'The Best Year of Our Lives' | |
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Directed by | William Wyler |
Produced by | Samuel Goldwyn |
Written by | MacKinlay Kantor (uncredited) Robert E. Sherwood |
Starring | Myrna Loy Frederic March Dana Andrews Teresa Wright |
Music by | Hugo Friedhofer |
Cinematography | Gregg Toland |
Editing by | Daniel Mandell |
Distributed by | The Samuel Goldwyn Company |
Release date(s) | November 21, 1946 |
Running time | 172 min. |
Country | USA |
Language | English |
Budget | $2,100,000 |
Gross revenue | $23,600,000 (US) |
IMDb profile |
The Best Years of Our Lives is a 1946 film directed by William Wyler, about three military veterans returning home after World War II and their difficulties in re-adjusting to civilian life.
The film starred an ensemble cast, including several prominent stars of the day, including Myrna Loy, Frederic March and musician Hoagy Carmichael. The film also starred first-time Hollywood actor Harold Russell, a real-life military veteran who lost both hands during the war.
Air Force bomardier Fred Darry, army Sergeant Al Stephenson and sailor Homer Parrish meet on the voyage back to their shared hometown, the fictional Boone City. After their initial return, each begins to grapple with some of the problems of postwar civilian life: Darry, a former soda jerk at a local drugstore is unable to find a job. Lacking experience in anything besides making ice cream floats and dropping bombs, he is continually frustrated in his search for work. Meanwhile, his wife constantly pressures him to go out on the town, putting greater pressure on his dwindling finances.
Parrish returns home to a loving family and girlfriend, but is self-conscious about the prosthetic hooks replacing his hands. He withdraws from his family and his girlfriend Peggy, not wanting to be a burden on them. Before the war, Parrish promised his girlfriend that they would be married, but he avoids her and is noncommittal about their relationship.
Stephenson is invited to return to his job at a bank, but has difficulty separating his personal feelings from bank policy when it comes to granting loans to veterans. He drinks heavily and endangers his job.
As Darry's marriage crumbles, he falls in love with Stephenson's daughter Wilma, who returns his affections. Stephenson opposes the romance and forbids Darry from associating with his daughter.
Ultimately, Parrish's girlfriend approaches him and insists she wants to be part of his life, despite his disability. Darry and his wife divorce, and the film closes with Stephenson embracing Wilma at Parrish's wedding.
Myrna Loy - Milly Stephenson
Frederic March - Al Stephenson
Dana Andrews - Fred Derry
Teresa Wright - Peggy Stephenson
Virginia Mayo - Marie Derry
Cathy O'Donnell - Wilma Cameron
Hoagy Carmichael - Butch Engle
Harold Russell - Homer Parrish
Gladys George - Hortense Derry
Roman Bohnen - Pat Derry
It was a critical and commercial success, winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (March), Best Editing and Best Supporting actor for newcomer Russell. Russell also won an honorary Oscar for "bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans." He is the only actor to ever win two Oscars for the same role.[1]
Categories: [Movies]