The Movie, "Pressure", about D-Day Now Showing In Movie Theaters Nationwide

Ahead of the 82nd anniversary of the largest seaborne invasion in all of history, Hollywood has released a very impacting film, "Pressure", regarding some of the intense decision making that led to the Allied forces landing on the beaches in Normandy during World War II on June 06th, 1944. Specifically, the well-done motion picture, focuses on the decision General Eisenhower faces as to whether or not to continue with the invasion as planned for June 05th, 1944, or delay it until the weather conditions are more suitable for such a large-scale military operation.

A film that will hopefully receive some Academy Award nominations, "Pressure" is based on true historical events off of the stage play by David Haig Collum Ward, an English actor and playwright. It centers around General Eisenhower, as portrayed by the American born actor of Canadian heritage, Brendan Fraser, who has his trusted American meteorologist on staff, Irving Krick. Thus far, Krick, is predicting perfectly sunny weather for the original date of D-Day, June 05th, 1944. However, a new addition to his staff, the Scotsman, James Stagg, is predicting stormy weather with ten feet high waves on June 05th, 1944. Something which appears ludicrous to all of the top military brass since the weather in England in the days leading up to D-Day was perfectly sunny and lovely. But, while Krick bases his weather predictions largely by studying the patterns throughout recorded history, Stagg uses the surface observations from military and civilian personnel stationed throughout Britain and the rest of Europe to make his weather predictions. Eisenhower has had success with Krick correctly predicting the weather in the Mediterranean climates they've been in thus far, but Stagg is adamant that the weather in Northern Europe is vastly different. Since the two can't agree with one another, Eisenhower is faced with the decision of whom to trust with the lives of 160,000 Allied troops being at stake.

Stagg's solemn insistence, as portrayed by the Irish actor, Andrew Scott, wins over General Eisenhower and in spite of the sun shining brightly in the sky, Eisenhower delays D-Day. Making the top military brass despair that Stagg predicts the weather not to be suitable until June 18th. A date that might actually favor the Nazi forces since by then they could have all of the information they need to overcome the American, Canadian, and British Allied troops.

However, just when the storms come in and prove Stagg's dire weather predictions to be correct for the original date of D-Day, Maureen sends in a report from 600 miles west of Ireland showing that the surface pressure has just begun rising. Stagg, whose wife in the film has been sent to the maternity ward of a hospital that gets bombed, and is feeling the pressure of concern over the unknown fate of his expectant wife at the moment and the professional pressure of everyone wanting him to change his weather predictions, can scarcely believe it. Such a weather pattern would normally only occur in the winter. But, if Stagg is correct, the report suggests that there might be a gap open up in the dreadful weather on June 06th, 1944 that while not ideal, would allow the Allied forces to storm the beaches of Normandy and help liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. It isn't much to go on, but General Eisenhower, heeds Stagg's weather prediction, and D-Day is then set to take place on June 06th, 1944.

The scenes of the young male troops being sent in to storm the beaches of Normandy amidst the gunfire of the Nazi forces on D-Day are powerfully portrayed in the "Pressure". Leading to the audiences leaving the movie theater in both a state of awe and shock. As through God's Grace, the young Allied troops are able to successfully establish a presence on each of the five landing sites on the first day of D-Day. Thereby creating a second front against Germany in World War II. With the second front forcing Hitler's armies to have to be split into fighting an impossible two-front war and the Allied forces being victorious in 1945.

One of the better films to come out of Hollywood this year, "Pressure" is rated PG-13. The very close, and perhaps not entirely solely professional, relationship between General Eisenhower and the Irish secretary, Kay Summers, is hinted at in the film. But, not dwelled upon. With Kay Summers being portrayed in the movie by the Irish actress, Kerry Condon. While there is some military style swearing in the film and war-time violence, "Pressure" is overall a relatively clean movie by modern standards. With the running time for "Pressure" being an hour and forty minutes.

While it isn't known exactly how many Alabamians stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, it is known that thousands of Alabamians were part of D-Day. With an estimated 300,000 Alabamians serving overall during World War II. The long time and beloved former mayor of Tuscaloosa, Al DuPont, was actually one of the ones who landed on Omaha Beach in the first wave of D-Day as an Army medic. He even sustained an injury during World War II that would remain throughout the rest of his life. By some counts, at least 13 crosses at the Normandy American Cemetery mark the graves of Alabamians who gave their life on D-Day.

After World War II, General Eisenhower, became President Eisenhower as the 34th President of The United States of America.

Luisa Reyes is a Tuscaloosa attorney, piano instructor, vocalist, poet, reporter, and columnist who writes on politics, current affairs, and the arts.