The Americanization of Emily

The Americanization of Emily
Theatrical release poster
by Reynold Brown
Directed byArthur Hiller
Screenplay byPaddy Chayefsky
Based onThe Americanization of Emily
1959 novel
by William Bradford Huie
Produced byMartin Ransohoff
Starring
CinematographyPhilip H. Lathrop
Edited byTom McAdoo
Music byJohnny Mandel
Production
company
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • October 27, 1964 (1964-10-27) (US)
  • April 15, 1965 (1965-04-15) (UK[1])
Running time
115 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.7 million[2]
Box office$4,000,000 (rentals)[3]

The Americanization of Emily is a 1964 American black-and-white black comedy anti-war film directed by Arthur Hiller, written by Paddy Chayefsky, and starring James Garner, Julie Andrews, Melvyn Douglas, James Coburn, Joyce Grenfell, and Keenan Wynn. Set during World War II, the film follows a United States Navy adjutant who is roped into a reckless interservice rivalry-fueled stunt by his superiors, becoming a war hero by being the first American sailor killed on D-Day.

Chayefsky's screenplay loosely was adapted from the 1959 novel of the same name by William Bradford Huie, who had been a Seabee officer during Operation Overlord.[4] Controversial for its stance during the dawn of the Vietnam War, the film has since been praised as a "vanguard anti-war film".[5] Both James Garner[6][7] and Julie Andrews have considered the film to be the favorite of their films.[7][8]

  1. ^ The Times, 15 April 1965, page 17: Film review of The Americanization of Emily – found via The Times Digital Archive
  2. ^ Haber, J. (Jan 14, 1968). "'Baggy pants' ransohoff changes suits, image". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 155791666.
  3. ^ "Big Rental Pictures of 1965", Variety, 5 January 1966, pg 6.
  4. ^ Life Magazine, 9 October 1944, article by Huie: SeaBees – They Build the Roads to Victory Linked 2013-08-09
  5. ^ Feaster, Felicia. "The Americanization of Emily". Turner Classic Movies, Inc. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  6. ^ Boedeke, Hal (July 29, 2001). "Easygoing Garner Gets Nice Salute: Turner Classic Movies Honors the Star with a Review of His Career and by Showing 18 of His Movies". The Orlando Sentinel.
  7. ^ a b James Garner of Charlie Rose, ~6' from beginning
  8. ^ Blank, Ed. Andrews as Maria a result of 'happy circumstances' . Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. 17 November 2005.