The Americanization of Emily

This film is about the intersevice rivalry that characterized the postwar era. Admiral Jessup goes nuts and orders a film to insure the survivability of the Navy faced with the rising status of the Army and Air Force. "The first man on Omaha Beach must be a sailor" and the Navy must have a "The Tomb of the Unknown Sailor." Ironically, the cowardly p.r. officer Charley (James Garner) is drawn into the plot by Buzz (James Coburn) and becomes the hero of D-Day, pictured in newspapers and Life magazine. Charley's British girlfriend Emily (Julie Andrews) has high ideals but is "americanized" by Charley to accept his cowardice and amorality.

Production:

  • Released by MGM 1964, Color, Stereo sound, 115 mins.
  • Directed by Arthur Hiller
  • Written by Paddy Chayefsky from the novel by William Bradford Huie
  • Produced by Martin Ransohoff
  • Original music by Johnny Mandel
  • Cinematography by Philip H. Lathrop
  • Film Editing by Tom McAdoo
  • Production Design by Robert R. Benton

    Cast:

  • James Garner .... Lieut. Comdr. Charles E. Madison
  • Julie Andrews .... Emily Barham
  • Melvyn Douglas .... Adm. William Jessup
  • James Coburn .... Lieutenant Commander "Buzz" Cummings
  • Joyce Grenfell .... Mrs. Barham
  • Ed Binns .... Admiral Thomas Healy
  • Liz Fraser .... Sheila
  • Keenan Wynn .... Old Sailor
  • William Windom .... Captain Harry Spaulding
  • John Crawford .... Chief Petty Officer Paul Adams
  • Douglas Henderson .... Captain Marvin Ellender
  • Edmond Ryan .... Admiral Hoyle
  • Steve Franken .... Young Sailor
  • Paul Newlan .... General William Hallerton
  • Garry Cockrell .... Lt. Victor Wade
  • Alan Sues .... Enright
  • Bill Fraser .... Port Commander
  • Lou Byrne .... Nurse Captain
  • Alan Howard .... Port Ensign
  • Linda Marlowe .... Pat
  • Janine Gray .... 'Nameless Broad'
  • Judy Carne .... 'Nameless Broad'
  • Kathy Kersh .... 'Nameless Broad'
    History Department | Filmnotes | revised 4/16/99