New Releases Americanization of Emily
CUSTOMER REVIEW
Hollywood movies were becoming increasingly adventurous in the early 1960s, tackling a wide variety of subjects with candor and intelligence. THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY is one of the finest films of that period, a movie that manages to be a biting satirical comedy, a clear-eyed love story, and a passionate denunciation of warfare all at the same time.
James Garner portrays "dog-robber" Charlie, an American naval officer stationed in London during WWII and charged with the duty of keeping his admiral (Melvyn Douglas) in as complete a state of comfort as possible. Charlie freely admits that he likes his job because it keeps him far away from combat and the risk of death. This attitude does not intially endear Charlie to Emily (Julie Andrews), a military driver and Britisher who has lost several family members to the fighting. Slowly, however, the two fall in love and plan to build a life together. Then trouble intervenes: the admiral devises a public relations plan to ensure that the first man killed in the D-Day invasion is a sailor. And it looks like Charlie is in danger of becoming that man. . .
THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY was made in 1964, the same year as DR. STRANGELOVE, an anti-war film that has now become legendary. EMILY was popular enough but somewhat overlooked at the time of its release, and it is not as well-known today as it deserves to be.
Paddy Chayevsky's screenplay is filled with witty, pungent dialogue (even during Charlie and Emily's love scenes). And the performances are excellent. Garner has said more than once that this is his favorite of his films. And Andrews, in what was only her second movie (she made EMILY between MARY POPPINS and THE SOUND OF MUSIC) is extraordinary, giving us a portrait of a highly complex woman who first disdains her lover's cowardice and then clings to him because of it.
The black-and-white photography (which blends seamlessly with actual WWII newsreel footage) is crisp. And Johnny Mandel's score is wonderful, from his tongue-in-cheek march over the credits to the haunting love theme which was later given a Johnny Mercer lyric, "Emily."
If you enjoy war (or anti-war) films, love stories, black comedies, or thought-provoking drama, you'll find much to enjoy in THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY.