Review of The Americanization of Emily (1964) by Jason R — 21 Jul 2008

I was more enthusiastic about this film the first time I saw it (which was likely the result of being a little smitten with Andrews), but it holds up well on a subsequent screening. The three leads are wonderful; Garner seems born to play this part, and Coburn is unexpectedly hilarious.

The primary selling point, of course, is Chayefsky's screen play. If you're willing to accept that the film doesn't intersect with reality on any level, then it becomes quite easy to enjoy the exceedingly smart dialogue (when was the last time you heard a character in an American film use the word "ingenuous"?) and distinct quality of Chayefsky's satire, exemplified by the plot twist that sees the cynical ramblings of a senile officer become a patriotic duty.

Chayefsky's response to such patriotism? A soldier throwing up in his helmet.