A cowardly American soldier finds himself unwittingly involved in the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach. Like other films based on the works of Chayefsky, this one is heavy on the message. Every character gets to give a big speech touching on important topics. It's to the credit of such fine actors as Garner, Andrews, and Douglas that they don't trip over themselves while pontificating Chayefsky-speak. Coburn steals the film in an amusing turn as a ladies' man and gung ho lieutenant. Under the journeyman direction of Hiller, the film looks drab and depressing, not what one wants in a comedy, which is what this is supposed to be, except that there are hardly any laughs.
Review of The Americanization of Emily
