The Americanization of Emily (1964) – An American naval officer finds
his cushy, rear-echelon assignment challenged by his superior
officer’s unbalanced vision for a dangerous frontline mission, and
a beautiful English girl. He might lose his heart and his life in the
same week.
his cushy, rear-echelon assignment challenged by his superior
officer’s unbalanced vision for a dangerous frontline mission, and
a beautiful English girl. He might lose his heart and his life in the
same week.
Directed
by Arthur Hiller Starring James Garner, Julie Andrews, Melvyn
Douglas,
James Coburn
by Arthur Hiller Starring James Garner, Julie Andrews, Melvyn
Douglas,
James Coburn
Why
I Liked It – A war romance movie that offers more depth than you’d
expect.
I Liked It – A war romance movie that offers more depth than you’d
expect.
In
contrast to my previous review of ‘The Dark Tower”, here’s
a movie that takes all of its advantages and uses them to good effect.
The script is by Paddy Chayefsky based on a popular novel. The cast is top-flight, even the small roles played by quality character actors
like Keenan Wynn. Arthur Hiller knew how to direct a movie. And this
time it all works.
contrast to my previous review of ‘The Dark Tower”, here’s
a movie that takes all of its advantages and uses them to good effect.
The script is by Paddy Chayefsky based on a popular novel. The cast is top-flight, even the small roles played by quality character actors
like Keenan Wynn. Arthur Hiller knew how to direct a movie. And this
time it all works.
Garner
plays another in a long list of characters of suspect ethics, who
pretend to care for nothing other than themselves, only later to
reveal a heart of gold. Here, Lt. Cmdr. Charlie Madison is the “dog
robber” for Admiral Jessup. His role to make sure the Admiral wants
for nothing. So he’s a bit of a con man. He tells whatever story he
needs to tell to get him through the situation in front of him. It’s
a cynical, self-serving pose that Emily (Andrews), a young widow,
finds repulsive. You can guess where these two are headed.
plays another in a long list of characters of suspect ethics, who
pretend to care for nothing other than themselves, only later to
reveal a heart of gold. Here, Lt. Cmdr. Charlie Madison is the “dog
robber” for Admiral Jessup. His role to make sure the Admiral wants
for nothing. So he’s a bit of a con man. He tells whatever story he
needs to tell to get him through the situation in front of him. It’s
a cynical, self-serving pose that Emily (Andrews), a young widow,
finds repulsive. You can guess where these two are headed.
I
was all set to write this off as a fluffy, little romance. But the
movie insisted on surprising me. There are several scenes that pulled
me up short. The one that will stick with me is when Charlie
confronts Emily’s mother, who refuses to deal with the multiple
deaths in her family due to the war. There’s nothing fluffy or
light about the scene. It is stark, and real in a way you rarely find
in romance movies. There is a depth here that I did not expect, and
which was a pleasant surprise.
was all set to write this off as a fluffy, little romance. But the
movie insisted on surprising me. There are several scenes that pulled
me up short. The one that will stick with me is when Charlie
confronts Emily’s mother, who refuses to deal with the multiple
deaths in her family due to the war. There’s nothing fluffy or
light about the scene. It is stark, and real in a way you rarely find
in romance movies. There is a depth here that I did not expect, and
which was a pleasant surprise.
These
are familiar roles for both Garner and Andrews. In both cases, we’re
given a little something extra. His characters tend to the happy, go-lucky rogue, but in Madison, he brings a streak of cruelty that is
unusual. Andrews plays the “good girl” again (this is the movie
she made between “The Sound of Music” and “Mary Poppins”),
but she also has an edge. Emily’s first interaction with Madison is to
slap him. I enjoyed them both.
are familiar roles for both Garner and Andrews. In both cases, we’re
given a little something extra. His characters tend to the happy, go-lucky rogue, but in Madison, he brings a streak of cruelty that is
unusual. Andrews plays the “good girl” again (this is the movie
she made between “The Sound of Music” and “Mary Poppins”),
but she also has an edge. Emily’s first interaction with Madison is to
slap him. I enjoyed them both.
At the very end you have to ask yourself, was the Americanization of Emily really a good thing?
Rating
– **** Recommended
– **** Recommended
Stories Are My Life 
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