre, his expression and rage, convinced me!
That’s what I said previously, and I stand by it!
If you don’t like it, I’m sorry, but frankly, who gives a damn? Not me!
A good many of the actors in The Longest Day served in WW2 and some were at D-Day. Actor Richard Todd was at Pegasus Bridge, and instead of playing himself he played Major John Howard the commanding officer.
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Well..yes, but only later that morning... He was not part of the Coup de Main Glider party that took the bridges...(from the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry) ... he was in HQ Platoon of the relieving force from 8 Para. In the movie he wore his own red beret, the one he had worn on D-Day. THAT is just marvellous!
Richard Todd said his real life role if he had played it himself would have been too small and insignificant a part in the film. There was a scene at Pegasus bridge where a soldier hands major Howard a cup of tea. The actor handing major Howard a cup of tea was playing the part of RichardTodd during the battle.
Todd also wore his own WW2 Beret.
dont forget Paul Anka was a hell of a singer too
People forget that Hollywood often interfers with actual accuracy in historical representation, adding stars for box office draw, because the idea is to profit first with movie making. Casting John Wayne as a familiar face made sense.
The scene in which Van der Voort & his men arrive to see the aftermath of the ill fated jump into St. Mare Eglise is extremely well done. The close-up on John Wayne's face expresses the absolute horror of how those paratroopers were massacred & their bodies left dangling on parachute lines. Gripping.
John Wayne was in many movies and many great scene of course. But this scene is one of his greatest in my opinion "GET THEM DOWN!"
@@riverbluevert7814 I agree 100% He was the best.
@@riverbluevert7814 Thank you. having made 29 drops with the 82nd when I saw the paratroopers dying I screamed in horror. I was on a live drop one night on our way to stop a coup in Panama. I was number 2 out the door just behind our platoon leader. luckily the coup was stopped before we dropped and we returned home safely. . The coup never made the papers. I was just 18. I remember accepting my death when I was assigned to be in the paratrooper infantry unit. For me there was no other way to handle the stress of knowing any day we could be killed. I thank God I never went to combat. how ever at 70 I have the skeleton structure of a 110 -120 year old and in constant pain. . Let us never forget the sacrifices our vets have made for our freedoms.
@@michaelparks5669 I'm extremely sorry you're feeling such pain in your later years. Kudos to you for your service.
@@WaferBrik Thank you.....
Eddie Albert was in this great movie. He received a bronze star for his heroic duty at Tarawa. He was a Coxswain of a US Navy landing craft that rescued 47 marines while under heave machine gun fire.
Glad that Mr. Albert got his due. A genuine national hero, and it is a wonder that he survived the Tarawa campaign at all given the incredible bravery and determination of keeping a slow moving craft in harm's way in order to rescue all those wounded men. Now that, my friend, is some TRUE grit!
I liked Eddie Albert portraying a less than honorable roll in this film and in Attack with Lee Marvin. A war hero that was unafraid to take rolls that uninformed people might think is his true self.
No wonder he wanted to move to the country!
Eddie Albert and James Stewart were true war heroes, unlike the coward John Wayne who hid behind his wife's skirts so he wouldn't have to go to war.
@@academyofshem So, when did you serve ??
Richard Todd (for you Yanks,) was a British film star who played the Commander - Major John Howard at Pegasus Bridge, actually FOUGHT at Pegasus Bridge (as a young Lieutenant on D-Day.) He didn’t need any coaching on how soldiers behaved!
Richard Todd jumped into Normandy on D Day with the 7th Bn The Parachute Regiment
@@edwardpenny7698yes, he was part of the relief force at the bridge and his beret was the one he wore during the war.
Even this Yank knows that Richard Todd was the real deal. “Hold until Relieved”
The scene when the paras arrive at the bridge sees Todd, playing Major Howard, meeting a young officer played by an uncredited actor who is playing the real Richard Todd. Art imitating life imitating art 🤔😄
Unbelievable that they'd miss out Richard Todd. He was the only actor who was there.
The film is historically very accurate. The practice of using established big name actors who are older than actual service personnel involved in wars is a common feature of all film and television productions.
One part of the film that gets this right is when a landing craft is approaching the beach and the young British officer says 'Remember Dunkirk'. Flanagan, the character played by Sean Connery, says 'D'ya hear that? Dunkirk he a says. To be sure he was still in school at the time.'
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Same with The Great Escape, well over the average age. Donald Pleasance had been a P.O.W. in a Luftwaffe Stalag in real life, 20 years before the film was made.
The heroes at Dunkirk were the French soldiers that stayed behind to give the the rest the time to leave and the people who used their personal boats to help in the evacuation. Using a famous retreat as a rallying cry is a bit unusual.
@@carlreed6186 I agree that the French rearguard were crucial to the evacuation of the British and French soldiers.
Churchill said: “We must be very careful not to assign to this deliverance the attributes of a victory. Wars are not won by evacuations.”
@@percyprune7548 My mother's cousin Geoffrey Cornish was an Australian bomber pilot, the sole survivor of a crew shot down over Germany and was held in Stalag Luft III. His brother had been a bomber pilot shot down and killed over Milne Bay New Guinea.
Geoff was supposed to go out in the escape but had been a medical student and so was the closest thing to a doctor they had in the camp, and his place was given to another man who was among the fifty executed. He felt survivor's guilt ever after.
When the Americans liberated the camp Geoff was taken to Dachau concentration camp to assist in triaging the inmates. He told his daughter it was the worst two and a half days of his life.
He became a well known cardiologist after he returned to Australia.
Wasn't Richard Todd actually one of the British paratroopers who helped secure the Pegasus Bridge and actually portray his commanding officer - and the Duke's performance is still epic even if inaccurate😊
Indeed he was. Another actor portrays the unnamed Todd. The most glaring omission in the list.
Read somewhere he was offered the role of himself,which must have been odd but said no as he was bit too old to play himself
The Bridges (TWO of them, Canal and River) were "secured" by a Glider Assault conducted by D Company, 2nd (Airborne) Batt. Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. (Reinforced with 2 Platoons from B Coy and 20 Sappers from the RE) They belonged to the 6th Airlanding Brigade, part of the 6th Airborne Division, but they were NOT Paras. Richard Todd was in HQ Platoon, 7 Para, the unit which reinforced the Glider troops LATER on D-day. In the movie he played Major John Howard, commander of the Gliderborne assault party... but not TODDS commanding officer on the day... HIS CO was the wonderfully named Lt.Col R.G. Pine-Coffin!
Excellent film excellent cast welldone.
Funny thing there was a photo from the movie of 3 officers at Pegasus Bridge from memory the on one the left was Richard Todd playing G
John Howard and the one on the right was the Adjutant of the Ox and Bucks who was Richard Todd in real life.
Steve Forrest played Captain Harding in this epic film. During the Battle of the Bulge 1944/45 he served in the American Army. He was a modest man. But he was a brave one and a wonderful character actor as well.
I saw "The Longest Day" in early 1964, on a Sunday, during Army Basic Training, (my only day off) at a Ft. Dix. N.J.
movie theater & loved it! Regarding the actors who served, you forgot British actor Richard Todd, who was actually
at "D-Day"! Also, since Robert Wagner was only 14 in 1944, I doubt that he served in WWII or have ever heard of his
doing any military service! Lastly, unless I saw a different version of the movie, I don't recall any color scenes in it!
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@@FactsVerse Never seen a color version either , also versions I seen when when the Germans /French spoke it was in English subtitle, Was Wayne too old to play the role, yes but his name drew butts to seats didn't bother me "Hollywood" lol
True there are no color scenes, I have the expanded version with all the commentary and there is color in some of that.
Yes, there are subtitles when the German and French are speaking.
There is a version where colour was added much later. The main problem is that many of the actors' mouths when speaking were still black and white original. I guess computers weren't up to the power for good digital enhancement. It is available to buy if you Google for it.
Don't forget the other actual participants. Werner Pluskatt was a shore battery controller on the day, and Lovatt's piper during the bridge relief was also the bagpiper on the day. Including German veterans of the day should be recognized, as should the service of Pacific veterans like Eddie Arnold. Tarawa, where Arnold served, made Omaha Beach look like a picnic.
Except Pluskatt was not at the battery that night, he was staying at a Certain type of house in the vicinity.
The actor who played him, Hans Christian Blech, was an Eastern Front veteran himself.
John Wayne did not serve. He made a name for himself by not going in.
@@PanioloBee He could not serve in the Military, he was 4 F on account of knee injuries in college.
@@PanioloBee... a great actor. Period.
My father was a sergeat at Normandy with the 82nd. At 23 he was older than most. John Wayne would have been 37 on Dday. A bit old for front line duty. I don't have a problem with him not serving in the front lines. There is more than one way to serve your country during war time.
Wayne didn't serve. He hid behind his wife's skirt so he wouldn't have to fight in a war. John Wayne was a coward through and through.
My grandad was 41. He took a landing craft ashore on the first wave . Royal Navy PO. He fought to get in the navy as he'd taken a little ship to Dunkirk, transferred from Merchant Marine. I was privileged to go with him to Normandy 25 year commemoration. He wept in the graveyard for 18 year old twins ,4 years older than his own daughter had been. I think that is why he so soon passed away, the grief of memory. Over 200 people, ex crew came to Skippers funeral.
John Wayne wanted to serve in the military but was threatened with a lawsuit by the president of Republic Pictures apparently.
He did tour three months U.S. bases and hospitals for USO in the South Pacific.
During this trip he was asked by OSS to look if general MacArthur wasn't hindering OSS operations.
For this he later got an OSS certificate of service.
@@lathemillwelder920 Wayne was not threatened with a lawsuit by anybody. The idea has only to be considered for its intrinsic absurdity to beome obvious.
@@michaelharrington7656 There is a YT video documenting the real reason he did not serve and it had nothing to do with a lawsuit.
As a 82nd Airborne veteran, John Wayne was a pretty popular actor. He was too old for the role he was cast for. But he did great job and was a loved actor in the Airborne and SF community. I recall he gave a bunch of money to the Special Warfare Museum and his picture was there as well.
I know a SF veteran who was at Ft. Bragg during the filming of the Green Berets. Parts of the movie were filmed there. He said the men loved John Wayne. Their was a feeling of mutual respect there.
John Wayne never served in the armed forces. The fact was a source of embarassment
John Wayne was 34 years old when he registered for the draft during WW2. He did register that's a fact. I understand the age limit then was 35. I also understand it that by that point all who entered the military did so by draft enlisting had been phased out. He had numerous injuries from doing his own stunts and the studio he was under contract to thought he could do more for the country and moral by making movies. The draft board agreed. I think the fact the SF guys at Bragg and Camp Mackall loved him speaks volumes. @@doreenfallows1895
@@doreenfallows1895 Yes, he even put an effort in not to be drafted for WWII.
He used an old football injury for his reason not to serve. His agent and studio supported that.
Seriously? Not a word about British actor Richard Todd? He not only portrayed the leader of the gliderborne assault on Pegasus Bridge, but actually helped seize this key objective in the wee hours of D-Day!
No he didn't. He was part of the 7 Para relief force much later in the day. That really is a common mistake.... perhaps BECAUSE he played Maj Jogn Howard in the movie???
Indeed; I stand corrected. @@trooperdgb9722
The original Pegasus bridge is ashore on the grounds of the Pegasus Museum, located on the east side of the present bridge's site. The guided tour there informs the visitors that the glider operation took place on the fifth (5) of June, because the bridge's capture had to prevent the enemy from counter attacking the Allied landing on the sixth of(6) of June. Also the "de-mining making the bridge safe would allow the Allied troops to break out and continue their attack inland.
The "new" bridge is larger, to allow two-way traffic, and is in the same shape/profile as is the original bridge. The museum's facade has its roof in the shape of the insignia worn by the airborne attackers; double wings. Worth a visit.
P.S. The scene depicting the freeing of Ouistreham was filmed at Port-en-Bessin, because Ouistreham looked too "modern" at the time of filming, and could not be changed to look like 1944. So the sign "Ouistreham" in Port-en-Bessin is a decoy, an artistic licence; just as J Wayne (54) portraying a younger Allied officer, IMO.
As others have noted, Richard Todd played Major Howard of the Ox & Bucks at Pegasus Bridge. There is a scene where 7 Para arrive at the bridge and an officer runs to speak to Maj Howard. This was Lt Richard Todd, 7 Para
The official sequel to "The longest day" is "Up from the beach" from 1965. Clif Robertson participated in it. But also 4 other actors from "The Longest Day". But it fits in seamlessly. The director also used what was collected from the cutting room floor in unused scenes in 1962 in this warfilm.
The actor, Richard Todd, who portrayed Major Howard in the film, and who dropped down in gliders at Pegasus Bridge, was a paratrooper in the British Army, and actually fought during the D-Day landings
Very strange of them to mention other actors, some of whose service was rather limited, and not Todd who actually fought on D-Day.
Richard Todd fought at and helped defend Pegasus Bridge.
Do you know how Pegasus Bridge got its name? It’s from the British Paratroopers Regimental Badge.
Another tidbit. The Pegasus bridge in the film. Whilst Richard Todd played Major Howard, another actor (unknown) actually played Richard Todd in the film😉
A glaring oversight of veterans, Eddie Albert (Colonel Thompson assaulting Omaha beach) was awarded the Bronze Star for his courage piloting a landing craft in the battle for Tarawa.
While l agree that The Longest Day is an epic recreation of D-Day, as a Canadian l consider it a major oversight that there was no depiction at all of the Canadian forces. The fact is that the Canadian forces were the first wave assault on Juno Beach, they had a higher percentage of losses than the Americans at the costly Omaha Beach, but nonetheless advanced farther inland than anyone on D-Day. Also , l'm sure there must have been some African-American soldiers amongst the American forces & none of them were depicted.
🤔 Yes true ,but let's not let the truth get in the way of a good Hollywood story !!....
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No, the black troops were segregated. Hogan's Heroes fudged on that fact too.
blacks were strictly in supply and support. Just because you want something to be true does not make it so. The military at that time due to Woodrow Wilson was very segregated
My thoughts exactly on the lack of Canadian content in the film.
Unless you are aware of the real LtCol's age, you really wouldn't think about John Wayne being old. I never did.
Wayne was clearly far too old and heavy to play a wartime paratrooper.
@MarkHarrison733 yeah with his cringy over acting style
Wayne was born ten years before the actual guy he was playing, I learned today cause I looked it up cause I'm curious. So it was a 55 year old playing a 45 year old from back when he was 27.
@@TheMadSocrates Wayne was far too old and heavy to play a paratrooper.
@@TheMadSocrates They should have cast Charlton Heston.
John Wayne never had to act, he just had to be John Wayne!
True - OTOH There's a theory that "John Wayne" was a role that Marion Michael Morrison created for himself because it suited the kind of parts he usually played. People thought that he couldn't act when really he was acting all the time.
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@@RichardFay We come to see John Wayne
You mean like in his vanity propaganda piece of sh*t The Green Berets? He got EVERYTHING wrong in that movie! When it was shown to actual soldiers there, they booed heavily and threw stuff at the screen (until they pulled the plug on the projector) because it was worse propaganda than anything Goebbels did. Every advisor that actually knew about the Vietnam War either quit or was fired by wayne. Yet, they now show it on Memorial Day like it was history. Of course, way too many people believe Oliver Stone's JFK tells the true story of the Kennedy assassination, never bothering to tell you that Jim Garrison was exposed as a delusional moron. John Wayne did some commendable performances in his life but, by the end of it, he was a bitter, far right wing blowhard. Shame.
John Wayne's best film was The Quiet Man.
Sean Connery and Karl Gerhart Frobe were both in “The Longest Day” and “Goldfinger.”
On different sides in both. 😂
17 years later in another epic international war film, Connery and Wolfgang Preiss were the only veterans of The Longest Day to feature in A Bridge Too Far. Both had been significantly promoted by then!
I recently purchased this movie on dvd at my local market and watched it for the 1st time, I was not aware the person John Wayne portrayed was a real military officer. I liked his role, I liked the whole movie.
If you haven't seen A Bridge to Far, you should if you like this film.
its a factual film which means its a true to life film which actually happened and the events are real ??????????????????????
most of the movie was about real people.
@@josephberrie9550 Yes but not every soldier and officer you see in the film is portraying a specific historical counterpart so, not an unreasonable assumption on his part.
The movie had advisors that served on both sides of the conflict in the attempt to be as accurate as possible.
I don't really care. John Wayne just plays John Wayne. He doesn't act. The film is brilliant and I fell in love with it as a child after watching it with my dad.
I'm NOT a critic or even a troll but John Wayne is a mediocre and LOUSY ACTOR...as you mentioned: he played John Wayne just like Tom Cruise, charlie Sheen, Lisa Kudrow and many others in HELLywood nowadays.
Except Wayne found a way not to fight in the war.
@@fred5399 ...making him a COWARD!!... SHOULD'VE BEEN BLACKLISTED!!!🤬
John Wayne said he doesn’t act he ‘reacts’
@@anthonyeaton5153 very MEDIOCRE!!!
I am a 70-year-old ex-British soldier, who has been on active service and whose family members served in both world wars and other conflicts and many actors have played real-life men who were younger and older than they were when they played them and until I saw your video, I had no idea how old Lt. Colonel Van der Voot was, and I think John Wayne played the part really well, despite his lack of military service, unlike some of the other actors, he was an actor who acted the part well and did the real life Lt. Colonel Van de Voot full honour in his portrayal of him, and he also did look the part as well so I think it's a case of much ado about nothing.
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The name of that young paratrooper Lt.Col. was Vandervoort. A dutch name obviously, but written without spaces, and with "r" before "t" by the way. I saw the movie first time as a kid around 1970 and it's been my favourite ever since. I don't know about real mr. Vandervoort, but Wayne was acting very much credible in my eyes as concerned combat leader. I understand though, if real mr. Vandervoort was unsatisfied, because Wayne was during filming more than twenty years older as he was 1944. Incredible, 27-years old lieutenant colonel!!! Possible only in war time. But that age difference can't be a big deal with the monumental movie like this.
@@FactsVerse I like history videos such as this one, but I love all your channel content.
About Richard Todd, the actor who played the major that secured Pegasus with his gilder unit ," hold until relieved" , as he was by a captain in the British paratroop unit who in real life was .... Richard Todd
I have read both of Cornelius Ryan’s books The longest Day and A Bridge Too Far. They have both been translated into terrific films. While many of the actors in both films are older than the actual combatants in both books, their age does not detract from the enjoyment of the films. It is their performances that matter more than their actual age. Now John Wayne’s role in The Green Berets is another story, he was definitely too old for that role.
Ryan wrote three books: The Longest Day (1959), The Last Battle (1966), and A Bridge Too Far (1974). In the early 1970s, Ryan (who was both battling cancer and working on A Bridge Too Far (originally titled The Big Jump) attempted to write a screenplay for The Last Battle (about the Battle of Berlin), but it would have been too expensive to make, so MGM canceled it.) There is evidence that Ryan planned to write five WWII books, but his health deteriorated thanks to cancer. We were lucky that he finished A Bridge Too Far before he died in 1974.
The Green Berets was nothing but a vanity propaganda piece of sh*t for wayne. There are so many things about it that rang false for everyone that served in Nam (the effing sun even set in THE EAST!). They tried to show it to active soldiers there and, almost as soon as it began, the soldiers began booing and throwing stuff at the screen. Yet, it is trotted out on Memorial Days and the 4th of July as if it is history. Wayne, during the shooting, famously ignored everything the advisors told him he was getting wrong. By the end of his life wayne had become a far right wing blowhard (he proudly proclaimed himself a white supremacist. He married a Mexican girl!) with no concern for the truth. People who think The Green Berets is an accurate portrayal of the Vietnam War probably also think Oliver Stone's JFK is too (Jim Garrison was a delusional moron). But at least it was good filmmaking. There is nothing good about The Green Berets. I head David Jansen forever regretted taking part in it.
@@terrymurphy2032 , nope. He died in 1974.
I enjoyed both books and their movies. My father (who was wounded at the Battle of Metz) referred to "A Bridge Too Far" as "A Bridge Too Long".
English actor Richard Todd was seen in the aerial assault of the Pegasus Bridge. On D-Day Todd actually fought at the Pegasus Bridge.
In my humble opinion, John Wayne gave gravitas to the role of Van der Voot. It's absolutely astounding that at the age of 27 the real Van der Voot had an entire battalion under his command. He must have been one hell of an officer.
@@anthonyeaton5153 Thanks for the comment. At the time of D-Day Van der Voot was a light colonel and commanded the 2nd Batallion of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division (All American). I think you may be confusing him with the divisional commander of the 82nd, General Matthew Ridgway. Finally, you are correct that Wayne was twice the age. Cheers,
He made it seem like a Western. You keep expecting him to call soldiers "Pilgrim".
@@castlerock58 That's hilarious...thanks.
*Vandervoort
SAN MAREE EEGLAZE
Richard Todd parachuted into Normandy on D-day and his unit moved to help defend Pegasus Bidge, He met Major John Howard at the bridge. Howard's men had landed by glider and had in a 15 minute rampage captured the bridge cutting off one of the major routes for German reinforcements and tanks. Todd went on to play Major Howard in the film.
The most authentic actor in this film was the British actor Richard Todd who actually took part in the glider assault on Pegasus bridge, though as a more junior officer than the commanding officer he portrayed in the film's extremely realistic depiction of this action, which was due in no small part to Todd's first hand experience.
No he did not. This seems to be a widespread idea...but it simply isn't true. The Glider assault was by troops from the 6th Airlanding Bde ...NOT Paras. (A reinforced company from the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry) Todd was a Para ... he was in HQ Platoon 7 Para... which was part of the RELIEF force at the bridges later on D-day. Nothing to do with the Coup de main operation that TOOK the bridges.
@@trooperdgb9722 You are quite right I was under the impression that he was part of the glider assault. He did however play a key role in seeing off the German counter attack working closely with the officer commanding who he portrayed in the film so I still think he was the most authentic actor. I visited Pegasus Bridge some years ago with my Army Corps tour of the Normandy battlefields. It's a really excellent day out.
It really is. As an old "Para" myself..(Navy, but Basic and HALO qualified) Pegasus Bridge was a true Bucket List destination for me. Visited there, and St Mere Eglise and other D-Day Airborne "sites". Fantastic. @@daveh9753
@@trooperdgb9722- Exactly. He plays the CO of the Ox and Bucks. But at one point a Para officer sent to relieve him, approaches and speaks to him. That 7 Para officer was the real Lt. Richard Todd. Todd, in role, wearing the red beret he had worn on Pegasus bridge allows himself a smile having spoken to himself.
Brilliant!@@neilhayz1555
One thing that can’t be denied about John Wayne…No one could play John Wayne like John Wayne he was so good at it it’s all he ever did once he’d mastered the art. Some say he was typecast but he never flinched or changed a thing. Even playing a Mongol Ghengis Khan as John Wayne
Wayne wanted the role of Gen. Patton in the movie "Patton". It wasn't offered to Wayne, presumably because he could portray only One character ... John Wayne.
How could you fail to mention Richard Todd in your commentary, who was actually there on D-Day, and is played in this movie by another actor, with himself playing a colleague?
John Wayne stayed out of the war, he didn't want to leave Marlene Dietrich who he was having an affair with at the time, but then years later he strongly criticised the men who wouldn't go to fight for their country in Vietnam. It didn't stop him from making a fortune by acting in war films.
I'm gonna make you eat those words, pilgrim. You can have them stewed or fried but they're goin' down your throat in the next 10 seconds.
😉
Honestly, YT censor, that comment you cut was just a comical take on a typical John Wayne quote. If you lack the intellect to discern what is and isn't humor you really shouldn't be in the bloody job because you're only f--king it all up. smh
dude was 35 years old too
--- THE LOUDMOUTH DODGER . . . always is the loudest whinger, John Wayne, who NEVER lived down his cowardice, like his bro, St.-Jesus Reagan, patron saint of stolen valour.
"Wayne was exempted from service due to his age (34 at the time of Pearl Harbor) and family status (classified as 3-A - family deferment). Wayne repeatedly wrote to John Ford saying he wanted to enlist, on one occasion inquiring whether he could get into Ford's military unit." Wikipedia
The Longest Day was a big gamble for 20th C Fox, which was in financial trouble after the failure of "Cleopatra," so including big stars in the film was a necessary safeguard to ensure good box office. To me, the casting of Robert Ryan as General Gavin was a more striking piece of miscasting. Few people would have been aware of what the real Vandervoort looked like, but Gavin was well known as one of the youngest generals of the war, and one with "film star" looks: casting Ryan who was a great actor, but much older and with a heavily lined face was probably a bigger shock to audiences who would have remembered the war less than twenty years before.
John Wayne's presence in the film added to my enjoyment of The Longest Day. I saw The Longest Day at a theater in Tuckahoe, New York when it was first released. I've owned VHS and DVD versions of the film. I myself served in the Navy. My late father served in the Navy during WWII and during much of my youth. In my opinion, The Longest Day is one of the best ever movies in reflecting World War II land fighting in the European Theater of Operations. Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Hawaii.
John Wayne was paid 750,000 dollars for his part in the movie all the other stars got 250,000 dollars.
Both a fair whack in the early 1960s.
@@anthonyeaton5153 Endorsements usually work best when someone who is well known and well liked "endorses" a product. If we're talking about motion pictures, actors and actresses are paid more when their acting attracts more views to a movie, TV show, play, etc. This is the way capitalism works. It's why a Tom Clancy can demand---and get---more for the fiction he wrote than a Andy McKane will get for the legitimate history he writes. (This is a market driven economy.)
"Actual WW2 aircraft" was not exactly the entire case with the filming of "The Longest Day." Your clip at 8:51show four Douglas AD "Skyraiders" flying overhead. Though this aircraft was developed during the 2nd World War, it didn't become operational with the U.S. Navy until after the war ended.
There is no such rank in the RAF as Flight Officer. It’s Flying Officer. The late Richard Burton probably knew that.
Flight Officer is a WAAF officer rank.
He was actually loved for the role, many people including myself loved it and saw the movie many times when it cam out in '62. No one ever said one word against his role !
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Wayne's swagger is dialed up to 11 in this flick. The combo of Wayne's swagger and Mitchum, running around Omaha Beach with just a cigar in his mouth is just hysterical.
What else should he have had in his mouth, a rubber?
How about Chirstopher Lee, who auditioned for a part in the film, but was turned down because he did not "look like a military man."
Christopher Lee was in active service in the Winter War, the North Africa Campaign, the Invasion of Italy, and the Battle of Monte Cassino.
To be fair if you look at "Christopher Lee" movies you won't see any wat flicks.
I had no idea
My Favorite Scene was When the Army Rangers Climb the High Cliffs Fought Their Way to the German Big Gun That Wasn't There & One of the Army Ranger Said "You Mean to Say We Came All This Way For Nothing?" Heaven & Hell is for Heroes. D-Day 80th Anniversary June 6, 2024.
But they later found the guns a little way inland and destroyed them. So it wasn’t all for nothing.
@@samiam619 Touche' (smile)
I expect that a soldier who had done that might have said it. But they really went all that way to be certain that the threat was neutralised.
Uncle jumped w/101st. He HATED that they cast Red Buttons, a comedian, to play the trooper caught on the steeple. Felt it an insult.
John Wayne seems to be playing a caricature of himself in almost all his movies, this one is a prime example. He comes dangerously close to making a very, very good movie look like a farce. They should have gotten a younger (and better) actor.
and why anyone would think your opinion is worth anything?
You sound like someone that very question has been asked repeatedly.@@gruntforever7437
@gruntforever7437 Why would anyone think your opinion matters? I love The Longest Day and don't object to Wayne's performance, but the man was a racist and a draft dodger.
That's why there is a 'pseudo-genre' called John Wayne Movies. His celebrity always overshadows the character he plays. But he was guaranteed to put bums on seats. And isn't that what it's all about?
Same as Elvis I suppose. ALL the Elvis movies made money.@@chong2389
The British actor Richard Todd played Major John Howard tasked with leading the successful airborn assault to capture and hold Pegasus Bridge on the night before D-Day. The actor had actually been part of that assault in real life, but as a lieutenant and not the major in charge.
Richard Todd was a British Commando fought at Pegasus Bridge.
Even though I'm an old John Wayne fan, and actually have two of the hats he wore in movies, Wayne was never actually in the service. He did do many war films and helped sell war bonds but he was never in any branch of the service.
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@@FactsVerse A great one that shows is "In Harms Way" with John Wayne and Burgess Maridith with a cameo scene of Carroll O'conner and another that shows the true value of our Democratic Republic is "Juarez" with Paul Muni Betty Davis, John Garfield, Brian Ahearn, Gilbert Roland, and a host of others excellent film.
The film did not show enough of the British and Canadian beaches of Gold, Juno and Sword. It made it look like the American and even French did all the fighting. I first saw the film on its release with my Uncle Tom who was there. He wasn’t impressed. Also my mum’s cousin Jack was in the glider drop and my wife’s uncle Ron was in the first wave.
'twas ever thus. You'd never guess that the Royal Navy had much of a role, either. I'm correcting this with tales to my grandsons of their great grandpa's role on HM S Erebus.
The assault on Pegasus bridge was covered at some length as was Brigadier "Shimi" Lovat's role in coming to the aid of the Ox & Bucks there.
Yes and no Black troops even in the background. At least some were in Fury with Brad Pitt.
I have seen TLDay several times and had a vhs recording of a colorized version which I loved .. but I have never seen a coloured and monochrome version as suggested. And yes Wayne was not only too old but too braggadocio for what should have been a more natural part.
I think John Wayne was great in the role . He played a convincing character.
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the scene where he sees the men hanging by their parachutes dead in the town was a great one; clearly showing John Wayne COULD ACT
John Wayne was best at acting like he was a soldier.
I have a question how many people who have watched the movie notest a huge blooper in it...the scene that i am refuring to is were Field Marshal Rommel is on the beach discussing how the allies have to be stopped and in one part of it he completely vanishes but he is still talking then he reappears how it managed to get into the final cut is a surprise lol
It was magic...
I have my own director's cut of this movie. I call it the Longest Daydream. Whenever I see Irina Demick on her bicycle, I pause the movie and enjoy my daydream.
Back then finding actual WW2 equipment was easy. A lot of it hadn't been scrapped yet. I had a friend who fought in WW2 and he told me when he got back to the states the train depots had mountains of equipment to scrap. He grabbed a come-along like he used on tank recovery. That thing would pull a tank up a tree.
Back in the 60s through to the 70s WW2 surplus equipment was everywhere and cheap.
Loved that movie. I ai think that John Wayne's role was very good.
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Shame you totally missed mentioning Richard Todd, who was actually an officer in 6th Para at Pegasus Bridge on D-day. The one actor in the film who was actually there
Just guessing, but John Wayne and the real Vandervoort are not a close match physically, and John Wayne insisted on putting his typical machismo, bravado and swagger into the role, which also wasn't in keeping with the real Vandervoort who was serious minded and not overly outspoken. But one more thing to hate about John Wayne in this role, is that unlike many of the other actors who took part in the film, John Wayne didn't serve in the military, he felt it would damage his acting career and was thus beneath him.
I saw this movie at the Karamursel AB theater in Turkey. All my friends cheered when they saw who John Wayne was playing.
I loved the longest day when firsr saw it nearly 60 years ago. I like John Wayne although I did have a problem with him in the movie becanse he avoided military service because he had a family, and the studio helped his deferment in 1941. Other actors that served had family and I have more respect for them.
Casting Wayne in that role was ridiculous. Commanding officers in the Second World War were young, slim, fit men, not overweight 54-year-olds. Can you really imagine a guy like Wayne jumping out with a parachute? Not me. The film also chooses not to show it. Certainly not without reason.
The real Benjamin H. Vandervoort was 27. Here we see Wayne, twice his age, in his role. It's clear that he was only cast because he is Wayne. The role should have been played by Steve McQueen, maybe Paul Newman. Six years later, in The Green Berets, Wayne was even older, heavier and goofier.
Bravo!
Same for Donnie Walberg as C Carwood Lipton in BoB. But Walberg did one hell of an acting job.
The 27 year old actors lacked the audience following at the box office like most other such motion pictures seeking box office fortunes.
I think some people just like taking a shit on John Wayne. Yes he was to old for the person he was playing but so was everyone else in the film. He was GREAT in the role and so was everyone else in this GREAT film that did it's best to show D Day June 6th from all sides.
Thank you.
I suspect that at least some of the objections to Wayne in his role was the fact that a man who went out of his way to avoid military service was once again playing a war hero!
You beat me to it. He not only did not volunter. he did everything he could to stay out.
Smart man !.Maybe he did not care to be involved in fighting other countries wars .Good for him..😊
Doesn't quite make sense. Even if you discounted the war against Germany there was still a fight against Japan and they had actually attacked the USA at Pearl Harbour.
Interesting. I didn't know this. What a good actor 😉
There were NO color segments filmed for "The Longest Day", as several other readers have pointed out. If there was some tinkering later on for a video version, that was not the vision of Darryl F. Zanuck. Please correct your description.
The film was colourised in 1992.
This is just my personal beef with John Wayne's portrayal. Yes, he was too old for the part. I saw the movie as a kid when it first came out and loved it. Seeing it years later, after having been in the service, what struck me about Wayne's performance was that his demeanor was more like a grizzled, old, tired soldier, gruff, somewhat dismissive to his troops. He was more like an old master sergeant than a young battalion commander. Maybe that's just me. But I thought Robert Redford's portrayal of Maj. Julian Cook, a battalion commander in the 82d Airborne, in "A Bridge Too Far" was a more accurate performance. But, well, John Wayne was John Wayne. Still a good movie.
Marion Morrison played John Wayne, the character John Wayne was made up by the studio. Get ur head out of your#$$ Stop worshipping fake heros,
if you only see one war movie in your life, I recommend choosing The Longest Day. Quite an eyeful and eye opener.
Richard Todd was in WW2, and took part in D-Day.
I saw TLD when I was 13-14. I am 72 now, but I remember thinking 'What is this old prick doing there?' No wonder he broke his ankle.
I'd have been honored to have a MAN like John Wayne play me in such an important film.
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@@FactsVerse Honestly I'd love to see a factual film about the both George Bush connection to the deaths of JFK and later his son JFK Jr. I'd also love to see a great film like yours cover the truth about the Twin Towers and building 7. None of what we've been told officially adds up and if one follows the insurance money on the towers and the fact Bush/Cheney got their Americans support to invade Iraq from the False Flag ordeal I believe they created. Pentagon was hit by a missile not a plane from footage I've seen. Who can we believe? I honestly do love your productions and this is some of what I'd love to see. No disrespect either but this request is likely over your head. Either way please keep up the excellent work. I'll be watching. Peace
Lol, look at his history. Started out as a commy till he figured out being a phony yellow belly was more profitable, he never fought for his country as so so so many others in Hollywood did !
it always cracks me up on the amount of former us military vets who never cared for duke wayne , while the i never served crowd love the john wayne
I recall a number of Black WW2 vets who hated John Wayne.
I think the worst thing about Wayne playing soldiers whatsoever, was that he was never even in the military. On the contrary, he made efforts to dodge being drafted.
The battle was far more violent and bloody than what was depicted in The Longest Day, which really does a disservice to the troops that participated. It makes it seem more like a comic book adventure, rather than a serious battle. I also object to all of the misplaced and sometimes goofy humour, such as the Frenchman laughing and waving a flag as his house is being bombarded by warships. The battle was far more accurately shown in Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan.
There were multiple versions of the movie. One was all in English, one had the Allies speaking in English, and the Euros speaking in French and German. The other was a now rare colour version.
I had no idea John Wayne's role in "The Longest Day" was hated by anyone.
Actor Robert Ryan was another actor who was way too old. He portrayed the young James Gavin, but looked more like a Civil War vet!
Yes, the "Boy General" or something wasn't it? Very good actor though was Robert Ryan. Can't say I've seen him in a bar film offhand. Funny enough though about the only scene I don't like in the film is when JW and he has the chalkboard conversation right on the very eve of the jump. It would have been discussed many, many times before. Just seemed basic and pointless. I know I'm over thinking.
@@garysimmonds9636 I couldn't agree more, Gary. In fact, watching the film just a couple weeks ago, the very same thought crossed my mind. WAY too late for that discussion!
Richard Todd played one of the characters in involved in securing the bridge codenamed Pegasus. What was Richard Todd's relevant military experience he was involved in securing Pegasus on D-day. I, wonder why his contribution was overlooked?
I was unaware of the age issue but I do think that John Wayne did a great job acting his part.
I -did- like the line Wayne has when one of his soldiers asked him about the amphibious landings. He responds that he doesn't know if they have even taken place - although this being daylight they OUGHT to have occurred. A very good moment that stands out as depicting the limited knowledge commanders have in carrying out their mission.
I've watched this movie dozens of times. And like all movies watched repeatedly, the flaws come out and other parts of the performance hold up well. John Wayne's portrayal is better every time I watch. His sincerity looking into the camera "GET THOSE BOYS DOWN!" grips me every time.
Richard Burton and Robert Mitchum also stand out to me. I'd like to add one of the German Generals as well (cutting the cake) but I can't get the actors name.
Kurt Jurgens.
I like Movies longest day . I watch on d- day every year. is best movies,of all d- day movies
John Wayne was awesome in his role and being a film maker, we do this all the time to carry a story.
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@@FactsVerse Frankly I watch everything you put out especially if I know anyone involved. LOL. But I always appreciate the behind the scenes facts of making films. Thank you.
@@ajhindalou He di not s"dodge the draft"! At the outbreak of war he was 34 years old and married so not going to be drafted. He did volunteer only to be given a medical downgrade.
He was ashamed of this until the day he died and spent as much time as possible doing USO work to support US troops including going abroad in WW2, Korea and Vietnam.
Duke Wayne was, well...he was a piece of work, no doubt. Too old for the role? Cry me a river. It's John Frickin' Wayne portraying you in a huge movie. You're complaining?
Now, Wayne didn't serve. I can't pass judgement on that. I turned 18 in 1973. Needless to say, I wasn't first in line at the recruiting office. I'm not gonna deign to question his motives. Yeah, some Hollywood actors signed up. For every celebrity like Jimmy Stewart who served in combat (Stewart flew bombing missions over Berlin, one of the most perilous duties in the entire war), there were 10 who basked in the publicity, and posed for cameras while being stationed well behind the front. Wayne stayed in Hollywood and made some inspirational movies. It ain't combat, but it had its uses.
Been a while since I saw this flick, might make a good double bill with SPR...
It's kind ironic that Wayne used his age at the start of the war NOT to enlist while he gladly "served" 20 years later in a movie.
--- LOOK! . . . white feathers in his coonskin cap! How MAGA!
Clark Gable served in WW2. He was older than Wayne. Wayne's stardom was more important than defeating the Nazis.
At 2:45, "employed colour and black and white sequences". I never have seen that version of the D-Day film, just black n white.
By all accounts, it wasmade in black and white, which allowed the use of period documentary war footage. There is a colorized version on DVD which may explain the confusion.
John Wayne saw the war as a career opportunity cos all the leading men joined the army so he was the only one left. He did not go to war.
Veterans who saw John Wayne in the movie laughed out loud. " We never saw that guy over there !", they would say. Did he have bone spurs as well ?
In german movies from mid 1920s to mid 1950s actor Hans Albers often played similar Charakters like John Wayne. Also he didn' t Fight in wwll.
I like actors who didn't have bone spurs.
I never saw any modern day actors on OPS in Afghanistan, but hey... there they are on the big screen playing the hero... lol!
Robert Ryan was too old to play General Gavin. Besides Richard Todd, Eddie Albert also served with distinction. John Wayne was too much like John Wayne in this film. Still worth watching.
Gavin was in his 30s Not sure about Ryans age but he had to be well beyond 30
He looked more like a regular army general who had been serving for 30 years.
Peter Fonda was perfect at playing a 56 year old general, the oldest person to hit the beach. A real leader.
@@theraplawyer I agree & I know you meant Henry Fonda, Peter's dad.
It is hands down one of my favourite movie depictions of WW2. For me, it set the gauge for any movies after, regarding their authennticity if that was their goal.
My Father served in the RAF thru the whole of the war as a pilot with Coastal Patrol, did a stint with BOAC in the middle years, and finally Bomber Command for the last 2 years.
If there's any negative view I can offer about the Longest Day is the lack of recognition of the Canadian contribution.
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WW2 made John Wayne a big star as the rest of the leading men (Clark Gable was an air gunner on B-17s and Jimmy Stewart was a pilot on B-24 and both flew missions to Germany, British Holywood stars had all returned to Britain in 1939) were off fighting. He was classified 3-A at the time of Pearl Harbor due to him having 4 kids to look after but as the war went on he was reclassified as 1-A as they need men to replace casualties and killed. Rumours are that he wanted to enlist but Republic pictures said no and put pressure on the draft board by saying his making movies was a positive influence to moral and was given 2-A status. He did do USO tours in Australia and the Pacific Islands in 1943 and was booed off the stage by combat veterans who called him a draft dodger. lts been rumoured that the real reason he did not want to go he did not want to go as was he was involved with Marlene Dietricht and he was not for leaving her according to the book American Titan: Searching for John Wayne by Marc Elliot. She crossed the Rhine with Pattons 3rd Army when they invaded Germany and supposedly worked for OSS.
Talk about scurrilous rumors you managed to hit them all
1) The football injury that ended his career would have made him physically unable to qualify; even if the other injuries he suffered in the 1930's doing stunts would not have done it
2) Robert Montgomery who was a veteran supported John Wayne during They were Expendable and told Ford to stop needling Duke about it. said he was more important doing things like this and there was no way he would ever have been sent into combat as he was TOO MUCH a symbol. SO what was the point? WIth very few exceptions like JImmy Stewart they were all used NOT in combat. Especially the bigger ones. By the Way clark gable had five combat missions that were to shoot documentary film and then he was grounded.
3) that book you quoted is well known for being an attempt to smear him. Typical you use that piece of garbage
@@gruntforever7437 You are entitled to your opinion. But if his football injury made him physically unable to serve why was he not graded 4-F instead of 3-A and later 2-A by the draft board? The same shoulder injury did not stop him being a stunt man and getting into fights so why would it not stop him from serving? Donald Trump had bone spurs that kept him out if Vietnam. Why did Wayne say “I better go do some USO touring - I feel the draft breathing down my neck“. As for him being booed by combat vets one wounded marine said the following "after my evacuation from Okinawa, I had the enormous pleasure of seeing Wayne humiliated in person at Aiea Heights Naval Hospital in Hawaii … Each evening, Navy corpsmen would carry litters down the hospital theater so the men could watch a movie. One night they had a surprise for us. Before the film, the curtains parted, and out stepped John Wayne, wearing a cowboy outfit - 10-gallon hat, bandana, checkered shirt, two pistols, chaps, boots and spurs. He grinned his aw-shucks grin, passed a hand over his face and said ‘Hi, ya guys!’ He was greeted by stony silence. Then somebody booed. Suddenly everyone was booing. This man was a symbol of the fake machismo we had come to hate, and we weren’t going to listen to him. He tried and tried to make himself heard, but we drowned him out, and eventually he quit and left“. As Wayne’s third wife put it: “He would become a ‘superpatriot’ for the rest of his life, trying to atone for staying at home“. Despite having avoided service during WWII when he was of age to do so, Wayne enthusiastically encouraged others - especially during the Vietnam War - to serve in the military. As for Dietricht, its widely known that they had a three year affair and he described her as "the most intriguing woman I have ever met and the best lay I've ever had" before she dumped him for George Raft. As the Marine said he was a symbol of fake machismo that we now have come to hate, happy to send others to fight BUT not so keen to go themselves. He also was restrained by six security men When Marlon Brando sent Sacheen Littlefeather to read a speech about treatment of the native Americans to explain his refusal of the Oscar for the Godfather. As I say you have your opinion others have thiers
@@johnmartin7599 You try and claim your opinions cadged from questionable sources as fact.
By the way his football injury that MATTERED was a bad knee. Which just goes to show how 'ill informed' you are
@@gruntforever7437 Same question why was he not 4-F for his knee instead of 2-A for the draft
Hell, most of the lead actors were already older than their counterparts. That was common even in the WWII movies of the 1940s, since the younger actors were in the real war.
I like John Wayne
Glad to know that your'e a fan of John. Which of his roles appealed to you the most?
I didn’t realize John Wayne’s character was so young in real life, but then again, I grew accustomed to seeing actors that were much older than the real life war characters in the various war movies of the past and present, that Wayne, curiously, didn’t seem out of place. Most soldiers and front line officers in WWII were kids. The main characters in Private Ryan for example, maybe be young, but not young adults.
Doesnt matter to me about John Waynes age. His portrayal of Van der Voot was excellent. 40 years ago if John Wayne although alot older than me wanted to play me in a movie, i would have said "hell yeah". Could not imagine doing this epic without him.
It never mattered to me, even after watching this. It's a story, not a documentary.
One of my favourite D-Day films. Yeah, John Wayne was too old, but he did a superb job. I think it's also one of the few WWII movies to show Churchill tanks.(I think you see one in one of the aerial views of the landing.
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@@FactsVerse More movie facts. Back stories of movies and TV are always interesting.
I submit that the entire premise of this video is flawed. The only people that hate John Waynes part in the movie are the modern revisionest.
John Wayne’s role was hated by the cast because they found out he was getting a lot more money than any other actor in the film.
Once they found out he was making a boatload more then they were, it stand to reason they resented Wayne. As for his age in the film, I never saw a problem with that. And I’m sure most of the others in this film could care less about this point.
One of the best war movies ever made in my opinion, and this is why it has and will continue to withstand the test of time.
True. Years earlier Richard Zanuck personally insulted Wayne and his abilities as an actor. It can be safely said that, for whatever reason, Zanuck was trying to ruin his career. Of course Wayne never forgot it. Years, and many films later Wayne was the big star, mostly from the war movies he starred in. When Zanuck wanted to make The Longest Day he knew he needed Wayne to sell the film. At that time in Wayne's career it was unthinkable for him not to be included in a war movie this big. Wayne fielded many requests from Zanuck to be in the film. Each request came with an increase in salary. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Wayne continued to turn the part down until the salary became astronomical by the standards of the time. He eventually accepted, I believe, after the offer reached several hundred thousand. That's the gist of how Wayne got the amount over the other actors.
Did you know that a Sherman tank used in the movie was actually recovered from the beach and restored to use in the movie.
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