The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
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The Best Years of Our Lives Movie Review
The Best Years of Our Lives is a 1946 drama film directed by William Wyler and starring Fredric March, Dana Andrews and Harold Russell. It’s one of the best dramas of all time.
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“I’ve seen nothing, I should have stayed at home
and found out what was really going on“
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Three World War II veterans, two of them traumatized or disabled, return home to the American Midwest to discover that they and their families have been irreparably changed. This movie was a huge box office hit and a big Academy Award winner and it’s easy to see why it swept the nation like this. It came immediately after World War II, so the emotions were running high. Having the director who knew personally how war affected these men and their families was important for it led to such an authentic, timeless picture.
WWII movies are a dime a dozen, but the best of the bunch are often those that deal with its aftermath and not the war itself. This is one such tale. It depicts all the problems that these veterans would face back in the day, ranging from horrendous PTSD to unemployment to the country’s lack of respect for their sacrifices to family issues. One man has to deal with his children all grown up in his absence, the other has to deal with his disability and how it affects his marriage while the main character experiences a loveless marriage.
The movie follows all three of these men without ever being too disparate or rushed. That’s because utmost care was given to every character and the runtime of three hours was also long enough to explore many different issues that they faced without ever feeling overly extended. The fact that such a long movie is so engaging to this day is a huge testament to the director and the writer as Robert E. Sherwood’s script deftly focuses on just the most important problems and arcs without ever moving into either overly maudlin or insignificant territory.
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Fredric March won an Oscar for playing Al and he definitely deserved it. This was his second winning performance after 1931’s ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’. March brilliantly conveyed this man’s previous traumatic experiences through his insecurities and drinking. The latter scenes were particularly well acted by this incredible performer.
While March is obviously terrific, I would personally argue that Dana Andrews was just as great in an underappreciated performance by a hugely underrated actor. He got the most to do in terms of runtime and emotional storytelling and he delivered in spades, perfectly emulating his character’s inner turmoil and the feeling of hopelessness. There is this powerful sequence where Fred enters an old airplane to relieve/destroy those war memories and Andrews was so effective in that scenario that it made for one of the best scenes in a film full of unforgettable moments.
I would also confidently say that his romantic subplot is superbly crafted. Yes, we’ve seen this story before of a man in a loveless marriage who falls for another girl, but it’s so well executed, so charming and so effortlessly romantic that it undeniably worked. And it wouldn’t have worked nearly as much had it not been for Teresa Wright, a superb actress who always looked stunning and continually delivered fantastic supporting performances.
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Myrna Loy is also terrific as her mother. She braves through Al’s alcoholism and depression with so much dignity that she was one of the most admirable characters here. Virginia Mayo as Fred’s horrible wife was certainly too over-the-top in some of her almost villainous lines of dialogue, but effective and memorable regardless.
Harold Russell also should be congratulated for delivering outstanding acting work, especially inspiring for a man who wasn’t a professional actor. The fact that they cast a genuine soldier with a disability was crucial in making the movie authentic and so intimate. All of his scenes where he had to cope with his ailment and other people walking on eggshells around him were so heartbreaking, and yet he remained a positive, optimistic presence and this great beacon of hope and representation of perseverance in spite of all odds stacked against him.
The Best Years of Our Lives contains numerous scenes that are immediately recognizable and iconic. One is that opening inside an airplane where the three men bond and talk about their experiences. It was such a beautiful way to open the movie and acquaint us with these people. But the highlight is the ending itself where Homer gets married and Fred finally unites with his romantic interest. It was very moving and a happy ending that was truly earned.
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Technically, it’s also a masterpiece. Not only is the directing from Wyler top-notch and one of his greatest works, but the editing and pacing are stupendous, the writing is outstanding and the score is evocative of every single mood in every single scenario. The dialogue is exceptional and thoroughly believable. Yes, it did beat ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ at the Oscars, but it’s hard to be mad about it as both movies are undeniable classics.
Phenomenally written thanks to a deft, surprisingly modern and layered script, The Best Years of Our Lives is truly the quintessential WWII drama that explores the aftermath of this war and what the returning veterans went through in very realistic detail. Dana Andrews, Harold Russell and Fredric March all gave outstanding performances in perfectly written and believable roles. The movie is also highly engaging, which was a huge accomplishment given its epic runtime. It has stood the test of time gloriously and it still remains one of the greatest Best Picture winners of all time.
My Rating – 5
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