The Americanization of Emily

Released Oct 27, 1964

1 hr. 57 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

93%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In 1944, Lt. Cmdr. Charles Madison (James Garner) prides himself on being a cynical coward unwilling to step foot on shore during D-Day. His relaxed lifestyle attracts Englishwoman Emily Barham (Julie Andrews), whose husband and brother died in the war. But when Rear Adm. William Jessup (Melvyn Douglas) resolves to earn the Navy prestige by ensuring that a sailor will be the first to die in the invasion, he assigns the ill-fated duty to Madison, who will now be among the vanguard.

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Jona I

Unique play on perspectives, judgments, and reflections on war

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/23

Full Review

kathy p

Brilliant anti-war movie wrapped in a romantic comedy. James Garner is superb, edgy as a dog robber (quartermaster of found items) for the general he serves; devoted coward, he says, but clear-eyed realist, who finds nothing glorious in war. Julie Andrews is wonderful, as always, but maybe too good to play a young woman who gives a lot to departing servicemen. Garner and Andrews have real chemistry, confirmed in "Victor/Victoria." Paddy Chayefsky wrote it, which pretty much says it all. One of my three favorite movies.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Brilliant and funny. The speech by James Garner is soul shaking. A must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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robert m

"The Americanization of Britain" might be an appropriate title. The war against Hitler is in the background but something else is happening in this movie. American attititudes and values changed Britain during the Second World War and the American influence has continued. The James Garner character helps to explain the situation. Decide for yourself if his Yankee Doodle influence is helpful.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

john e

It was a little uneven, part war commentary, part romantic comedy but I quite enjoyed it. Some of James Garner's character's monologues regarding war were incredibly rich, raw and thought provoking. "It's the virtue of war that's the fraud, not war itself." Their love affair was completely forced and in my opinion rather awkward, but the over all content gets a solid B+. As a small added bonus, two future cast mates on Rowan and Martin's Laugh In, Alan Sues and Judy Carne, both have cameo roles!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

A great romcom with an audacious thesis on patriotism, love, and country.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/23

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Arthur Hiller

Director

James Garner

Lt. Cmdr. Charles Edward Madison

Julie Andrews

Emily Barham

Melvyn Douglas

Adm. William Jessup

James Coburn

Lt. Cmdr. Paul "Bus" Cummings

Joyce Grenfell

Mrs. Barham

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Nick Schager

Slant Magazine

Though a bit overstuffed with long-winded speeches, Chayefsky's scabrously funny script brims with snappy, crackling dialogue.

Rated: 2.5/4

May 24, 2005

Full Review

Joe Riddle

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Has something important to say about war and the way it is glorified by some in our culture, courtesy of Paddy Chayefsky... dialogue is bristling with caustic observations of war, rare for a film of that era. He enters Joe Mankiewicz territory.

Aug 14, 2020

Full Review

Joan Didion

Vogue

Although Julie Andrews is supposed to be playing a war widow, she's actually playing Mary Poppins.

Mar 16, 2020

Full Review

Merl Edelman

Los Angeles Free Press

Despite a title which smacks of war-bride sop, [the film] is in some ways the most impressive film since Strangelove.

Feb 5, 2020

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Another director (not Arthur Hiller) would have been more suitable in translating to the big screen Paddy Chayefky's witty WWII serio-comedy.

Rated: B-

Jul 27, 2010

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

I would have appreciated the film more if it was less talky and if it didn't completely ignore the obvious that fighting madman Hitler was necessary.

Rated: B

Apr 28, 2006

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Synopsis

In 1944, Lt. Cmdr. Charles Madison (James Garner) prides himself on being a cynical coward unwilling to step foot on shore during D-Day. His relaxed lifestyle attracts Englishwoman Emily Barham (Julie Andrews), whose husband and brother died in the war. But when Rear Adm. William Jessup (Melvyn Douglas) resolves to earn the Navy prestige by ensuring that a sailor will be the first to die in the invasion, he assigns the ill-fated duty to Madison, who will now be among the vanguard.

Director: Arthur Hiller
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 27, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 4, 2008
Sound Mix: Stereo

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