TCM Commemorates 80th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion With a Lineup of D-Day Movies

Jeff Pfeiffer June 5, 2024

black-and-white image from the 1962 war movie — ™ and © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy Everett Collection

**A scene from *The Longest Day* (1962), one of the titles airing during TCM's D-Day 80th anniversary movie marathon on June 6, 2024**

Eighty years ago, on June 6, 1944, Allied forces began their invasion of Nazi-held Western Europe in what would be a major turning point in World War II — and in world history.

To commemorate the 80th anniversary of this momentous “D-Day,” Turner Classic Movies is presenting a daylong marathon of films about that event or featuring/referencing it in some way. The lineup runs from early morning on Thursday, June 6, 2024, to early morning Friday, June 7, 2024. The titles and start times are below.

Listening to CBS Radio's Complete June 6, 1944 Broadcasting Day Offers a Fascinating Perspective on the D-Day Invasion

Relive what radio listeners on the home front were hearing from early June 6 to early June 7, 1944, as news of the D-Day invasion began coming in.

Remind

TCM’s D-Day 80th Anniversary Movie Marathon — June 6-7, 2024 (All Times Eastern)

Thursday, June 6, 2024

**6:15am: Code Name: Emerald (1985)**

The lineup begins with this action drama about an Allied spy sent undercover in occupied France to rescue a person with key knowledge about the invasion who has been captured by the Germans. Ed Harris and Max von Sydow lead the cast.

**8am: The Americanization of Emily (1964)**

This dark anti-war comedy is set on and around D-Day, and stars James Garner and Julie Andrews.

**10am: George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey (1984)**

George Stevens Jr. directed this documentary about his father, legendary filmmaker George Stevens, which includes color footage from World War II shot by the elder Stevens.

**12pm: 36 Hours (1964)**

James Garner also leads this thriller in which he plays an American military officer captured by Nazis, who try to gaslight him into thinking the war is over so he will reveal details of the Allied invasion. Eva Marie Saint and Rod Taylor costar.

**2pm: Red Ball Express (1952)**

Based on the real-life titular convoys that took place following the D-Day landings, this film includes early appearances by Sidney Poitier and Hugh O’Brian.

**3:30pm: D-Day: The Sixth of June (1956)**

This film follows an American and a Brit who are part of a commando unit on its way to Normandy as they reminisce about events leading to that point. The romantic war drama is led by Robert Taylor and Richard Todd, an actual veteran of D-Day (he was among the first British soldiers, and the first Irishman, to land on the Normandy coast).

‘D-Day: The Unheard Tapes’ Relives the 80 Year Anniversary of the Invasion of Normandy

History Channel's documentary uncovers new material never heard before.

Remind

**5:30pm: George Stevens: D-Day to Berlin (1994)**

Another documentary about George Stevens directed by his son, this short uses footage from Stevens’ days in the Army Signal Corps to follow American troops during the last year of the war.

**6:30pm: Overlord (1975)**

This British war film set on and around D-Day takes its title from the code name for the invasion, Operation Overlord.

**8pm: Saving Private Ryan (1998)**

Kicking off primetime is this Best Picture Oscar-nominated modern war film classic from Best Director winner Steven Spielberg, which begins with a truly harrowing (and graphic) re-creation of the D-Day invasion. Best Actor nominee Tom Hanks leads the terrific ensemble cast.

Please note: The clip below features graphic war violence.

**11pm: The Longest Day (1962)**

Another Best Picture-nominated epic drama about D-Day, this production dramatizes the events from Allied and German points of view. The large international cast includes John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, Richard Burton, Curd Jürgens, Gert Fröbe and many more.

poster for the 1962 war movie "The Longest Day." From the point of view of two German soldiers looking out of a bunker -- one on the right peering through binoculars, one on the left aiming a machine gun -- we see a beach and out just beyond it in the water, the oncoming Allied invasion force of D-Day. In big letters across the sky above the water reads: "Darryl F. Zanuck's The Longest Day." Also in large letters, right below the German soldiers, reads: "43 International Stars." Below that is a listing of all the stars.

Friday, June 7, 2024

**2:15am: Eye of the Needle (1981)**

Donald Sutherland and Kate Nelligan lead this British spy film set just ahead of D-Day, based on the novel by prolific thriller writer Ken Follett.

**4:15am: I See a Dark Stranger (1946)**

TCM’s 80th anniversary of D-Day film lineup concludes with another British spy film set around the invasion, this one starring Deborah Kerr and Trevor Howard.