Ike: Countdown to D-Day

Ike: Countdown to D-Day
Written by Lionel Chetwynd
Directed by Robert Harmon
Starring Tom Selleck
James Remar
Timothy Bottoms
Gerald McRaney
Ian Mune
Theme music composer Shinkichi Mitsumune
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s) Dennis A. Brown
Paul Carran
Lionel Chetwynd
Tim Christenson
David Craig
Cinematography David Gribble
Editor(s) Chris Peppe
Running time 89 minutes
Distributor A&E Television Networks
Sony Pictures Television
Release
Original release
  • May 31, 2004 (2004-05-31)

Ike: Countdown to D-Day is a 2004 American television film originally aired on the American television channel A&E, directed by Robert Harmon and written by Lionel Chetwynd. Countdown to D-Day was filmed entirely in New Zealand with the roles of British characters played by New Zealanders; the American roles were played by Americans.

Plot

Tom Selleck portrays General Dwight D. Eisenhower, US Army, popularly known by his nickname of "Ike". The film deals with the difficult decisions he made leading to up to D-Day, including dealing with the varied personalities of his command: Lieutenant General Omar N. Bradley, US Army (James Remar), Lieutenant General George S. Patton, US Army (Gerald McRaney), General Bernard Montgomery, British Army (Bruce Phillips) and General Charles de Gaulle, Free French (George Shevtsov).

The film does not have action sequences, focusing instead on the inner workings of Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force that led to the successful D-Day invasion of World War II. Concentrating on decisions actually made by Eisenhower and the pressures brought to bear on him personally, it includes his personal relationship with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Ian Mune) and his own Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Walter Bedell Smith, US Army (Timothy Bottoms).

The film is also notable for being the only major production in which General Montgomery's portrayal concentrates on his role as a competent military professional, instead of focusing on his alleged personality disorders, while still showing his egocentricity and foibles. General Patton's complex personality is also outlined in a very brief set of scenes played by Gerald McRaney.

The film omits Ike's relationship with Kay Summersby, his driver, though she appears briefly in a scene where the general officers are viewing movie reels. She is also portrayed as his driver when Ike visits US paratroopers on the eve of D-Day.

Cast

Noteworthy

Errors

Historical accuracy

References

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