The Longest Day review

 Number 494 on the top 1000 films of all time is the epic historical war-drama 'The Longest Day.'

The Longest Day tells the dramatic story of the invasion of Dunkirk told from the perspective both the Allies and the Germans. It has a large ensemble cast with a whole host of famous stars like John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Sean Connery, Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum, Rod Steiger, Robert Wagner and Paul Anka.

There is no denying the the technical prowess behind The Longest Day. Shot as a docudrama, director Daryl F Zanuck deliberately chose a black-and-white colour scheme so he could really zero into the human element of the war. 

His cinematographers Jean Bourgoin and Walter Wottiz went onto the Best Cinematography Oscar for black and white. Znuck's special effects team led by Robert Macdonald and Jacques Maumont also won for Best Special effects. Neither of these were a surprise as the film was gripping from the outset, making a two and a half World War Two epic, a fast-paced thrilling watch. No doubt 'The Longest Day' influenced subsequent WW dramatisations like Saving Private Ryan, Dunkirk or Band of Brothers.

However, while the film looked great on-screen and was technically proficient, it fell down on its character work. Like I said, it had a massive supporting cast with many of its actors like Mitchum, Connery, Fonda and Burton being rendered to mere cameos. It was less immersing yourself in a different world and more spot the famous face. There wasn't a single protagonist or protagonists that you could follow throughout the film.

Nonetheless, the Longest Day was an entertaining dramatisation of one of the most important moments of not just World War Two, but world history.

The Searchers review

 Number 307 on the top 1000 films of all time is John Ford's 1956 Western 'The Searchers.'

Ethan Edwards (John Wayne) is a civil-war veteran living during the Texan-Indian wars. When his niece Debbie (Natalie Wood) is abducted by the local Comanche tribe, he and his nephew Martin Pawley (Jeffrey Hunter) mount a years-long expedition to find her again.

Time for one of my least-favourite film genres: Westerns. I've never been a fan of cowboy films - not for any egregious reason. They're just not for me at all. The Searchers didn't really do much to shift the needle.

Perhaps that's because of John Wayne. Wayne was well-known for his cowboy films, but, after a while, they all kind of blend into one. From Ethan Edwards to Tom Doniphan to Rooster Cogburn, they all featured the hulking Wayne always playing the same role in the same way.

Edwards has strong anti Native-American sentiments, bringing him into conflict with his nephew Martin who is an eighth Comanche. Jeffrey Hunter was more convincing as the more straight-forward, as cut-and-dry hero. In contrast, Edwards was more of a not-so-lovable rogue.

His bigotry also rears its ugly head when he realises that Debbie has voluntarily assimilated into the local Comanche group who abducted her. Wood is a decent-enough actress. She was Oscar-nominated for Rebel without a Cause, as well as Splendor in the Grass and Love with the Proper Stranger. But she never had the proper time to shine here.

Yes, the Searchers had the stunning cinematography that depicted the old American-West, but it didn't do anything to make me become a fan of cowboy films.