MovieChat Forums > The Americanization of Emily (1964) Discussion > James Garner's favourite film!

James Garner's favourite film!

posted 16 years ago by zedeff
5 replies | jump to latest

James Garner won TWO purple hearts.
He knows about courage and cowardice. Also, apparently he was his unit's 'supplier', as well, so his role in the Great Escape wasn't too much of a stretch either! :D

This is Garner's favourite film. It's actually quite real and novel in its approach to the subject of war. Real soldiers are frightened, and the difference between courage and cowardice can be a split second. Garner has never spoken much about the two incidents that lead to him being awarded the purple heart. That's not the style of his generation. Nowadays we let it all hang out but his silence emphasises the horror he must have experienced. And his choice of this as his favourite film also indicates where his veteran sympathies lie.

Coburn's performance is truly hilarious too - great comic, shame he didn't get a chance to show that off more in his later films.

Although the film is called 'the americanization of emily', in fact it is actually the 'anglisation' of garner's character - he learns about quiet stoicism, unrecognised bravery, 'stiff-upper-lip'edness of the British soldiers and people who suffered the Blitz. We learn about cynical propaganda, looney generals/admirals, and that sending our boys/sons off to a foreign land should never be decided quickly and easily, but with a heavy-heart and a lot of soul-searching.

If you haven't seen this film yet - put it on your list of films to see before you die!

[–] oldmotem 16 years ago

I am glad to see James Garner has EXCELLENT taste!

One of the best films you'll see. A gem.

[–] nutsberryfarm 10 years ago

indeed.

The circulation of confidence is better than the circulation of money.-James Madison

[–] eeoulo 15 years ago

:We learn about cynical propaganda, looney generals/admirals, and that sending our boys/sons off to a foreign land should never be decided quickly and easily, but with a heavy-heart and a lot of soul-searching. "

hear hear!

[–] npaxton-3 9 years ago

And not with the facile phrase of, after a few months, "mission accomplished!" The mission is rarely accomplished because the mission is often much more complicated.

[–] TongueFu 8 years ago

I believe you meant "anglisization". Also, you don't exactly WIN a purple heart, in the sense that you would win a Silver Star or a Medal of Honor. The purple heart is given out to service men and women who are wounded in battle. Merely getting wounded is not an act of valor and is not awarded as such. My dad survived combat in WWII France, not long after his unit landed at Utah Beach, with both a purple heart (for being wounded in battle) and a Silver Star (for his gallant performance in the same battle. Not to diminish how admirable Garner's service in the Korean war was, however.