The Longest Day (1962) | Movie Reaction | First Time Watching | So Many Great Actors!

[@anathardayaldar]

I'm surprised to see this grand old movie getting honored by a current youtube star. Thank you. This is one of my favorite movies.

[@Jay-j4w3x]

Kudos to Eddie Albert, a true WWII hero. Before WWII he secretly worked for Army intelligence photographing German Uboats in Mexican harbors. When war broke out, he enlisted in the Coast Guard. After one yr of service he was discharged from the CG to accept a commission as a Lieutenant in the Naval Reserve. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions during the invasion of Tarawa when acting as a coxswain on a naval landing craft he rescued 47 Marines who were stranded offshore while under heavy enemy fire and assisted with the rescue of 30 others. Lived to the ripe old age of 99!

[@davidcollver6155]

And lucky enough to have given us Green Acres. Country comedy. From the 60s.

[@markwilliams6394]

I met Eddie Albert at a mall in the 80's. He was promoting a movie he was in called Stitches. He had a hard time speaking. He was in his mid to late 70's so that could have been the reason for him struggling to speak. I'm only 58 and I struggle to speak sometimes. Lol. He was a really nice guy, though.

[@kerry-j4m]

Didn't know about German uboats in Mexican harbors,I wonder why Germany didn't attack America's coastlines,harbors,etc,etc,..

[@steelers6titles]

@@kerry-j4m Two groups of saboteurs landed off Florida and Long Island in mid-1942, with targets for destruction. They were quickly rounded up by the F.B.I.

[@rafaucett]

@@kerry-j4m After the USA officially entered the war, U-Boats did operate off the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. From the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's website (part of the U.S. Dept. of the Interior): "During the years 1942 and 1943, a fleet of over 20 German U-boats cruised the Gulf [of Mexico], seeking to disrupt the vital flow of oil carried by tankers from ports in Texas and Louisiana. They succeeded in sending 56 vessels to the bottom; 39 of these are now believed to be in state or Federal waters off Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. After their initial, devastating success, U-boat attacks in the Gulf became rare by the end of 1943 after merchant vessels began cruising in armed convoys."

[@rogermorris9696]

Richard Todd fought at Pegasus Bridge, was offered a role as himself but refused, as he thought it could be disrespectful to people ho did not come back . He took the role of his comander instead, wearing the same helmet he did in actual attack.

[@sandbagger57]

He played Major Howard who commanded that attack including him at the time. Excellent comment by you.

[@mwhyte1979]

​​@@sandbagger57I like the fact the actor was wearing his actual beret from his service in the Para's and all he had to do was change his cap badge for the one that Major Howard had on his beret. I'm afraid though that I'm not sure what the names was of their two units. One of my most favorite movies of all time.

[@dougmoodie8713]

He wasn’t playing his commander, Richard Todd was a Lt in the 7th Parachute Battalion, not in The Ox and Buccs, who were glider borne. At one point he did have to report to Major Howard at the bridge though and this was put in the film. Richard Todd said he found it odd that another actor played himself reporting to the same man he was portraying.

[@GarthKlein]

My favourite part of the film, which shows how odd I am, is when Richard Todd changes the ammunition clip on his gun. As a real officer in the war, he had done that so many times that, in the movie, he hardly looks at the gun at all and is able to think of other things and issue orders at the same time. This contrasts with actors who were never in the army who, though they get all the actions right, have to think about what they are doing.

[@seanboy118]

Up the Ox and Bucks!!

[@anathardayaldar]

The audience didn't need a fake romance or gangstah talk to want to watch this movie. They had JUST lived through it. They knew someone personaly effected by it. They all appreciated the facts of the movie with reverence.

[@ryanhill8886]

The Bagpiper was named Bill Millin, Canadian born and spent his life as the personal bagpiper to Lord Lovat, depicted wearing the light colored sweater. Legend has it that Millin spent quite a while parading back and forth at the water's edge playing his bagpipes. Captured German soldiers said they did not shoot him down since they thought he was quite mad to be out in the open while everyone else was seeking cover

[@custardflan]

This is based on a book by Cornelius Ryan, who interviewed participants in the battle from all sides involved. He also wrote a book, A Bridge Too Far, about WWII's Operation Market Garden, the largest airborne assault ever. it was made into a pretty good movie too.

[@kevinfrank5527]

He concluded his "trilogy" with "The Last Battle" about the Battle of Berlin. It was also based on extensive interviews with participants and is the most chilling of the 3.

[@jamesalexander5623]

@@kevinfrank5527 That would make a Great Movie! .... You get the Funding and I'll Direct!

[@matwetton]

for anyone curious, the glider troops are shouting "up the Ox and Bucks" when they launch their attack, this is a reference to their regiment the "oxfordshire and buckinghamshire light infantry" who later became the royal green jackets, and whose legacy now continues as 2nd battalion the Rifles, one of the UK's premier light infantry regiments.

[@georgesykes394]

Need to finish the book Operation Pegasus Bridge.

[@roberthultz9023]

Weren't the Ox and Bucks the other half of "Band of Brothers" the book?

[@paultapner2769]

@@roberthultz9023 The book is 'Pegasus Bridge' By Stephen Ambrose. Who also wrote 'Band of Brothers'.

[@georgesykes394]

@roberthultz9023 No they were British Soldier's Glider Infantry.

[@matwetton]

@georgesykes394 yes from the regiment "the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire light infantry" that's the regiments name

[@Rickhorse1]

Take this however you want , but I will never forget the story my older brother told me when he was on leave from basic training (Army) in 1965. First day of everyone wearing dress uniforms & hats. The drill sgt absolutely ripping every guy who had his hat tilted even slightly to one side. "You think you're John Wayne?" He then told the story that Wayne always tilted his hat/cap/helmet & it was ridiculed by veterans who actually served because real soldiers never did it. (Wayne never served in the military). "You want to be John Wayne, go become an actor". Ever since, I can't help but smile when I see Wayne in one of his many military parts...almost always with hat tilted...lol.

[@AI_Image_Master]

Teddy Roosevelt III known as Jr. was the oldest person to land on the beach in the first wave. He was also the only General to land with the first wave. He was very sick at the time. His son Quentin a Captain also landed in Normandy. Teddy Roosevelt III (jr) died a month after the invasion of a heart attack. Teddy IV served in the Pacific. Teddy V served in Vietnam. They all had distinguished military and public lives.

[@brittakriep2938]

Oh astonishing! Ask head of german noblemans family ,von Butler'. Since 13th century they served in every war, Germany was involved ....

[@AI_Image_Master]

@@brittakriep2938 I just looked them up. What a history, not just military.

[@kwpres]

He was awarded the Medal of Honor, like his dad, and thus has gold lettering on his gravestone.

[@nickmitsialis]

Speaking of Sean Connery as Bond; the German Coffee Guy was played by the actor who played 'Goldfinger'.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Auric Goldfinger = Gert Frobe

[@brittakriep2938]

@@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710 : Gerd Fröbe was a good circus Clown, during wwll he for the most time served in , troops Entertainment ', not as soldier, because he had bad feet. But in late war, German forces had a Lack of men, so men , being not fully fightable, had to serve in Army. For example my grandfather was soldier, even had lost an eye in childhood by accident. So also Gerd Fröbe became soldier, but in a TV Interview in 1980s, he told, He didn' t like war and Military, so He feeled good, that he was trained as Sanitäter/ medic, so His Task was to save wounded persons. When you watch the movie, please watch the Scene, when a german staff officer shouted the word , Gurkensalat ' ( cucumber salad) into Telephone. This man , Vicco von Bülow' was real german officer ( Leutnant or Oberleutnant) , holder of Iron Cross second class, and member of prussian noblemans Family ,von Bülow', being known for being officers or officials for decades. But Mr. von Bülow became Not a famous officer, Not an important official, but one of Germanys best comedians!

[@davewilliams1157]

And the German colonel was played by Curt Jurgens, the villain in The Spy Who Loved Me.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

@@davewilliams1157 I enjoyed his movie " I Aim at the Stars ".

[@brittakriep2938]

@@davewilliams1157 : Curd Jürgens sometimes played german wwll officers, but during wwll, was , as far as i know, imprisoned, for critisicing Hitlers idiology. A german actor, who was from late ww ll until his death decades later often seen as german officer, was Wolfgang Preis ( Preiss?), but i don' t know, if this german actor was very known outside of germanspeaking countries.

[@davidneel2083]

The German officer playing with the dog actually survived the war and was a consultant on the film.

[@stevetheduck1425]

He's also a major role in 'The Battle of the Bulge'.

[@gmatgmat]

Played Werner Pluskat.

[@panzerdeal8727]

AND co starred in severial others.

[@robertlane6382]

Hans Christian Blech

[@sarahh1053]

He was stationed on the Russian front during the war -- it's amazing he survived!

[@4325air]

At 19:57, the actor RichardTodd is portraying the British commander of that mission to seize the bridge. Incredibly, he was a member of that same glider unit that seized the bridge in real life! We have to remember that this film was made less than 20 years after June 6, 1944. There are other actors in the film who similarly were present for the actual invasion.

[@timberwolf5211]

At one point in the movie, you see a soldier go up to Richard Todd's character and ask him a question. Richard Todd said that that soldier was actually based on him in real life. That he Richard Todd, the soldier in 1944, did go up and speak to his CO, and that they put that soldier in the movie as a nod to his RL self.

[@dougmoodie8713]

Richard Todd wasn’t a member of that unit, he was a Lt in the 7th Parachute Battalion that reinforced the Ox and bucs at the bridge.

[@davidparris7167]

In real life just before the gliders took off for the operation depicted in the movie a big wig officer told Todd among others to transfer from glider 34 to glider 1. In the aftermath of the landings, glider 34 crashed and all on board were killed. In another incident Todd tried to get into a London nightclub to celebrate his passing out of officer school but was turned away because the club was full. Later that night the night club received a direct hit during an air raid and some of his fellow officers who he was supposed to meet up with were killed. Obviously, Richard Todd was never meant to die in WW2 and lived to the ripe old age of 90.

[@smythharris2635]

​@@davidparris7167He also narrated on an album by the band Dulcimer.

[@cliffchristie5865]

One bit of trivia: actor Kenneth More served as a medic on D-Day. In this film he's brandishing Colin Maud's personal sheleleigh while directing the troops on the beach. However they replaced Maud's German shepherd with a bulldog, feeling it would be more "British".

[@brittakriep2938]

Oh , Great Dane' is in reality, Deutsche Dogge '.

[@kwpres]

and he named it Winston, because it lookeed like the English PM.

[@Feargal011]

He also sank the Bismarck. As far as Pinewood Studios was concerned, he won the war single handed.

[@waltshields5483]

My father was in the first wave at Omaha Beach. How anyone made it is beyond me. My mother was Dutch and lived under the Nazi's for four years. The church that Red Buttons was hanging from has a life size dummy hanging from it today in memory of what happen there.

[@tobiassteinhorst8695]

It also has a stained glass window, donated by the guy played by Red Buttons, which shows the story, him hanging by the parachute from the church steeple, the burning house in the background

[@poulmadsen7969]

Red Buttons played John Steele, the real life paratrooper hanging from the tower. I learned he was from Illinois

[@castlerock58]

War is always terrible but it is hard to imagine how much harder it was for your dads generation to fight the Nazi's or Japan than today's troops fighting the Taliban or Iraq. The casualties were a different order of magnitude.

[@travismorris9303]

Anthony Hopkins was in the WWII movie A Bridge Too Far about Operation Market Garden. That was also cover in Band of Brothers when they jumped into Holland. It's a pretty great movie worth checking out too.

[@simonfrederiksen104]

Check out his performance in A Lion in Winter (1968)

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Seconded!

[@jhilal2385]

@@simonfrederiksen104 Along with Timothy Dalton as John Lackland

[@novanights2chevy597]

Favorite part is where Pluskat first sees the invasion fleet coming out of the mist from within his bunker. Hans Christian Blech does a great job.

[@donsample1002]

And if you watch the credits, you see that the real Pluskat was one of their technical advisers on the film.

[@dennisquinn13]

I liked the scene with Pluskat the most and thought it was incredible he survived the war and was in this movie.

[@donsample1002]

@@dennisquinn13 Yeah, but I do wonder about the fate of his dog.

[@mohammedashian8094]

The aerial one shot harbour scene is still some of the greatest filmmaking I’ve seen in my life and it earned a well deserved Oscar I mean just LOOK at it it’s SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!

[@kwpres]

it's Quisterham harbor, I believe.

[@stevetheduck1425]

It's the real place, too, some modern buildings hidden, and the old Casino rebuilt again, just to be blown up for this film.

[@Nedchilvs]

@@kwpres No it was actually shot at Port Au Bessin, which is a town some miles down the coast.

[@Nedchilvs]

Shot at Port au Bessin in Normandy, which plays the part of Ouisterham, the place stormed by British and French commandos

[@michaelK3148]

The British actor portraying the British flyer you could not identify is Richard Burton at the height of his career. His scenes for a Longest Day were filmed in between his filming Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor.

[@brianwilcox3478]

And the last scene with Burton discussing the German soldier with the boots on the wrong feet is actually pretty chilling " Hes Dead, Im crippled, and your lost!"............

[@odysseusrex5908]

@@brianwilcox3478 I've always hoped that medic made it back with another shot of morphine.

[@chipsthedog1]

Whilst clearing the beach at Ponte du Hoc ready for filming they actually found a tank that had been buried there since D-day! After cleaning it off it was actually used in the movie as a British tank.

[@rogers.5153]

There were massive delays during the filming of Cleopatra, which starred Elizabeth Taylor (Cleopatra of course), Richard Burton (Marc Antony), and Roddy McDowall (Octavian), which allowed Burton and McDowall to appear in The Longest Day.

[@Hiraghm]

The German general, Blumentritt, is played by Kurt Jurgens, who also played the U-Boat captain in "The Enemy Below". The Enemy Below is most famous for having inspired an episode of the original Star Trek series, and is itself an excellent WWII movie.

[@scottythedawg]

Jeffery Hunter too was the bangalore lt - He was Captain Pike in Star Trek (which you probably know)

[@glennwisniewski9536]

@@scottythedawg Hunter tragically died young (at age 42) as did co-star Sal Mineo (age 37).

[@AlanHigh-x4i]

Star Trek TOS, "Balance of Terror".

[@jamesalexander5623]

@@AlanHigh-x4i I had seen "The Enemy Below" long before Star Trek Aired and I recognised the Plot right away .... I was disapointed when the Romulians didn't start Singing!

[@RubyGB]

"The Enemy Below" is by far my favorite war movie of all time because of ending and the casting of Robert Mitchum and Curt Jurgens (actually born Curd, he was usually billed as Curt).

[@glennwisniewski9536]

The ultimate spot-the-star movie. And what's amazing is that everyone manages to get their moment in the sun.

[@larky368]

Too much Red Buttons.

[@glennwisniewski9536]

@@larky368 Respectfully disagree.

[@ChicagoDB]

Rivaled only by "A Bridge Too Far"

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

@@larky368 " Ding-Dong, Ding-Dong."

[@rawschri]

This was Sean Connery's last film role before he got the " gig " as James Bond. Six months before this, he was collecting Un-employment benefits ... Michael Caine remembers that the last time he collected the " Dole " in the early 1960's, Connery was two people in front of him in the queue ...

[@alundavies1016]

Richard Todd played Major Howard, the British glider troops taking Pegasus bridge. He actually took part in that precise action as a 24yr old, 18yrs before making this film, and knew Major Howard as a result.

[@Charles_Gaba]

3 different directors-one for the U.S. scenes, one for the British/French scenes and one for the German scenes. And it came out just 18 years after the actual D-Day.

[@NecramoniumVideo]

i really wish we would get like a remake of this movie, just so the current generations can see why those soldiers were nicknamed the Greatest Generation.

[@Charles_Gaba]

@@NecramoniumVideo Pretty sure Saving Private Ryan + Band of Brothers serve as a close equivalent. Obviously they don’t include the British/French POV.

[@laustcawz2089]

Darryl Zanuck, the producer of the film, also directed some of it.

[@mikealvarez2322]

The actor that played Scottie on the original Star Trek was wounded on Juno Beach (he lost a couple of fingers from one of his hands). When they filmed the series they made sure not to show his wounds.

[@stevetheduck1425]

James Doohan, Canadian.

[@jeffreymcurtis]

Actually he just lost the middle finger on his right hand... the only time that it's shown is during the scene in the search for Spock when they are stealing the Enterprise!

[@revylokesh1783]

This was THE war movie I grew up with as a kid. Even back in the 80s it was already old, but my parents liked it, and so did I. I've been to the beaches of Normandy when I was 5. I've been to the museums there. I returned there 2 years ago with my wife and kids. When my grandma was 13 her family had US troops staying at her house while they were on the way to the frontline of the Ardennes after having liberated our capital (Luxembourg) One of those soldiers is almost 100 now and still alive. Our families are still in touch, after contact was reestablished 20 years ago or so.

[@ruthsaunders9507]

It used to be on TV every year around Memorial Day or June 6th.

[@jonharper8963]

That person playing the bagpipes was Bill Millin, famous for playing the bagpipes at the Normandy landings. It’s not Scottish but the First Special Service Brigade (Commandos) under Lord Lovat - a British brigade. It likely contained Scottish volunteers as well as part of the British forces. Millin was actually Canadian

[@duncancallum]

Millan was born in Canada to Scottish Parents who went back home to Scotland when Bill was 3 years of age.

[@Mark-Haddow]

Lovat was Scots. The majority of his commandos were Scots. The SAS and SBS were formed by Scots. The main reason being, all the commando training took place in Scotland, so it was easier to get willing volunteers from Scots regiments.

[@oriole21bird]

The Longest Day is one of my favorite War films. I think it's very well paced and I also very much enjoy seeing both the Allied and Axis perspectives.

[@larky368]

Even with Red Buttons in it?

[@BrahmaDBA]

This is my dad's favourite movie. He would play it at night and I would catch him watching as I come down from my room. Thank you for reacting to it.

[@waterbeauty85]

All these decades later, and one of my old friends is still haunted by Sal Mineo's gasping "I heard two clicks!" as he died.

[@thorstrebla980]

YOU LOOK LIKE SAL MINEO!

[@chriswilletts3621]

"Sarge I got a weapon!" "Well good for you, son." The quotes probably wrong 😂 But I love that bit

[@davidwoolbright3675]

Sir. He wasn’t a sergeant. Sir I got a weapon.

[@chriswilletts3621]

@@davidwoolbright3675 You've brightened my day.

[@williamivey5296]

The success of this film inspired the production of "Tora Tora Tora" a few years later. A famous battle told from each side. Of course, doing TTT meant showing a battle we didn't win, but they figured there was enough heroics to compensate.

[@Otokichi786]

More important, it was as accurate as subsequent productions have been Fictional CGI excesses. I remember seeing the "Japanese planes" circling Wahiawa in 1969.

[@williamivey5296]

@@Otokichi786 Cool! I remember reading in an aviation magazine a former transport pilot flying past Pearl and seeing Japanese planes and the harbor apparently on fire. He and his crew wondered for a minute if they were back in time.

[@williamivey5296]

@@Otokichi786 I think, since TTT, the best of that kind of movie would be the recent "Midway". Despite the CGI, and oddly putting two battles in the wrong chronological order (editing goof?), it covered a lot of actual history without too much artificial drama. That's a long gap in time, though - fifty years!

[@davidwoolbright3675]

The original Midway movie was much more accurate.

[@williamivey5296]

@@davidwoolbright3675 If you mean the one made shortly after TTT, and using scenes "borrowed" from TTT, I'd have to disagree. In typical Hollywood style it couldn't just tell the history, it had to create artificial drama with a fictional father/son/girlfriend angst.

[@ManicReactions]

One of the most misleading parts of Saving Private Ryan was the distance from the shore to the seawall where the landing forces could find some initial protection. It appeared fairly short in the film. On Omaha Beach at the time of the invasion (low tide), it was 450 yards. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was in the first wave at Utah Beach as well as two other amphibious landing spots during the war. He died of a heart attack in France on July 12, 1944. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

[@donovanbradford8231]

Now I know the distance was longer and the gun fire was so heavy it kept them pinned down, the question I have with Omaha was the height thickness of the German defense wall they had to smash through. Given the timing of The Longest Day vs Saving Private Ryan I'm assuming that Longest Day's wall was far more accurate.

[@Hiraghm]

Robert Mitchum, the actor who speaks of "200,000 of them, rpobably seasick as hell"... he was an American destroyer captain opposite Kurt Jurgens in "The Enemy Below". The Genreal lecturing John Wayne is Eddie Albert, most famous for the TV series, "Green Acres".

[@Jay-j4w3x]

Actually Eddie Albert portrayed a colonel not a general in this movie. Colonel Thompson

[@gmatgmat]

The photographer best friend in Roman Holiday.

[@bani_niba]

Eddie Albert played the officer who was paired with Robert Mitchum. John Wayne's commanding officer was played by Robert Ryan.

[@davefranklin4136]

Lots and lots of great actors, a few who actually served in the war! Richard Todd, who played Major John Howard in the glider attack on Pegasus Bridge was actually there. Eddie Albert, who played Robert Mitchum's (General Cota) aide, was in the navy; he was the coxswain of an LCVP and was awarded the Bronze Star at Tarawa.

[@EnigmaticPenguin]

I love this era of WW2 films. It had only been less than 25 years so the lived experiences, the equipment and locations are so authentic to the history. They are primitive in some ways due to their age, but they stand head and shoulders above many modern WW2 films.

[@jimreilly917]

And didn’t involve ridiculous romance side plots.

[@chefskiss6179]

You telling me we voted for a set designer to be President?! 😂 Awesome pick once again, Grandaddy; much appreciated! Had to click "Like" on principle alone, y'now? Wonderful watchalong with you two as per usual.

[@Hiraghm]

The bespectacled GI season on the boat in the rain is also a rather famous actor... you saw him as Cornelius in "Planet of the Apes" and as Goldie Hawn's manservant in "Overboard". He was also the voice of the brave little robot "VINCent" in "The Black Hole".

[@christiankirkwood3402]

Roddy McDowall "How Green was my Pasture" "My Friend Flicka" "Lassie Come Home" - etcetera, etcetera... actor legend 🤪

[@patrickholland6848]

That was How Green Was My Valley, not pasture.@@christiankirkwood3402

[@stevetheduck1425]

He also voiced the Mad Hatter in the best animated Batman series.

[@charlessperling7031]

@@stevetheduck1425 He was the Bookworm in the 1966 "Batman" TV series.

[@TheRstb]

A classic but relatively unknown favorite of mine is “Kelly’s Hero’s”.

[@downunderrob]

"Don't hit me with those negative waves!" 😅

[@samellowery]

@@downunderrob always with the negative waves Moriarty.

[@sonnyblack71]

​@@downunderrobOddball,Crap Game,Big Joe,Little Joe!!!😂

[@downunderrob]

@@sonnyblack71 Don't forget, Barbara! 🤣

[@sonnyblack71]

@@downunderrob But my name's Babra 🤣🤣

[@nahkohese555]

My uncle was Airborne and he was supposed to jump on D-Day. Unfortunately (or fortunately) his plane hit some turbulence coming over the channel. They were flying low, hoping to avoid the German radar, so they were in the storms. He and several other guys were thrown around and he ended up on the bottom of a "dogpile". He got a broken rib and a broken nose, so they wouldn't let him jump. There were 2 other guys who were injured and, along with my uncle, flew back to England. The reason I say fortunately is that it was his plane that dropped into the center of the town. The character played by Red Buttons was the only one from that plane who survived. My uncle and the other two refused to accept Purple Hearts for their injuries (they happened during a mission, in a combat zone, so technically they qualified). They didn't feel they earned them.

[@jobanh7ify]

A bridge too far is another World War Two masterpiece with an excellent cast

[@michaelstach5744]

Both are taken from Cornelius Ryan’s histories of the events. The books are about 100 times better than the movies.

[@KevDaly]

My father (himself a WWII veteran) used to be very scathing about John Wayne swaggering around acting the tough guy when he spent the war making movies while Jimmy Stewart was a bomber pilot. Richard Burton (really Richard Jenkins) was Welsh, like Anthony Hopkins. They were both from the same region in Wales and their native accent would've been similar - they sound much alike (although Burton's voice and mastery of it would've made him a fantastic Saruman if he wasn't already busy being dead when the LOTR movies were made. BTW he's chilling as O'Brien in 1984 and his performance as the narrator in Jeff Wayne's War Of The Worlds musical was brilliant).

[@matwetton]

by all accounts I have heard Wayne was a fraud and an arsehole.

[@redcardinalist]

Great actor Burton

[@GeorgeTropicana]

Yeah I guess we should only hire war veterans to play soldiers in movies. Solid high IQ logic 🙄

[@Divamarja_CA]

I’ve heard recordings of Burton’s voice before vocal training and it sounds quite different - much more high pitched. Interesting stuff!

[@NecramoniumVideo]

Im from 1983, so never saw the rise of John Wayne as the tough guy cowboy, and never really understood it, he always looked old and overweight so never saw him as this tough guy. His movies are also almost never mentioned as the best, beside True Grit, and i even would pick the remake as a better movie.

[@carlanderson7618]

General Theodore Roosevelt III was the only general on D-Day to land with the first wave of troops and was the oldest soldier to land (56). While he landed on Utah beach his son landed on Omaha.

[@stevetheduck1425]

- and a few days later, he had a heart attack and died. It happened to German generals, too, in Russia.

[@karlmortoniv2951]

Not too long ago someone randomly found a genuine Rupert in a garden shed in England. Nobody knows how it got there or who swiped it, whether it just didn’t get put on the plane or someone shlepped it back from France after the war. I think he’s in a museum now. 😊

[@jimreilly917]

Wow

[@bigbow62]

It's one of the best war films.... you two and the little superstar, of course, have a great channel. Thank you for keeping the classic alive. This film is loaded with amazing actors. Thanks again 🙂👍

[@vincentsaia6545]

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. I have several favorite parts. One of them was when Henry Fonda reaches for his cane after convincing Edmund O'Brien to let him go on the assault.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Edmund O'Brien & Robert Ryan, both participated in " The Wild Bunch ".

[@andreraymond6860]

'It gave every country's story'... Canadian here clearing my throat.

[@johnscott4196]

I worked for an old guy who went in before the first wave. He was a combat engineer, went in to try and clear obstacles. Told some interesting stories. One especiallly about racial disharmony near the end in Berlin.

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

I watched this so many times in the theater. I come from a military family. My father and my uncle served in WW2. They went on to serve in Korea along with my step-father. Interestingly my grandmother, a very small lady about 4 foot 10 inches or so, worked on P-38 Lightning aircraft. They needed small people to do the work in those long skinny tail appendages of the plane. Glad you watched it and reacted to it. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.

[@custardflan]

"Wounds my heart with a monotonous languor." From Paul Verlaine's 1866 poem "Chanson d'automne". Beautiful. It's coded meaning, "The Allies Are Coming."

[@thunderstruck5484]

I always giggle when John Wayne throws his cup , it’s when he starts running kind of funny, still my childhood hero ! Thanks y’all

[@thomaseggle8886]

I was so jacked to see you guys react to this. I first saw this movie when we lived in Germany for 3 years in 87. I loved it so much that it was the very thing that began a love of WW2 history. D-day became my favorite thing to read about. Enough so that my dad who was in the Army...took me and my family to Normandy....was one of the greatest trips. I still remember the chills I had standing on the banks of Omaha Beach in total awe. Don't think I talked for a half hour and I was only 12. I havent seen many reactions for this movie. Love your stuff guys!!! God bless!

[@skogstjuven]

It is a great movie. I remember seeing first time at my grandmother. didn't speak English France or German. still love it.

[@Hiraghm]

Speaking of the clickers... In WWII and Korea, the M1-Garande main battle rifle carried by the troops was loaded with an en-bloc clip (not a magazine!) of 8 rounds. When the 8th round was spent, the clip would be ejecting with a loud ping! noise... The enemy would sometimes use this to figure out that the gun was now unloaded and they could attack during reloading... So our troops took to carrying an empty clip, which they would throw on the nearest hard surface to get that ping! sound... while their gun was still fully loaded. Myself, I think this story is apocryphal, because I used to own an M1-Garande, and it's unlikely that, in a combat situation with multiple rifles being fired, including their own, that they could even hear that little ping! it makes.

[@McAfeeJames]

Great movie, one of my favourites but - it left out one of the most difficult beaches and the Canadians that fought there. The beach? JUNO and I wish it was included to honour the million Canadians that fought in WW2.

[@BarnDoorProductions]

Well, Canada got one long shot where the German pilots strafed the beaches and one mention: "British and Canadians moving steadily inland." I wish it had been that easy. I had two uncles on Juno beach, one of whom was wounded as he stepped off the boat. Two others joined the fight later. My father had been in a POW hospital in Germany for six months by that time, wounded and captured at Ortona.

[@g.gordon8117]

In the 80s I was part of the 82nd Airborne that did a re enactment jump in Normandy and St Mere Eglis. I can only imagine doing it back then.

[@lw3918]

Looks there your fan base might learn some history. You should do "The Battle of Britain" next.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Always loved the scene where Richard Burton's shot down flyer meets the lost US paratrooper, the 2 men most glad to see one another in the entire world!

[@roberthultz9023]

"I wonder who won?" should be asked by a dogface in evey movie about any conflict from Marathon to Fallujah.

[@dongilleo9743]

I've always felt that scene was something of a commentary on the post war situation. Germany was dead, it's "boots on the wrong feet" symbolic of its having gone crazy with its embrace of Nazism, and perhaps being split postwar into East and West. England, exhausted financially and physically from fighting two world wars, was wounded and crippled. The U.S. was young, healthy, but somewhat lost and confused with the new world and it's role as a superpower.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

@@roberthultz9023 Well in WW2 i think it's pretty clear

[@pauld6967]

One of all-time favorite movies. Yes, just like _'Tora, Tora, Tora'_ you see events unfold from both sides. I am glad you two watched it.

[@SoloArt8250]

These films of those times are just as good as the war films today..awesome!

[@JayM409]

The actor playing the German Sgt bringing coffee to the troops on a horse, later played Auric Goldfinger in the Bond film.

[@brettpeacock9116]

The British CO (Hold until relieved...) at Pegasus Bridge was played by Richard Todd. In reality on D Day, Todd was among the first group of British troops to arrive at Pegasus Bridge to relieve the Glider Assault force....

[@Proteus-27]

I have the color version of this movie, left to me by my grandpa. Watched it again in 2024 and it's still amazing!!

[@tomyoung9049]

Seen this many times and still enjoy watching it. Very realistic about the details. Of course, at the time blood and gore were very restricted but still the battle scenes keep you focused.

[@sntxrrr]

One of the best classic war movies. It was hard to imagine anyone doing a better job at depicting D-day until Spielberg said hold my beer (although he obviously only showed a small part of it)

[@rayvanhorn1534]

One the best films on WWII, they did the best they could within the context of the times & if one can look past that, it’s a great film. A veritable “who’s who” list of top actors, tremendous cinematography & that score is instantly recognizable. Hope y’all bring more classic film, really enjoy your reactions.

[@HankD13]

Of the gliders that landed at Pegasus Bridge, it was remarked that it was one of the most amazing feats of flying, at night, no engines and all turns timed by dead reckoning.. the lead glider stopped inside the barbed wire defending the bridge. Lead by John Howard (played by Richard Todd) the "coup de main" attack held the vital bridge until relieved. A Sgt Thornton stopped a German tank counter attacking, with a single shot from a Piat anti tank mortar (he only had 3 Piat bombs on the only intact Piat!) - also considered one of the most import single engagements of D-Day. When Stephen E Ambrose was writing "Band of Brothers" he was so blown away by the story of Pegasus Bridge, he actually wrote a whole book on it. I was fortunate to meet Therese Gondree (the café owners wife) on a visit in 1984, a few months before she passed. Memorable.

[@eltelsopwith6014]

Sean Connery was playing an Irishman. He plays a similar character in "On the Fiddle" 1961 His oppo, Norman Rossington, was a hugely popular character (he even played the Beatles manager in "Hard Days Night" 1964).

[@alwasser1650]

Speaking of Connery ... the actor portraying the plump German delivering coffee to the coast line when the shelling begins is Gert Frobe ... who also played Goldfinger.

[@eltelsopwith6014]

Gert Frobe was Baron Bomburst in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, written by Ian Fleming.@@alwasser1650

[@joaopauloadlergomesdacosta282]

37: 50 - "Cognag, is that like german whisky...?" (Scream in agony!!!!!!!!!)

[@benjauron5873]

I was stationed in Ft. Bragg as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division in the mid 1990s. Once a German Army unit came and trained with us. Some of them visited our barracks to see how we live and work. While they were there, a friend of mine popped in the VHS tape of this movie and cranked up the volume full blast. We also started singing "Over There" at one point, emphasizing the line, "The Yanks are coming, the Huns are running..."

[@Robert-un7br]

I have no doubt that’s the way you guys sang it and that is a good story, but the line: “The Huns are running” is not in the song. It’s simply: “The Yanks are coming” repeated twice.

[@SergioArellano-yd7ik]

You probably think madimusile from armitrise hadn't been "kissed" in 40 years. Most veterans sang "Banged" or "Screwed" some said something else

[@jhilal2385]

You heard Robert Mitchum's distinctive voice as the narrator for "Tombstone" There is an excellent WW2 movie with Robert Mitchum: "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" (1957)

[@Hiraghm]

This and "Battle of the Bulge" are usually associated in my mind. BotB has a pretty good cast too, with Henry Fonda, Telly Savalas (who delivers my FAVORITE line), Charles Bronson, Robert Shaw...

[@Otokichi786]

"The Battle of the Bulge" (1965) is a typical excessive Hollywood that stands up poorly to "Battleground" (1949), which is a foxhole-level tale later expanded on by "Band of Brothers" (2001).

[@rcrawford42]

While I love the movies that tell real stories about the war, my favorite WWII movie is "Kelly's Heroes". Telly Savalas, Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, and a cast of character actors who would go on to have big careers. It's "comedic" but not slapstick or disrespectful, it's the characters like Sutherland's Oddball and Don Rickels Crapgame that make it amusing.

[@bani_niba]

I liked the "Battle of the Bulge" as a kid as it's one of the few tank battle movies. But history-minded people hate that movie for being wildly inaccurate. The real battle was in the dense forests of the Ardennes, not in the plains of Spain (where the movie was filmed).

[@Bill23799]

The actor who played Pluskat,the officer with the dog, at the shore bunker was played by the same guy who played the sergeant, aid de camp, of the German Tank unit commander in " Battle of the Bulge ".

[@corringhamdepot4434]

Grew up watching this film on UK TV, from around 1965 onwards. A regular in the Christmas schedules. One of those films where you know what the next line is going to be. The actual dog on the beach was an Alsatian/German Shepherd but they changed it to a bull dog, because the German had an Alsatian. Richard Burton had a stormy on off marriage with Elizabeth Taylor. He was also famous for loving his drink a bit too much.

[@MisterFastbucks]

So many good scenes in this movie. But Pluskat's reaction when he sees the armada is priceless.

[@jimglenn6972]

A great one. I have been to the beaches several times and it still chocks me up. If you go, plan on a few days to see everything and stuff from the Norman Invasion of England in 1066! Another excellent movie that takes place just after this is “Is Paris Burning?” Another B&W film film that is very realistic when Hitler ordered Paris to be blown up. Surprisingly, the German general in charge of Paris, who destroyed Warsaw, said that anyone who destroyed Paris would be vilified for all time. See the movie to learn what happen…

[@Otokichi786]

One little detail from "Is Paris Burning?" (1966): Nazi flags seen in the movie were Gray, not the Red/White/Black ones that flew over occupied France. (The natives weren't about to have that happen again!)

[@jimglenn6972]

Wow, very interesting! Of course the movie is in B&W so I didn’t notice it. I lived in Paris for a few years and it was fascinating to see her (him I guess) under “movie” occupation.

[@deanvavra5695]

Eddie Albert ( Colonel with Robert Mitchum) was a big hero at the battle for Tarawa November 20 1943. Saved dozens of wounded men and shuttled them off the beach. Ne never talked about it

[@Mokkari77]

There are two versions of the movie. One where the German and French actors spoke their own languages and another version where they spoke English. I only saw the former for years on TV and video and saw the latter on Netflix a few years ago.

[@Waterford1992]

41:59 Czech Hedgehogs meant to stop amphibious tanks 43:18 This is a very rare on screen portrayal of Canadian troops landing on Juno Beach

[@Airwolf515]

One of the most famous war movie song ever, "The Longest Day" by Paul Anka. The singer himself was in the film. Many men came here as soldiers Many men will pass this way Many men will count the hours As they live the longest day . . Many men the mighty thousands Many men to victory Marching on right into battle In the longest day in history By the way, did anyone recognize the young actor Robert Wagner? He played as the one-eyed patch Number One in Austin Powers movies. In this classic war film, he played a 2nd Ranger soldier who bravely climbed up the cliffs of Point Du Hoc to silence the beach guns aimed at Utah Beach.

[@jimreilly917]

For the Allies, and the Germans…it will be the longest day.-General Erwin Rommel to staff. They didn’t know when or where…but knew it was coming.

[@bryanhenchik6580]

One of the best things about this film is that you see both sides of the battle, as you mentioned. Also, it views it from both the common soldier on the front, like saving Private Ryan and band of brothers, as well as the general officers and staff. So these are really good for a historical view. Might I suggest you watch either of the Midway movies (one from the seventies and one from 2019) Both are really good and give both sides of the battle, the American and Japanese view. Additionally, if you are up for another long one but good is Gettysburg from 1993 with Martin Sheen, Jeff Daniels, Tom Berenger, Steven Lang. Views the battle of Gettysburg from both the north and south level. Great war movies to watch.

[@TommygunNG]

“Gods and generals” is far better than “Gettysburg,” if, for no other reason than the latter plays General Lee as almost psychotic.

[@Hiraghm]

The who looks a little like Anthony Hopkins is famous movie star Sir Richard Burton; infamous for his love affair with Elizabeth Taylor, famous for his role as Mark Antony in "Cleopatra" (played by Elizabeth Taylor), and more popular with men in his role opposite Clint Eastwood in, "Where Eagles Dare". One of his last movies, was a good but obscure military movie called "The Wild Geese", which also had an ensemble cast; Richard Burton, Richard Harris (Dumbledore, to you), Roger Moore (James Bond), Stuart Granger (who was in North to Alaska with John Wayne). Worth watching, IMO.

[@Mark-Haddow]

Hopkins and Burton both coming from the same town, in Wales.

[@Mokkari77]

The soldiers in the Point Du Hoc cliff scaling sequence were played by teen idol singers Fabian, Paul Anka, and Tommy Sands. Also actor George Segal(THE GOLDBERGS) and Robert Wagner(AUSTIN POWERS).

[@waterbeauty85]

"Pork Chop Hill" (1959) depicts a real battle from the Korean War where exhausted soldiers were forced to keep fighting to hold onto a hill that had no strategic value. The U.N. was unwilling to withdraw because relinquishing the hill would have shown a lack of resolve that would have given an advantage to the North Koreans and Communist Chinese in the concurrent negotiations, but because the hill had no strategic value, the U.N. was also unwilling to risk additional lives by sending reinforcements.

[@georgesykes394]

Lieutenant General Harold G. Moore who's story is depicted in We Were Soldier's fought on Pork Chop Hill.

[@dennisholiday1868]

The movie "Retreat Hell" had a scene when a US Marine asked his officer who was this man in the funny uniform all dressed up? The officer told him he is a Marine too. I guess he never seen a Royal Marine.

[@cliffchristie5865]

The person playing Eisenhower is Henry Grace, not an actor but a set designer at MGM studios. Cast, obviously, for his uncanny resemblance to the general.

[@long-timesci-fienthusiast9626]

Hi Guys, it`s really great to see someone finally react to this amazing film. This one & (Tora, Tora, Tora) & (Where Eagles Dare) are 3 of my favourite action War films. Amazingly, you are the only one`s to react to all three. Richard Todd the British commander of the glider force that captured Pegasus bridge, was a very popular Irish/British actor. He was himself a D-Day veteran, he was part of the paratrooper force that arrived to support the glider force at that Pegasus bridge. Where he met the very officer he later portrayed in this film. The actor who portrayed Pvt. John Steele who got hung up on the church, was the U.S. Actor/comedian (Red Buttons). Please continue to react to these older classic war movies, they should be seen by more of the younger generation.

[@Bill23799]

This is one of those films I never get tired of seeing. First time I got to share with others. Thanks.

[@davedeblaey8454]

One of my favorite war movies when I was growing up!!!! You should watch "Patton", it's the best of the 1960s-era World War II movies.

[@jimreilly917]

1970.

[@torbjornkvist]

Irish-born actor Richard Todd plays Major John Howard at the Pegasus Bridge. In reality, Todd was a Captain and also took part in the same battle, relieving Howard's unit. Todd actually meets himself in the movie, his part played by another actor.

[@thegodlessvulcan]

"Battleground" is another good WW2 movie about the Battle of the Bulge.

[@waterbeauty85]

As fans of the 101st Airborne, you should watch "Hamburger Hill" (1987) which was praised by many Vietnam veterans for its brutal authenticity.

[@thomasnieswandt8805]

The real german fighter pilot Priller (the one who told the general that they are idiots) was one of the military councelors of this movie. He died of a heart attacke during post production, age 45. Hitler blaimed Rommel, about loosing Normandy. When the Stauffenberg assasination went wrong and Hitler learned that Rommel was in on the plot, or at least had knowlege about it, the Na*is gave Rommel a "choise" either kill him self, state funeral and pentions for his wife and son, or kill his wife and son instaed of him. So Rommel killed himself.

[@Jordashian93]

A solid and stunning war epic.

[@fullmoonprepping4024]

My Dad was part of the invasion and landed the night before, if I remember correctly, in a glider. He was an engineer (demolitions) he told some stories but kept most to himself.

[@michaelproctor8100]

Another great war movie is Stalag 17.

[@oriole21bird]

Stalag 17 is very underrated. And William Holden is awesome in everything he's in.

[@andrewhalo100]

One of my favorite details is that the trooper that ends up on the bell tower spends the entire prep phase being the loud guy and yelling “i hear you loud and clear!”

[@garychambers6848]

My dad was in Patton's 3rd Army (41-46) 687th field artillery. He hit Normandy after the beach was taken..... They lost a howitzer in the drink so he was put on litter duty... (Picking up what was left of bodies on the beach)........ One year later after the bulge, the hedgerows, Bastogne....One of his last duties was "cleaning up" Buchenwald (Burying what was left of the Jews that were there).....He saw a LOT of death in a year or so......

[@InjuredRobot.]

My grandfather was an engineer in Pattons 3rd, from D+1 all the way to the Remagen bridge where was was wounded (bad, almost didnt make it) I wonder if they ever met? Small world!

[@jimreilly917]

God Almighty bless him.

[@davidyoung745]

My Dad served in the 1st Infantry Division. Before he went into combat in North Africa he had $50 he wanted to get rid of because he didn’t want to carry around a lot of cash. He found a blackjack game…..and won $1,800.

[@touralba]

Try 'Is Paris Burning?'.....similar type of movie with lots of stars at the time.