The Longest Day: Difference between revisions

Tropes used in this work include:

 

* [[All-Star Cast]] - If you were an A-List male actor in Hollywood in 1962, you have at least a bit part in this film.

* [[America Saves the Day]] - Averted. The British and French divisions of the Normandy landings do their part in reaching their objectives. Almost subverted with Omaha Beach, where the Americans were stuck until a [[Heroic Sacrifice]] opens up the German defenses.

* [[Dying Moment of Awesome]]

* [[Field Promotion]]: When Brigadier General Norman Cota (Robert Mitchum) finds that the highest ranking Army engineer is Sergeant John H. Fuller, he promotes Fuller to lieutenant and puts him in charge of demolishing a concrete barrier.

* [[General Failure]] - the Germans have to ask Hitler for permission to use the 21st Panzer Division in a counterattack, and no-one dares wake him up.

* [[Heroic BSOD]] - That horrified look on paratrooper John Steele's face as he dangles from the St. Mere Eglise church belltower...

** Also cartoonist and comedian [[Loriot]] in an uncredited bit part as a German staff officer.

** Two German actors were future [[James Bond (Film)|James Bond]] villains:

*** When Marcks explains his attack plan to an underling, even he thinks [[Dwight D Eisenhower|Eisenhower]] is too cautious and would never use that plan. Cut to Eisenhower meeting with his Generals to discuss the weather conditions, with Eisenhower deciding "I'm quite positive we must give the order. I don't like it, but there it is. Gentlemen, [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|I don't see how we can possibly do anything... but go."]]

** Also the aforementioned {{spoiler|[[Dramatic Gun Cock]]}} moment. A young paratrooper lands in an isolated area, and suddenly hears somebody nearby. He instantly (as he was instructed) unpacks his little communication tool (a tin click-clack toy), and gives a signal (one click-clack), and awaits two click-clacks in return, if the other person were another paratrooper. He in fact hears two click clacks right away, and goes to greet the person in relief. Suddenly, {{spoiler|he is shot in the stomach. He manages to mutter, "Two clicks. I heard two clicks!" and dies. It turns out the mysterious person was a patrolling German. The 2 click-clacks the paratrooper heard was in fact the German instinctively loading and cocking his gun upon hearing the awkward click-clack sound. The contraption designed to preserve the paratrooper's life instead caused his death.}}

** And on a more humorous note, straight onto a German general's headquarters.

{{quote| "Terribly sorry, old man. We simply landed here by accident."}}

[[Category:Epic Movie]]

[[Category:The Longest Day]]