The Longest Day

The Longest Day is a book by Cornelius Ryan published in 1959, telling the story of D-Day, the first day of the World War II invasion of Normandy.

The book takes its name from a quote by Erwin Rommel: "...the first 24 hours of the invasion will be decisive...the fate of Germany depends on the outcome...for the Allies, as well as Germany, it will be the longest day."

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The Longest Day is also a 180 minute, 1962 war film based on the 1959 book by Ryan.

The enormous cast includes Eddie Albert, Paul Anka, Richard Burton, Red Buttons, Sean Connery, Fabian, Mel Ferrer, Henry Fonda, Steve Forrest, Gert Fröbe, Leo Genn, Jeffrey Hunter, Curt Jurgens, Peter Lawford, Dewey Martin, Roddy McDowall, Sal Mineo, Robert Mitchum, Kenneth More, Edmond O'Brien, Robert Ryan, Tommy Sands, George Segal, Rod Steiger, Robert Wagner, Stuart Whitman and John Wayne.

The movie was adapted by Romain Gary, James Jones, David Pursall, Cornelius Ryan and Jack Seddon from the Ryan book. It was directed by Ken Annakin (British exteriors), Andrew Marton (American exteriors), Gerd Oswald (parachute drop scene), Bernhard Wicki (German scenes) and Darryl F. Zanuck (uncredited).

It won Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Black-and-White and Best Effects, Special Effects, and was nominated for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White, Best Film Editing and Best Picture.

Lyric of the theme from the film, the "Longest Day":

Many men came here as soldiers

Many men will pass the way

Many men will count the hours

As they live the longest day

Many men are tired and weary

Many men are here to stay

Many men won't see the sunset

When it ends the longest day

The longest day the longest day

This will be the longest day

Filled with hopes and filled with fears

Filled with blood and sweat and tears

Many men the mighty thousands

Many men to victory

Marching on right into battle

In the longest day in history