<Tr> <Th> Budget </Th> <Td> $7.75 million </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $50,100,000 </Td> </Tr> <P> The Longest Day is a 1962 epic war film based on Cornelius Ryan's book The Longest Day (1959), about the D - Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944, during World War II . The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, who paid author Ryan $175,000 for the film rights . The screenplay was by Ryan, with additional material written by Romain Gary, James Jones, David Pursall and Jack Seddon . It was directed by Ken Annakin (British and French exteriors), Andrew Marton (American exteriors), and Bernhard Wicki (German scenes). </P> <P> The Longest Day, which was made in black and white, features a large ensemble cast including John Wayne, Kenneth More, Richard Todd, Robert Mitchum, Richard Burton, Steve Forrest, Sean Connery, Henry Fonda, Red Buttons, Peter Lawford, Eddie Albert, Jeffrey Hunter, Stuart Whitman, Tom Tryon, Rod Steiger, Leo Genn, Gert Fröbe, Irina Demick, Bourvil, Curt Jürgens, George Segal, Robert Wagner, Paul Anka and Arletty . Many of these actors played roles that were essentially cameo appearances . In addition, several cast members--including Fonda, Genn, More, Steiger and Todd--saw action as servicemen during the war, with Todd actually being among the first British officers to land in Normandy in Operation Overlord and he in fact participated in the assault on Pegasus Bridge . </P>

When was the film the longest day made