Movies on D-Day
The Longest Day - 1962
Turned
in 1962 according to the work of the book of Cornelius Ryan, this film, which
recalls "the longest day of the century", according to words of
Rommel, did not require less than 4 realizers.
Some of the largest movie stars, American, English and French played there
the role of famous men but also of anonymities, not less heroic.
For more information on this film which comprises a great error to the true
history of the landing on Normandy, click here.
The Big Red One - 1980
The realizer Samuel Fuller, as for him, indeed took part in the landing, on Omaha Beach, with the 1st American Division - The Big Red One - of which it recalls the glorious history in his film.
Saving Private Ryan - 1998
Seen
through the glance of an American platoon, the history begins on June 6, 1944,
in Omaha Beach . The captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) has the
role of finding the private James Ryan (Matt Damon), whose 3 brothers
died in the combat and exposes hisselves thus at many risks. Confronted with
a perilous situation, the men discuss the orders. Why eight men would they
risk their life for only one man ? Caught up with by the brutality of the
war, each one seeks his own answer as well as the force to overcome a dubious
future with honor and courage.
Saving Private Ryan was the largest success of the American boxoffice
in 1998 and rewarded for 5 Oscars of which that of the best realizer (Steven
Spielberg).
Maurice Chauvet (a French D-Day veterans) tells: "the first twenty minutes
have beautiful atrocious beings, but they are only the sad reflection of the
truth. Yes, it was really a carnage, Omaha . A small detail concerning
the landing nevertheless : in the film, at the end of the battle at Omaha,
we can see a red sea of blood. Spielberg exaggerated too much, because water
in fact had become black, the German shells making go up the mud on the surface.
The continuation of film is rather strange; the end is disturbing. It is perhaps
a detail, but significant with the eyes of those which made the landing :
Ireland never resembled Normandy" (the film having been shot to Ireland).
To know some more about Saving Private Ryan , click
here.
Band of Brothers
This
very realistic mini-series shows you, in 10 episodes, the history of the soldiers
of Easy Company all along their countryside, of their training in the United
States to the Eagle's Nest of Hitler in Germany while passing by the discovery
of the concentration camps.
Over the period of the battle of Normandy, one attends the parachuting of
the American 101st Airborne below Sainte-Mere-Eglise. This scene is of an
incredible realism. Then, in the following episodes, one can see various battles
filmed very well for the release of Carentan.
This mini-series is essential if you wish to know some more about the Second
World War in Europe.
It is possible to write to the veterans of Band of Brothers such as Donald
G. Malarkey, Richard D. Winters, William B. Guarnere, John Martin or Darrel
Powers. If you want to know their address, send to me a mail : Click
here to send me a mail.
To
know some more about Band of Brothers, click here.
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Marc Laurenceau - copy not autorised - E-Mail : dday-overlord@club-internet.fr