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| caption = Film poster
| caption = Film poster
| director = [[Peter Collinson (film director)|Peter Collinson]]
| director = [[Peter Collinson (film director)|Peter Collinson]]
| producer = [[Michael Deeley]]<br>[[Harry Fine]]
| producer = [[Michael Deeley]]<br>Harry Fine
| writer = [[Charles Wood (playwright)|Charles Wood]]<br>[[Michael Deeley]] (uncredited)<br>[[Peter Yates]] (uncredited)
| screenplay = [[Charles Wood (playwright)|Charles Wood]]<br>[[Michael Deeley]] (uncredited)<br>[[Peter Yates]] (uncredited)
| based on = novel by [[Alan White (novelist)|Alan White]]
| based on = Novel by [[Alan White (novelist)|Alan White]]
| starring = [[David Hemmings]]
| starring = [[David Hemmings]]<br>[[Tony Beckley]]<br>[[Tom Bell (actor)|Tom Bell]]<br>[[Alan Dobie]]
| music = [[Malcolm Lockyer]]
| music = [[Malcolm Lockyer]]
| cinematography = Ernest Day<br>Brian Probyn
| cinematography = Ernest Day<br>Brian Probyn
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| budget = £150,000-£200,000<ref name="Deeley">Michael Deeley, ''Blade Runners, Deer Hunters and Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: My Life in Cult Movies'', Pegasus Books, 2009 p 50</ref>
| budget = £150,000-£200,000<ref name="Deeley">Michael Deeley, ''Blade Runners, Deer Hunters and Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: My Life in Cult Movies'', Pegasus Books, 2009 p 50</ref>
}}
}}
'''''The Long Day's Dying''''' is a 1968 British [[war film]] directed by [[Peter Collinson (film director)|Peter Collinson]] and starring [[David Hemmings]]<ref name="NY Times">{{cite news |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/100084/The-Long-Day-s-Dying/overview |title=New York Times: The Long Day's Dying |accessdate=2008-08-24|work=NY Times | first=Renata | last=Adler}}</ref>. It was listed to compete at the [[1968 Cannes Film Festival]]<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/2681/year/1968.html |title=Festival de Cannes: The Long Day's Dying |accessdate=2009-04-05|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref>, but the festival was cancelled due to the events of [[May 1968 in France]].


==Plot==
'''''The Long Day's Dying''''' is a 1968 [[war film]] directed by [[Peter Collinson (film director)|Peter Collinson]] and starring [[David Hemmings]].<ref name="NY Times">{{cite news |url=http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/100084/The-Long-Day-s-Dying/overview |title=New York Times: The Long Day's Dying |accessdate=2008-08-24|work=NY Times | first=Renata | last=Adler}}</ref> It was listed to compete at the [[1968 Cannes Film Festival]],<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/2681/year/1968.html |title=Festival de Cannes: The Long Day's Dying |accessdate=2009-04-05|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref> but the festival was cancelled due to the events of [[May 1968 in France]].
Three British paratroopers are cut off from their unit and are lost behind enemy lines. Sheltering in a deserted farmhouse, they are awaiting the return of their Sergeant who has ventured out in an attempt to locate their unit. The three soldiers are Tom, a world-weary cynical veteran, John, a middle-class educated thinker who despises war and Cliff, an eager soldier who loves his work. All three are highly trained professional killers who, regardless of their own personal thoughts, do not hesitate to perform their duties.

Two German soldiers approach the farmhouse and the paratroopers despatch them both. The second of the enemy attackers is stalked by the paratroopers who virtually toy with their victim before John kills him, finishing the man off up close, although the experience renders him sick. As the three men eat a meal, they are surprised and captured by a third German named Helmut, a paratrooper like themselves. The British soon turn the tables and capture Helmut but the latter, who speaks English, manages to manipulate his captors into keeping him alive. The group leave the house in search of their Sergeant whom they eventually find dead in the woods, his throat cut. The men continue on, trying to find their way back to Allied lines. They come across a farmhouse, where a trio of Germans are sheltering. The paratroopers cautiously approach and shoot them, only to find that the Germans are already dead.

After spending the night in the house, the group continues their walk back to the British lines, only to run into a German patrol. In the ensuing battle, all of the Germans are killed but Cliff is fatally wounded. John and Tom reach the frontline, taking their prisoner Helmut with them but nearby British troops mistake them all to be German and open fire, mortally wounding Tom. Both injured themselves, John and Helmut take cover in a muddy ditch. There, John decides to kill Helmut with a small skewer he has always carried with him. Delirious with exhaustion and trauma, John staggers into the open, yelling that he is a pacifist before the British troops open fire again, shooting him dead.


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 28: Line 34:
* [[Tom Bell (actor)|Tom Bell]] as Tom Cooper
* [[Tom Bell (actor)|Tom Bell]] as Tom Cooper
* [[Alan Dobie]] as Helmut
* [[Alan Dobie]] as Helmut

==Plot==
Three British paratroopers are cut off from their unit and are lost behind enemy lines. Sheltering in a deserted farmhouse, they are awaiting the return of their Sergeant who has ventured out in an attempt to locate their unit. The three soldiers are Tom, a world-weary cynical veteran, John, a middle-class educated thinker who despises war and Cliff, an eager soldier who loves his work. All three are highly trained professional killers who, regardless of their own personal thoughts, do not hesitate to perform their duties.

Two German soldiers approach the farmhouse and the paratroopers despatch them both. The second of the enemy attackers is stalked by the paratroopers who virtually toy with their victim before John kills him, finishing the man off up close, although the experience renders him sick. As the three men eat a meal, they are surprised and captured by a third German named Helmut, a paratrooper like themselves. The British soon turn the tables and capture Helmut but the latter, who speaks English, manages to manipulate his captors into keeping him alive. The group leave the house in search of their Sergeant whom they eventually find dead in the woods, his throat cut. The men continue on, trying to find their way back to Allied lines. They come across a farmhouse, where a trio of Germans are sheltering. The paratroopers cautiously approach and shoot them, only to find that the Germans are already dead.

After spending the night in the house, the group continues their walk back to the British lines, only to run into a German patrol. In the ensuing battle, all of the Germans are killed but Cliff is fatally wounded. John and Tom reach the frontline, taking their prisoner Helmut with them but nearby British troops mistake them all to be German and open fire, mortally wounding Tom. Both injured themselves, John and Helmut take cover in a muddy ditch. There, John decides to kill Helmut with a small skewer he has always carried with him. Delirious with exhaustion and trauma, John staggers into the open, yelling that he is a pacifist before the British troops open fire again, shooting him dead.


==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
[[Renata Adler]], reviewing the film's release in ''[[The New York Times]]'' in 1968, disliked it. 'There are some excellent scenes....But the screenplay is unendurable. Smug, dimestore Existential....stale, self-important and tough...No characterization...One for the English antiwar cheapshot satire brigade."<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0CE7DC1638E134BC4151DFB3668383679EDE Retrieved 2014-10-21</ref>
[[Renata Adler]], reviewing the film's release in ''[[The New York Times]]'' in 1968, disliked it. "There are some excellent scenes....But the screenplay is unendurable. Smug, dimestore Existential....stale, self-important and tough...No characterization...One for the English antiwar cheapshot satire brigade".<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0CE7DC1638E134BC4151DFB3668383679EDE Retrieved 2014-10-21</ref>


Mark Connelly wrote (in 2003) of ''The Long Day's Dying''. 'Critics hated the film, finding in it much the same faults as they identified in [[The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968 film)|''The Charge of the Light Brigade'']].' (Charles Wood wrote the screenplay for both films) 'They were confused by the fact that it was an anti-war film that celebrated some of the values of war and army life. Wood was showing, as he did in ''The Charge'', that war has a complex hold over the minds and imaginations of humans. That although it is ultimately an awful, destructive, wasteful process, it has inspired men and motivated them intellectually and emotionally.'<ref>Connelly, Mark. ''The Charge of the Light Brigade: British Film Guide No 5'' I.B.Tauris & Co. Ltd, 2003. p-17</ref>
Mark Connelly wrote (in 2003) of ''The Long Day's Dying''. 'Critics hated the film, finding in it much the same faults as they identified in [[The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968 film)|''The Charge of the Light Brigade'']]'. (Charles Wood wrote the screenplay for both films) 'They were confused by the fact that it was an anti-war film that celebrated some of the values of war and army life. Wood was showing, as he did in ''The Charge'', that war has a complex hold over the minds and imaginations of humans. That although it is ultimately an awful, destructive, wasteful process, it has inspired men and motivated them intellectually and emotionally'.<ref>Connelly, Mark. ''The Charge of the Light Brigade: British Film Guide No 5'' I.B.Tauris & Co. Ltd, 2003. p-17</ref>


==Production==
==Production==
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==External links==
==External links==
*{{Imdb title|id=0063237|title=The Long Day's Dying}}
*{{Imdb title|id=0063237|title=The Long Day's Dying}}
* {{Amg title|100084|The Long Day's Dying}}
* {{tcmdb title|559018|The Long Day's Dying}}


{{Peter Collinson}}
{{Peter Collinson}}
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[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:British war films]]
[[Category:1960s war films]]
[[Category:Films based on novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Peter Collinson]]
[[Category:Films directed by Peter Collinson]]
[[Category:Paramount Pictures films]]
[[Category:Films set in Germany]]
[[Category:Films set in Germany]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1940s]]
[[Category:World War II films]]
[[Category:World War II films]]

Revision as of 13:08, 12 June 2015

The Long Day's Dying
Film poster
Directed byPeter Collinson
Screenplay byCharles Wood
Michael Deeley (uncredited)
Peter Yates (uncredited)
Produced byMichael Deeley
Harry Fine
StarringDavid Hemmings
Tony Beckley
Tom Bell
Alan Dobie
CinematographyErnest Day
Brian Probyn
Edited byJohn Trumper
Music byMalcolm Lockyer
Production
company
Junction Films Limited
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • 28 May 1968 (1968-05-28)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£150,000-£200,000[1]

The Long Day's Dying is a 1968 British war film directed by Peter Collinson and starring David Hemmings[2]. It was listed to compete at the 1968 Cannes Film Festival[3], but the festival was cancelled due to the events of May 1968 in France.

Plot

Three British paratroopers are cut off from their unit and are lost behind enemy lines. Sheltering in a deserted farmhouse, they are awaiting the return of their Sergeant who has ventured out in an attempt to locate their unit. The three soldiers are Tom, a world-weary cynical veteran, John, a middle-class educated thinker who despises war and Cliff, an eager soldier who loves his work. All three are highly trained professional killers who, regardless of their own personal thoughts, do not hesitate to perform their duties.

Two German soldiers approach the farmhouse and the paratroopers despatch them both. The second of the enemy attackers is stalked by the paratroopers who virtually toy with their victim before John kills him, finishing the man off up close, although the experience renders him sick. As the three men eat a meal, they are surprised and captured by a third German named Helmut, a paratrooper like themselves. The British soon turn the tables and capture Helmut but the latter, who speaks English, manages to manipulate his captors into keeping him alive. The group leave the house in search of their Sergeant whom they eventually find dead in the woods, his throat cut. The men continue on, trying to find their way back to Allied lines. They come across a farmhouse, where a trio of Germans are sheltering. The paratroopers cautiously approach and shoot them, only to find that the Germans are already dead.

After spending the night in the house, the group continues their walk back to the British lines, only to run into a German patrol. In the ensuing battle, all of the Germans are killed but Cliff is fatally wounded. John and Tom reach the frontline, taking their prisoner Helmut with them but nearby British troops mistake them all to be German and open fire, mortally wounding Tom. Both injured themselves, John and Helmut take cover in a muddy ditch. There, John decides to kill Helmut with a small skewer he has always carried with him. Delirious with exhaustion and trauma, John staggers into the open, yelling that he is a pacifist before the British troops open fire again, shooting him dead.

Cast

Critical reception

Renata Adler, reviewing the film's release in The New York Times in 1968, disliked it. "There are some excellent scenes....But the screenplay is unendurable. Smug, dimestore Existential....stale, self-important and tough...No characterization...One for the English antiwar cheapshot satire brigade".[4]

Mark Connelly wrote (in 2003) of The Long Day's Dying. 'Critics hated the film, finding in it much the same faults as they identified in The Charge of the Light Brigade'. (Charles Wood wrote the screenplay for both films) 'They were confused by the fact that it was an anti-war film that celebrated some of the values of war and army life. Wood was showing, as he did in The Charge, that war has a complex hold over the minds and imaginations of humans. That although it is ultimately an awful, destructive, wasteful process, it has inspired men and motivated them intellectually and emotionally'.[5]

Production

According to Michael Deeley, he and Peter Yates worked on the first draft of the script but were denied credit. He claims he gave Collinson the job partly to see if he was up to the task of directing The Italian Job (1969).[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Michael Deeley, Blade Runners, Deer Hunters and Blowing the Bloody Doors Off: My Life in Cult Movies, Pegasus Books, 2009 p 50
  2. ^ Adler, Renata. "New York Times: The Long Day's Dying". NY Times. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
  3. ^ "Festival de Cannes: The Long Day's Dying". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  4. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9A0CE7DC1638E134BC4151DFB3668383679EDE Retrieved 2014-10-21
  5. ^ Connelly, Mark. The Charge of the Light Brigade: British Film Guide No 5 I.B.Tauris & Co. Ltd, 2003. p-17

External links