The Americanization of Emily (1964)

Directed by Arthur Hiller. Starring James Garner, Julie Andrews, James Coburn, Melvyn Douglas, Paul Newlan, Edward Binns, Joyce Grenfell, Liz Fraser, Keenan Wynn.

Stationed in London, Garner’s openly cowardly American “dog robber” (adjutant) is only interested in providing luxury items and female companionship for the top brass, but then gets the absurd assignment of helping to film the forthcoming D-Day Invasion and document the first Allied fatality on Omaha Beach. Despite the title, Garner’s romance with Andrew’s Emily, a military driver, plays second fiddle in the narrative, and never overcomes the hurtle of implausibility. Inspired by the same-named novel, Paddy Chayefsky’s script is clever and snappy in places, but is plagued by too many unnatural writerly monologues (the kind that might work in a stage play but not in a motion picture—the main characters always have a well-thought-out speech ready to go, it seems, to defend their principles). Amusing as it can be, and sporting a well-cast Garner in his rakishly charming element, the main issue is that director Hiller never brings the material to life, as if he trusts the words and actorly enthusiasm will take care of themselves while telling the cameraman to point and shoot between yawns. See if you can spot Sharon Tate in an unbilled bit part (I didn’t).

60/100