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The Americanization of Emily

Play trailer Poster for The Americanization of Emily 1964 1h 57m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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93% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In 1944, Lt. Cmdr. Charles Madison prides himself on being a cynical coward unwilling to step foot on shore during D-Day. His relaxed lifestyle attracts Englishwoman Emily Barham, whose husband and brother died in the war. But when Rear Adm. William Jessup 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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The Americanization of Emily

Critics Reviews

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Nick Schager Slant Magazine May 24, 2005
2.5/4
Though a bit overstuffed with long-winded speeches, Chayefsky's scabrously funny script brims with snappy, crackling dialogue. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Jul 27, 2026
3/4
The project’s cynicism toward war is never in doubt. Go to Full Review Joe Riddle Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Aug 14, 2020
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. Go to Full Review Joan Didion Vogue Mar 16, 2020
Although Julie Andrews is supposed to be playing a war widow, she's actually playing Mary Poppins. Go to Full Review Merl Edelman Los Angeles Free Press Feb 5, 2020
Despite a title which smacks of war-bride sop, [the film] is in some ways the most impressive film since Strangelove. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 27, 2010
B-
Another director (not Arthur Hiller) would have been more suitable in translating to the big screen Paddy Chayefky's witty WWII serio-comedy. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Joe S. @Joesigmund Jan 13, 2026 I saw it years ago. One of best Garner movies ever. Acting great. Storyline a little less than plausible. Thoroughly enjoyed and am going to watch again very soon. See more Jona I @RT86387422 Mar 16, 2023 Unique play on perspectives, judgments, and reflections on war See more kathy p @TaddyJo May 17, 2021 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. See more Jan 29, 2021 Brilliant and funny. The speech by James Garner is soul shaking. A must see! See more robert m @RT01909882 Dec 1, 2020 "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. See more john e @EggmanATL Aug 19, 2020 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! See more Read all reviews
The Americanization of Emily

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Cast & Crew

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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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The Americanization of Emily

The Americanization of Emily (1964) The Americanization of Emily (1964) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1944, Lt. Cmdr. Charles Madison prides himself on being a cynical coward unwilling to step foot on shore during D-Day. His relaxed lifestyle attracts Englishwoman Emily Barham, whose husband and brother died in the war. But when Rear Adm. William Jessup 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
Producer
Martin Ransohoff
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
Runtime
1h 57m
Sound Mix
Stereo
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