DIT DIT DIT DAH

I watched The Longest Day last night, the 1962 film that has left a lasting impression on me. I was about 11 or so when I watched it as I used to love going along to all the big films of the day. See here:

SATURDAY AFTERNOONS

It was a big American production of the 60's so can be expected to be full of crap like:

• Using big name actors even though they are past their 'use-by date'
• Using actors who are patently too old for the parts
• Using contemporary 'pop 'star's who can't act
• Using flippancy and humour in situations that don't call for it
• Overdoing the pathos
• Inserting actual anecdotes that when acted seem a bit glib

But...... the film used more than one director and the British and German sequences are particularly good.

For its time the action sequences are marvellous - made before computer animation and enhancement.

I recommend this film.

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Inspired, I today started re-reading Antony Beevor's D-DAY - The Battle for Normandy.

I like Beevor's books. They are histories, researched and presented as such but written in an interesting and readable style. I've read a few of his - Stalingrad, Berlin, Paris After the Liberation, The Battle of Crete, The Battle for Spain and others.

This is good stuff and at 591 pages should keep me occupied for a few days (now that I'm nearly unemployed). And, yes Richard and Robert, there are pictures in it.