It wouldn't be Memorial Day weekend without a war movie or two. Tonight I watched The Americanization Of Emily. This black romantic comedy takes a look at all sorts of military maneuvers during the weeks leading up to D-Day.
James Garner stars as Charlie, a brazen American navy officer who falls in love with the very proper and priggish Emily, played by Julie Andrews. Through a chance of fate, and an Admiral who's cracking under pressure, Charlie ends up being one of the first men on Omaha beach on during the invasion of Europe.
The film is a scathing military satire that only Paddy Chayefsky could write. Without directly criticizing the armed forces, he condemns the nobility and valour of war, in an excellent screenplay that crackles with wit and smart dialogue.
The film also stars Melyvn Douglas and James Coburn and was directed by Arthur Hiller. Made in black and white and released in 1964, it is based on the book by William Bradford Huie.
At The Movie House rating ****
2 comments:
Wow...there's quite a lineup of talent associated with this film!
Yes there is, but for some reason it is mostly forgotten, never achieving the classic status it deserves. Garner made it just as his movie career was hitting it's peak and he says it is his favorite of all the films he made. It was the first of three appearances with Julie Andrews.
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