During the build-up to D-Day in 1944, the British found their island hosting many thousands of American soldiers who were "oversexed, overpaid, and over here". That's Charlie Madison exactly; he knows all the angles to make life as smooth and risk-free as possible for himself. But things become complicated when he falls for an English woman, and his commanding officer's nervous breakdown leads to Charlie being sent on a senseless and dangerous mission.

James Garner says that this is his favorite of his movies.

Adm. William Jessup:
The first dead man on Omaha Beach must be a sailor.

Factual errors: One of the admirals says that D-Day must be June 5 or 6 because there would be a neap tide, as required. In fact the date was selected for the opposite reason: there would be a spring tide, as required.

Music composed by Johnny Mandel
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer