I don't know if this clears matters up, or muddies the waters.
The old boys of my local PRA branch used to meet for a beer, every Thursday, in The Naval & Military Club, Southend. Pip Tyler, Airborne Recce, was a Friend of Cliffs Pavilion; this being a local theatre. As a Friend he attended 'drinks and nibbles' (his wife's term) with visiting performers and other worthies.
At one of these he had the opportunity to chat to Richard Todd, who was appearing in either a play or an 'Evening With' type show. He invited him to the N&M for a drink. Unexpectedly, he turned up. He was dressed smartly in blazer and flannels with PRA lapel badge and 7th Bn tie. He must have had these with him as a normal habit.
There were about nine or ten of us there to host him. Almost all of them were wartime members. We sat as a random group round a few tables. As can be imagined with a bunch of deaf old buggers, most of the conversation was pretty much shouted. Especially once beer had been taken. His part in The Longest Day did come up.
The relevant bits for this thread are: He did wear his own beret, but it wasn't the one he'd worn in Normandy; he said he'd lost that one years ago. He also wore his own smock but (I think I've got this right) it was one he'd hung onto after filming a film called D-Day, Sixth of June. It might have been his own because he wore wings in that (although he played a commando). He said 'wardrobe' had removed them for The Longest Day.
Regarding the exchange between him and 'Jimmy' his story was that it was based in fact but it wasn't at all as portrayed. He had reported to Howard, at his CP because he had jumped in as 'spare adjutant' (his term) and 'wasn't busy'. He said the young actor was quite nervous when he was told that he was playing the man he was reporting to. Todd did describe him as 'A lovely young man and, of course, much taller and better looking than me.' I'm sure he would have put him completely at his ease.
Altogether an excellent evening with a very pleasant and genuine man. It was a pleasure to be on the edge of very special group of men. Despite being the centre of attention, he was completely comfortable amongst his peers. He definitely seemed to have enjoyed it.
Edit/ Memory does play tricks, I would have said I'd seen the scene. After looking at the clip posted above, the meeting is between Howard and Lovat. However, Richard Todd's story was as I put it above. I can only speculate that the scene was filmed but lost in the edit. 7th Bn gets a mention at one point and there are Parachute Regiment cap badges on show, but The Ox & Bucks are the centre of the narrative.
Maybe Todd remembered filming the scene (and of course, the real event) but, like many actors, had never watched the film.