IMDb > The Americanization of Emily (1964)
The Americanization of Emily
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Americanization of Emily (1964) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   1,803 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Paddy Chayefsky (screenplay)
William Bradford Huie (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Americanization of Emily on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 October 1964 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Why did Emily call Charlie the most immoral man she'd ever met? more
Plot:
An American soldier's talent for living the good life in wartime is challenged when he falls in love and is sent on a dangerous mission. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(7 articles)
Meet the New Oscar Recipients: John Calley
 (From The Wrap. 12 September 2009, 9:54 AM, PDT)

Scenes We Love: The Americanization of Emily
 (From Cinematical. 13 August 2009, 5:27 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
"I'm not interested in the truth, just the momentary fact of things." more (45 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
Edward Binns ... Adm. Thomas Healy
Liz Fraser ... Sheila
Keenan Wynn ... Old Sailor
William Windom ... Capt. Harry Spaulding
John Crawford ... Chief Petty Officer Paul Adams
Douglas Henderson ... Capt. Marvin Ellender
Edmon Ryan ... Adm. Hoyle
Steve Franken ... Young Sailor
Paul Newlan ... Gen. William Hallerton
Gary Cockrell ... Lt. Victor Wade
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Emily (USA) (reissue title)
more
Runtime:
115 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System) | Stereo
Certification:
UK:X | Australia:G (TV rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #20611) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Spain:13 | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-7 (new rating: 2001) | Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | Australia:PG
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
James Garner says that this is his favorite of his movies. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In one shot of Charlie's hotel room door, the exterior of the door is white, in another the exterior of the door is wood grain. more
Quotes:
Emily Barham: I believe in honor, service, courage, and fair play, and cricket, and all the other symbols of British character. Which have only civilized half the world!
Lt. Cmdr. Charles E. Madison: You British plundered half the world for your own profit, let's not pass it off as the age of enlightenment.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "What's My Line?: (1964-10-25)" (1964) more
Soundtrack:
Emily more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
27 out of 29 people found the following comment useful.
"I'm not interested in the truth, just the momentary fact of things.", 18 August 2005
9/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

For those of today's fans who think Julie Andrews made her film debut in Mary Poppins, they would be wrong. After leaving Camelot on Broadway, The Americanization of Emily was the vehicle with which Julie made her debut. And she sings not a note.

She didn't have to. Beneath all the comedy revolving around the scheming and conniving of James Garner to stay as far away from the hail of bullets as possible are some profound statements about the futility of war and the geopolitics that got the USA in that particular war.

James Garner is in a quintessential James Garner role as set down by Bret Maverick, the part that made Garner a star. He's a "dog robber" a military aide to an admiral who specializes in acquiring certain creature comforts for his boss. Garner became one after serving some combat in Guadalcanal and finding it not to his liking. Fortunately for him, he had the connections to get out of that situation unlike several thousand others. Not a very admirable man.

But despite herself, stiff upper lip Britisher Julie Andrews finds herself falling for him. There's is one rocky romance.

Through a combination of circumstances Garner finds himself going to the front on D-Day to film the Naval Engineers disabling the mines in the water at Normandy Beach. Once again, it's not to his liking.

Garner and Andrews get good support from the supporting cast consisting of James Coburn, William Windom, Joyce Grenfell and Melvyn Douglas as the battle fatigued admiral who's Garner's boss and who got him in the situation described.

One of my favorite scenes involves two sailors, Keenan Wynn and Steve Franken who get assigned to Garner to make the film. The three of them get cockeyed drunk and Garner's immediate superior James Coburn finds them in a state of uselessness. He has them hauled aboard the transport with the cargo.

One of the great things this film had going for it was the Henry Mancini-Johnny Mercer title song of Emily. They were a hot combination of movie song writers then, having one back to back Oscars for Moon River and Days of Wine and Roses. Frank Sinatra, Jack Jones, and Andy Williams are some of the artists who recorded that song back in 1964.

I can't give the ending away, but let's say that Garner through a bit of sophistry winds up doing exactly what he said he never would. But then again as Garner says, he's not interested in some great philosophical truth, just the momentary fact of things. He and Julie Andrews together are what counts most.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (45 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Americanization of Emily (1964)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
James Garner's favourite film! zedeff
james coburn teejay6682
Controversy welsa
Rated X in UK? andrewdblevins
Paddy Chayefski monologues horace-mcconnell
Sharon Tate robertbrad
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Gone with the Wind Waterloo Bridge Hell's Angels All Quiet on the Western Front Becky Sharp
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.