Abstract: A door latch and release apparatus is for moving a door into a finally closed condition with respect to a door frame and initially moving the door out of its closed condition to overcome the force of compressing or decompressing a continuous metallic gasket extending around the entire periphery between the door and the door frame. A handle on the door is linked to one end of a rocker arm which is pivotally mounted on the door. An antifriction rocker arm roller is rotatably mounted on the other end of the rocker arm in position to lie between a latch edge portion of the door frame and a latch plate finger fixedly supported with respect to the door frame latch edge portion. With the door handle in its open position, the door is closed until the roller contacts the door frame latch edge portion, and then the handle is manually moved to its closed position with the roller rolling on the finger to finally close the door with enough force to easily compress the metallic gasket between the door and the frame.