I just popped The Longest Day into the DVD player. Near the beginning, Feldmarschall Rommel is lecturing his commanders. As he does, he walks along a beach. He suddenly disappears, like something out of Bewitched. His voice is still there, but he’s gone. Then he pops back. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen this film, and for some reason I never noticed this before.
I assumed that this shot was a rear-screen projection like so many others. But now that I’ve finally noticed the disappearing Rommel, I wonder if it was a matte shot. (i.e., the Rommel character was filmed in front of a black background – would have been blue screen or green screen in later decades – and he and the background were married in an optical printer.)
But the larger question is: How could 20th Century Fox have released the film with such a glaring error?
The TV station in my area when I was growing up back in the '70s had late night movies every Saturday after the late news, at 10:30. The station manager would come on and introduce the film, giving a little description of the show and some info about its stars, and then we’d be off to the movies.
My older brother and I would stay up many Saturday nights to see what the movie was going to be. If it turned out to be The War Wagon or The Longest Day, we’d settle in for the duration (if we could make it all the way … The Longest Day is a long movie!).
But to your comment … yes, I noticed that odd cut every time, even back in the 70s. It does seem the intent was to show a wider shot of what was behind Rommel, but since it’s the exact same shot, it just looks like he disappears.
Why was Rommel killed? Hitler obviously thought that he was part of the assassination plot-but had Rommel been an actual participant, Hitler would have been dead.
Romme’s loyalty was amazing-I am surprised that he didn’t stage a coup on his own.
