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