The Longest Day (1962) - Sword Beach

The Longest Day is a 1962 war film based on the 1959 history book The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, about "D-Day", the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, during World War II.

[@FlashyVic]

The actual piper who piped the troops ashore, has just died in Devon. RIP Bill Millin. 1923 - 2010

[@gillesguillaumin6603]

I had the honor to met and speak with him in 91.

[@northerncowpoke7020]

my grandfather use to work with him on farms in Saskatchewan

[@stevekells7283]

I had the privilege of meeting Bill many times, he told me how he met former SS-Sturmbannführer Hubert Meyer of the 12th ss division,years after the war, he became friends with him,and often visited him in Germany up until the german vetran died, and the story about donating his original pipes to the museum at the bridge,and how a historian was telling him what tune he piped at the beach coming ashore, Bill corrected him, that he was wrong,but the historian was still in denial,Bill's reply...it was me,you wasn't there

[@FlashyVic]

@@stevekells7283 Thanks for the reply after all this time. You were honoured to meet such a special man

[@DaLonelySheperd]

RIP

[@TomOostenrijk]

Contrary to the movie, the piper, Bill Millin, was the only ,man in his unit to wear a kilt. Against orders to refrain from pipes being played on the front, Lovat ordered him to play, claiming English orders did not not apply to Scotsmen. Apparently, several German snipers did not shoot him because they figured he was raging mad.

[@Jim63071]

He wasn't mad, he was just Scottish. There's a distinction somewhere in there, apparently.

[@MsXizan]

Amen.

[@joevicmeneses8918]

aye, maybe he was a mad scotsman

[@TheGroundedAviator]

He also wore it the proper way!

[@SuperDancingdevil]

Millen was as brave as they come and his playing boosted morale and worried the hell out of the Germans.

[@timvogan7568]

My Dad landed on Omaha Beach on the night of the 6th or early morning of the 7th. He was a truck driver with a transportation unit and he told me of the carnage he saw. We lost him on April 12, 2011. He is, and always will be, my hero.

[@davemacdonald3889]

And our hero too my friend 🇬🇧

[@marcusskidmore7290]

May his memory be a blessing. A true hero.

[@joshf6136]

Those soldiers were so badass they used Sean Connery as comic relief.

[@robertglennienz]

What a lot of people don't realize is that there were a lot of smaller nations that had bit roles to play on D-Day. New Zealand for example did not have any ground forces there, but we contributed 5 squadrons under R.A.F. command. The Australians also had several squadrons there.

[@chuch541]

Truth! Couldnt have done it without one another. Vive la liberty! Long live New Zealand and the free world

[@marcusskidmore7290]

God bless New Zealand and all her allies.

[@TheGroundedAviator]

The first confirmed aerial kills were by the RNZAF off this beach later in the day when the Luftwaffe worked out what was going on.

[@garyetheridge7818]

Don't think anyone underestimates the Aussies or Kiwis Military during both World wars I know the ex kiwi farmers were revered during the formation of the SAS in North Africa in WW2.

[@lynbrae]

my father landed on sword beach he was in the medical corp said it was hell , he passed away on the 8th April 2009 aged 86 thanks dad and all the other men for giving us a free country we are so proud of everyone of you. ( originally from wales now living in australia)

[@darthstarkiller1912]

Hard to believe Sean Connery did this just before his most iconic role. He's so hilarious in this. And the bagpiper, God that guy had nerves of steel playing in a warzone.

[@hansgruber788]

you should look up mad jack churchill

[@rowanmark21]

My dad was there too.He is 87 and still alive.He has always been here for me.there is nothing like the old school.They are the ones who teach us everything about life,death and the beyond.

[@robertduncanmuir]

My grandfather was on Sword beach. never spoke of it. Lost a lot of friends by all accounts. Brave men who just got on with it.

[@AndrewMRoots]

@@GarethColquhoun Intited? Do you mean entitled?

[@andrewh5457]

So was my late father, never spoke about it either.

[@Azog150]

@@GarethColquhoun There is so many of these comments all over the internet on anything war related. It´s pretty weird quite frankly. And normally said by people who were themselves too young to be unfortunate to have to fight in that war. "These are real men...not like the snowflakes of today!!" Or "the pampered youth of today bla bla bla". Boring and predictable. A crisis of masculinity indeed - just not the one people think it is!

[@PeterHamiltonDoctorstoday]

Mine too. Calum Ian Monk of Balivaniach Benbecula. Landed on Sword Beach. Never spoke of it but did tell me other stories. I wonder if they knew each other. Was he in the photo taken with the Queen at Balmoral?

[@unrealeck]

Good to see the Scots getting recognition in this movie. Lots of people seem forget our ancestors fought in this war.

[@forbeshutton5487]

Two things are needed to have a good war: -Scots -A French surrender.

[@hansgruber788]

we english haven't forgotten

[@chriscann7627]

Uncredited in the film, Bill Millin was played by Pipe-Major Leslie de Lespay, formerly private piper to HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who retired to my village in mid-Devon and used to pipe the village fair queen to her coronation every year and taught the primary school children (including yours truly) scottish reeling.

[@akiheavenly6]

When some people say they can't do anything without music, they really do mean it.

[@richardpowell9830]

I love this film. Very well made. DDAY landings the beginning of the end. In less than a year, WW2, the most devastating war the world has ever known finally came to an end. 6 years of unimaginable hardship and horror finished. RIP

[@CODRD]

Its the bog standard British attidude all summed up in that one scene... Bag Pipers from Scottland, The Traditional old British officer complaining about the Dogs Health and after that scene he hits the Personal Carrier with his stick.

[@HappiKarafuru]

0:42 That legendary "Mad Piper" Bill Millin.

[@rhicks1337]

He's still no "Mad" Jack Churchill.

[@shadowsniper6394]

He just looks lost and hes not meant to be there the crazy bastard 😂😂

[@ShockLegionLeader]

I would love to see this movie redone with all of today's great actors representing a character from their own native lands. Imagine it, a massive international film covering everyone's perspectives. It could become something special.

[@rodneyfarva3446]

Hell no....it wouldn't work. Today's actors & actresses don't even compare talent wise.....although you are right, if it was pulled off, it really would be special....

[@mrpurser3136]

Rodney Farva True, too many egos to massage, wouldn't be worth the production. Still, there's pegasus to look forward to.

[@TommygunNG]

It would have to be too PC. Somehow it would be portrayed as imperialist Anglo powers AND Nazi Germans both being in the wrong, with both sides losing. Then maybe it would flash to the Eastern front and make the Soviets out to be totally righteous heroes.

[@drogomuircastle7175]

Your problem is that almost all the actors had some form of military service behind then.

[@erbertadonis597]

It would be too political... so no please dont remake this masterpiece...

[@nigelmorse3909]

My parents took me to see this at the cinema, I must have been 9 years old at the time. I have been interested in WW2 for many years but i didn’t realise I showed an interest from such an early age

[@HydroSnips]

Sword Beach was decidedly more violent than this makes it look. First wave of Commandos and 3rd Div landing infront of Strongpoint COD suffered quite heavy losses, same for Juno which barely gets mentioned in this apart from Priller flying over it. They weren’t Omaha, but both beaches were totally different topographically that allowed them to be surmounted quicker. The first waves at Juno, on Courseulles, Bernieres and St Aubin, suffered very heavily.

[@daniel_sc1024]

You have to take into account when this was made, the special affects available at the time, and what was allowed by the censors.

[@Fish-tz8yn]

I know I’m a bit late bit as a person who’s really interested in the Anglo Canadian involvement in operation overlord, I foremost agree with your statement.

[@TheGroundedAviator]

And those beaches were better bombed/shelled beforehand, had Omaha been better hit, it'll have been like them.

[@davidmurray5399]

If the planners had decided to go with "Band Beach", the 46th and 48th RM Commandos would have landed to east of Sword to assist the 6th Airborne in taking out the Merville battery complex.

[@TheGroundedAviator]

@@davidmurray5399 History is full of "ifs" in the end.

[@forrestcalkins93]

Commander Maud always cracked me up, i laughed so hard when a explosion went off behind him and all he did was look around as the other's hit the deck

[@jennifersman7990]

He was great telling his dog “Down, Winston!”

[@richardvernon317]

He was actually a Captain at the time and the four bars on the uniform are of that rank!

[@robinbeckford]

I always wondered how he got onto the beach, what with a gammy leg and a dog on a leash.

[@coolconfuzer]

Thats badass with the bagpipe going. Only the british would play bagpipes and take break for tea during battles. I love it.

[@r4h4al]

It's like the scene on titanic where the violins kept playing whilst the ship was sinking.

[@inTHEwrongGENERATION]

What's offensive?

[@johnminehan1148]

I always thought their Forward Observation Parties were neat in Graf 30 or 34 years ago with a big teapot tied down on the team track vehicle . . . .

[@drogomuircastle7175]

@@johnminehan1148 British armoured vehicles all have a tea making machine inside now.

[@coledavis5212]

Lamprey Milt The better thing is there was actually a guy who played bagpipes on the beaches, Bill Millin

[@greva2904]

This makes the assault on sword beach look a bit of a doddle, but in real life parts of sword beach were rapidly turning into a real bloodbath until the specialised armour got ashore and helped blast through the defences.

[@darthstarkiller1912]

1:21 That's Kenneth More, he played Lightoller in "A Night to Remember". As a "Titanic" buff, I love that film.

[@mikavirtanen7029]

Kenneth More is also in the British war movie "Sink the Bismarck", which is great. More was a solid actor.

[@lieutenantkettch]

James Bond trading in his Walther PPK for a Bren gun. RIP Sir Sean.

[@joshuaperry7199]

Nice whenever you see a ww2 movie that isn't just about the yanks. Love this film in particular as my own grandfather was one of old Lovats commandos, he always loved the pipes. Gotta say i love that officer incharge of the landing. "Sooner you get inland the sooner they stop this blasted shelling . . . its very bad for the dog!" I mean how British can you get lmao.

[@thunderbird1921]

As an American, I'd LOVE to see more films made also on the Korean War that show the other groups in addition to us. Brits, Aussies and Canadians all had big roles in that so-called "Forgotten War". Heck, British Royal Marines were even trapped at Chosin Reservoir with our Marines, both groups together fought through the Chinese gauntlet. That truly was another world-affecting conflict.

[@timc424]

The shelling was very bad for the dog...lol

[@richardvernon317]

The Dog in real life was on the beach and was called Winnie, but he was an Alsatian, not a Bulldog!!! The Reason the dog breed was changed in the film was because of Harris, the dog of the German Major Pluskat who goes for a wander before the invasion started. The Producer and director thought the public would think they were the same dog!!!

[@dimitrykolchinkov3495]

Proud to be of Scottish Origin, nothing like going into battle to the sound of bag pipes.

[@tommyatkins2527]

Dimitry Kolchinkov lol Germans didn't know what it was plus it roused the men to smash germans

[@chessmentor63]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6S4iYCwoM1goKsm24s

[@CINTERPOL]

Kolchinkov is a highland name of I heard one

[@alexh3974]

It helped morale alot. The pipes are loud, drown out the sounds of battle and can be hered for a long way. It helped them breach the defences regardless what the Germans put in the way.

[@jessesands4099]

Dimitry Kolchinkov Ain't that the truth;🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@MCatti]

When ever you`re hear the pipes and drums you know : help or trouble is on the way

[@dougie1968]

Good to see James Bond mucking in with the lads on the insistence of M, no doubt.

[@wowknobs]

No Beach was as heavily defended as Sword, or anywhere near it. The legend that Sword was an easy landing was the direct result (in my opinion) of the sacrifice of the Assault Engineers that went in before anyone, except the DD tanks and prepared the way. They continued to try to remove the obstacles even after the tide came in, and many drowned while doing so.

[@charlesuplifted5216]

Omaha beach was far more fortified sorry Most of the defenses of sword was bombarded by the air and sea before troops landed Unlike at Omaha where most missed

[@Bai_gaming]

For anyone wondering what the bagpipe song is called its called Black Bear

[@kieran3473]

I remember when i first saw this movie so much nostalgia

[@NearAbbeyRoad]

Apart from DD tanks, the US never took any of Hobart;s Funnies. The German dismissed the Churchill tank at Dieppe, despite half climbing over the sea walls, which no other tank could do. The Churchill came back to haunt them paving the up the beaches - adapted for the job.

[@Wolfe1966]

Most stupid decission was not to use those funnied

[@9MealsFromAnarchyUK]

The only thing missing was the tea break once they arrived on the beach .

[@extraleague01]

Sean Connery, just few months before the release of 1st James Bond movie, Dr. No. Funny to see a young Sean Connery speaking with stronger Scottish accent on screen, nothing like how James Bond speaks.

[@Daponics89]

"...it's very bad for the dog." I second that.

[@davemacdonald6548]

Bill Millin what a inspiration. Proud to be of Scottish ancestry.

[@bobmarlowe3390]

In the movie, the only tune the piper is heard playing is 'The Black Bear'. Bill Millin said Lord Lovat requested 'Highland Laddie' as they came ashore, and then he played 'Road To The Isles' while strolling up and down the beach.

[@DeltaSniperZRR]

Sean Connery is awesome, 0:27

[@johnminehan1148]

Playing an Irishman (which is half true in his case).

[@johnminehan1148]

@Bryan Ouellet PTE Flanagan states he is Irish. Sean Connery's father was of Irish origin and his mother was Scots.

[@darthstarkiller1912]

Well, what'd you expect from him? This was released the same year as his first film as 007, "Dr. No".

[@TKLFG]

Imagine being that ballsy/insane that even the Germans are like; "Ja, let's... let's just not shoot THAT guy."

[@Chirpysemperboy]

"Play those pipes when we hit the water!" "But, sir, regulations says-" "Those regulations are for the British office, lad. We're Scottish!" "Well...when you're right, you're right."

[@burnbobquist8999]

Why i like this more than SPR is shown here: a brought perspective, a variety of nations, a variety of all kinds of people and not onle the US perspective. SPR is a drama about personal feelings, this was a kind of documentary.

[@spudskie3907]

SPR used D-Day as a background as it was not the central theme.

[@TheRawke]

@13r1tish Unlike at Omaha, the Royal Navy and the RAF actually hit the German positions and not the countryside behind it...

[@Vassilli42]

Why must this always happen on KZbin. The allies won WWII, so just shut up about "my country saved your ass or your country did nothing" and just watch the video. That's one thing I really like about this movie is how you get to see the battle from different nations point of view.

[@BigSmoke2222]

I read somewhere that Millin was talking to some POW German Snipers, they said they didn't shoot at him on the beach because they thought he was crazy. or something, haha

[@NearAbbeyRoad]

My uncle was on the first wave. The beachmaster told them f***k off the beach very loudly.

[@IMeanMachine101]

This movie comes of as a comedy looking back at it haha

[@dusanrakic5955]

that bag pipes guy was actually there and he lived

[@JohnnyNorfolk]

His name was Bill Millin and its all true.

[@drogomuircastle7175]

And his commanding officer, the Lord Lovet, really did land in awhite woolen pullover carrying a Winchester Model 70 hunting rifle

[@mister-v-3086]

In this particular case, Bill Millin was PORTRAYED by the Queen Mother's piper, who was about 30 years OLDER than Bill was on D=Day. And, yes, Bill Millin lived to a ripe old age. Legend has it that Bill, a small lad then, didn't do well when he stepped off the landing craft; so he inflated the Bag on his pipes and literally floated to shore. LOOK him Up~ It's a marvelous piece of History!

[@shadowsniper6394]

Ye because the Germans felt bad for him 😂😂

[@bestshowontheweb]

HOLY SHIT! IS THAT SHAUN CONNERY?!?!?!?!

[@gillesguillaumin6603]

"It's very bad for the dog". 🤣😂😂😂😂🇬🇧

[@mr.salvatorejpluchino8467]

I love ❤️ this movie 🎥 great 👍 movie 🎥

[@ComfortsSpecter]

Godbless The British Incredible Historical Artwork Great Vibe Those Pipes Are Truly Freedoming The Man

[@Mike12522]

The Allies suffered 683 or so killed or wounded at or around Sword Beach. A terrible loss. Not near as easy as portrayed in this movie. Within the next day or two, they had landed 29,000 troops along that beachfront.

[@capcseeeightseventy8231]

That "guy" happens to be Brigadier General The Lord Lovat The 15th .4th Baron Lovat DSO MC.The only member of the Royal Family to fight at D-Day.He commaded 100 Spec. Ops Troops that went ahead of the main forces ot capture Bridges leading of the beach.He;s carring a .303 Enfield Rilfe.I think thats the British 30.06 His own .He's portrayed by Peter Lawford

[@drogomuircastle7175]

It's Winchester Model 70 hunting rifle.

[@rashidahmad7830]

There is no Brigadier General rank in the British Army since WW 1.Lovat was a Brigadier. Its represented by 3 pips in triangular lay out with a crown on the epaulette. Brigadier Generals had the cross swords insignia. Brigadiers are not General Officers.

[@evansphil]

I love watching this I just love watching it

[@mrmemanme]

And that is how to take a beach, use james bond, some bagpipes and a guy with a dog...none of that tom hanks crap.

[@coledavis5212]

mrmemanme The funny thing is this all happened.

[@countrywideboy]

My Great uncle went up Sword beach.

[@rupertsmith5815]

I love this film but I do think they should do a remake to show more realistic battle scenes and show the Canadians efforts that this film ignored.

[@rupertsmith5815]

I have been saying that for years.

[@robbiethepict2783]

Vive l'écosse vive nos frères écossais vive l'auld alliance.

[@Firehound-om6ni]

Good ol CMP Truck in the background at 1:17, cant wait until mine is running again

[@grant8917]

My dad’s dad knew a guy who lived in the same neighborhood as him, was in Patton’s 3rd Army.

[@georgebarnes5438]

How could anybody mistake it for a Sten gun. For a start the Sten is an SMG. Lord Lovat is carrying a rifle. At 53 seconds the soldier jumping off the landing craft is carrying a Sten, unmistakable with the magazine on the left side and the skeleton stock.

[@hannesbaumann8509]

It's very bad for the dog, indeed...

[@alittlebitofhistory]

Really wish we could get a modern film or tv show of the British landings. Don't get me wrong "The Longest Day" is a great film but the Sword beach scene is just a bit jokey for me and I'd like to see it covered with a bit more weight to them similar to the opening of "Saving Private Ryan" or "Storming Juno" from a couple years ago.

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@A little Bit of History A movie about the battles fought around Caen against the Waffen SS Panzer divisions would be good.

[@alittlebitofhistory]

@@Bullet-Tooth-Tony- It really would be and might help stop the myth of "The British just sat there waiting for the Americans to breakout."

[@Bullet-Tooth-Tony-]

@@alittlebitofhistory The British were the only ones in France to face 3 King Tiger battalions and also fought 8 of the 10 Panzer divisions that were stationed in the West. Unfortunately this was overlooked by hollywood.

[@alittlebitofhistory]

@@Bullet-Tooth-Tony- I thought it was Tom Hanks who fought off the Tiger Tanks with his pistol.

[@bfa9446]

Love the Beach Master...and of course Winston ;)

[@leumasnonnahs348]

my grandfather landed on sword beach.

[@bumpermanthesecond615]

the movie didn't portray the first wave spearheaded by 3rd infantry division, but instead at the moment when royal marines commando followed behind with bill millin the piper and when the army is rolling in numbers still a good portrayal tho, we dont see this in lots of movies

[@MrSuperCraft]

All three major powers had an equal part in the war. The UK defeated the Axis in the Battle of Britain and some other major/minor conflicts that I don't care to list and kept the war on. The USA relieved the stretched allied forces on the western front and the USSR kept the Germans occupied in the east by holding up their resources. The USA Saves the day trope is funny to observe but sometimes it has to be put down.

[@thunderbird1921]

As does the myth that the US had nothing to do with it and the Soviets are the "real heroes" (this is seriously a thing now in America). We DID have a key role, but all three powers (plus the French Resistance and many others) had critical roles as well. Hats off to the Brits and all those who fought this unspeakable evil beside us.

[@mikekemp9877]

my dad was first man off his landing craft on d day! he didnt wait to get to normandy he got off at dover!!

[@BathSaltShaman]

In a world of pure chaos, be Bagpipe man

[@nickseven6814]

Rest In Peace Bill Millin....The Mad Piper

[@Amyphist]

They don't make films like this anymore... :(

[@dalek900]

Piper Millin as pointed out marched upand down the beach playing his pipes was told by a british office to get in cover ignored him carried on playing. Germans thought he was mad so didn't shoot him unfortuantley his bag pipes were taken out of action 3 days later by enemy shelling

[@adambrady6675]

In Celebrity Jeapordy Connery would say "I'll take S-Word Beach for five hundred dollars Alex..."

[@Daponics89]

From Millin's last documentary, German's thought he was,"veruckt" , which means crazy/mad so they didn't shoot at him...

[@hevehoc]

Don't you have the full clip of Colin Maud's speech (when he hits the veichle and it starts) :)

[@cray0308]

that piper is one crazy SOB. what a guy.

[@JasonOfArgo]

Funnily enough it pretty much was this easy... it took less than an hour for them to break off the beach and move inland.

[@pascalcottet4592]

Sur le front de mer à la limite Ouistreham - Colleville Montgomery une statue grandeur nature rend hommage à Bill Millin le joueur de cornemuse.

[@keiranbertram5996]

My grandad died on Omaha beach by the German MG going through the barb wire

[@christrotter3052]

Jesus...that was an evil gun... Sorry

[@TheRawke]

@Litterboxer529 Likely, because the piper is Bill Millin who accompanied him most of the time.

[@johannr2658]

I know this video is 13 years old but I have a question! In this movie, at the start of every landing there is this very large landing craft, later we only see the small ones, why is the one at the beginning so big? Is it a landing craft for high ranks, is it for tanks? Please let me know

[@kieran3473]

Glad the Germans didn't shoot the piper in this film cuz that would make meh cry XD

[@loganfox2386]

Didn’t in real life either

[@Concetta20]

One of my favorite movies. Watch it every June. Still don’t understand why they cast Super Scot Sean Connery as an Irishman.

[@mohammedashian8094]

Why not? No one’s gonna tell 😉

[@alabamaminator6978]

I just notice bill played the pipes even tho in some scene in the movie he didn't get his pipes ready

[@NYRM1974]

God bless the Gallant men who fought for our freedoms. In this monumental crusade to protect our Western Hemisphere from evil.

[@AHighPwner]

that scottish guy who is yelling in the landing craft is Sean Connery

[@michaelojeda8338]

Nothing is more frightening than thousands of Ni Gaelie warriors coming at you with bagpipes playing. 😨

[@drogomuircastle7175]

The Lovat Scouts were only a Battalion in 1st Special Service Brigade. About 400 men.

[@proudyorkshireman7708]

@@drogomuircastle7175 and they were probably a mixture from around the U.K.

[@DuckieMcduck]

That fucking Piper, man.

[@jameshague5633]

superheroes united is a british canadian allied superhero team dedicated to keeping canada and great britain from safe from harm when a massive or serious terrorist attack or supervillain attack happens superheroes united comes and sets it right and stops the villains and terrorist untill canada and britian are safe and also superheroes united's motto is proudly serving and protecting canada and great britain

[@Train-life-class-323]

U S did had the easiest Utah

[@victorgalvan1105]

Hey where the famed war hero "Mad Jack" Churchill at?

[@alittlebitofhistory]

He never served in Normandy.

[@ironeagle22a]

Sean Connery as a youth. Forgot he was in this.

[@Wesugi]

Oh dear, tea at bloody 7 am? How barbarian...

[@jameskirk9938]

And almost no german maschine guns, because it's just a movie not reality. 😇

[@jackmanley4872]

No I do agree that we must take our hats off to the Russians , the Brits and the Americans when they are not shooting friendlies

[@paulpaterson1661]

We are back Fritz

[@powerist209]

This is how beach landing will turn out if there were tanks on the beach. Well Juno got it like Omaha beach (heavy casualities), but they still got tanks.

[@chicken_953]

Does anyone know what part Richard Dawson played in this movie

[@georgebarnes5438]

I agree totally with you.

[@coolconfuzer]

u.s would be losing a battle and still act like they are winning and totally not care at the same time. Thats how hero's are born my friend.

[@capcseeeightseventy8231]

Believe it's a Springfield 30.06. Bolt Action.Made in Massachusetts.Read it someplace....