Would you consider "The Longest Day" a classic film?

Honza

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This film blew me away when I first saw it at the age of about 10. It sort of summed up my interest in war. I know its a bit cliched and old fashioned; but isn't it a great film?

Have not seen it in years now. But I remember much of it well. Is it a classic war film?
 

King Billy

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Yes, but it has certainly aged with time. I bought it not that long ago, and it is no Saving Private Ryan, but a classic none the less.
 

regularjoe

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It is a classic based on when it came out/how old it is. If it AFI 100 - best films type "classic" film is another story.
 

aiabx

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I hadn't seen it since I was a teenager, but I saw it recently and I found it almost unwatchable. Ryan's episodic style works very well for a book, but it makes for a lousy movie, as you're switching between a dozen different stories, half of which are poisoned by the worst hammy Hollywood overacting you'll find. Which is too bad, because some of the subplots would make great movies all on their own.

(Disclaimer: I really hate John Wayne. )
 

Martin Mayers

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I think it's garbage
And did the first time I saw it
I hate cheesy sh1te and always have
Cross of Iron was everything to me a war film should be...and the first war film I ever saw which actually 100% fulfilled me
 

FanaticTW

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Yes, it is cheessy....Yes, it was a vehicle for every major star of the early 1960s..... And yes, it is a classic.

My favorite scene is the attack on Ouistreham (?) -- One continuous dolly shot as the Free french advance through the town toward the casino (with a DD Tank in support!) Wicked cool.
 

DrDeath

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(Disclaimer: I really hate John Wayne. )
If you notice however, Canada has no "Duke" of their own. And hate is such a strong word.
Without John Wayne as part of the fabric of America, we would be left with the likes of Jane
Fonda. How do you feel about her? You can have her. And Streisand too while I'm at it.

:skull:
 

aiabx

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If you notice however, Canada has no "Duke" of their own. And hate is such a strong word.
Without John Wayne as part of the fabric of America, we would be left with the likes of Jane
Fonda. How do you feel about her? You can have her. And Streisand too while I'm at it.

:skull:
Canada has Johnny Wayne, half of the Wayne and Schuster comedy duo. And we also have William Shatner, who is worth 10 John Waynes and all the Fondas put together.
 

trevpr1

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If you notice however, Canada has no "Duke" of their own. And hate is such a strong word.
Without John Wayne as part of the fabric of America, we would be left with the likes of Jane
Fonda. How do you feel about her? You can have her. And Streisand too while I'm at it.

:skull:
They have William Shatner. Who needs John Wayne?!
 

tekay44

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Absolute classic. If for the stars alone. What a cast. Not fair to compare to SPR.
 

Nadir_E

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In the same vein, I watched "Sands of Iwo Jima" last night - another John Wayne classic. What I liked most was the way they wove actual footage of the battles into the film (Tarawa, Peleliu and Iwo Jima). Sure, it was campy - all films of that era were, but you have to look past that now and then.

As far as film conversions of Ryan's books, I think A Bridge Too Far is -way- better than The Longest Day, but that's just me.

Fwiw, I loved Cross of Iron, too. :) I suppose the look and feel of Saving Private Ryan owes quite a lot to Peckinpah's work.

-N
 

Psycho

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Canada has Johnny Wayne, half of the Wayne and Schuster comedy duo. And we also have William Shatner, who is worth 10 John Waynes and all the Fondas put together.
[video=youtube;AB3uVARNhmM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB3uVARNhmM[/video]
 

Honza

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Not sure who I prefer, Shatner or Wayne? I guess William Shatner wins, but only just.

(I did not know he was Canadian!)
 

Markdv5208

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[video=youtube;AB3uVARNhmM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB3uVARNhmM[/video]

You realize when you do things like this, it gives Jeff DY ideas? And those ideas translate into my torment when we FTF ASL? And that I'm actually beginning to think that Shatner is a good singer?

Horrendous stuff that....

Mark DV
Ada, MI
 

Doc Martin

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To paraphrase Sean Connery from the movie

there sure is a lot of weird blokes in this thread.
 
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