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The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
3 October 1947 (France) moreTagline:
THE SCREEN'S GREATEST LOVE STORY IS THE BEST FILM THIS YEAR FROM HOLLYWOOD! morePlot:
Three WWII veterans return home to small-town America to discover that they and their families have been irreparably changed. full summary | full synopsisAwards:
Won 7 Oscars. Another 10 wins & 1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(4 articles)
My Left Foot Named Most Inspirational Movie Ever (From WENN. 3 November 2008, 6:04 AM, PST)
Oscar-Winning Actress Teresa Wright Dies at 86
(From WENN. 8 March 2005)
User Comments:
wonderful post-war epic moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Myrna Loy | ... | Milly Stephenson | |
| Fredric March | ... | Al Stephenson (as Frederic March) | |
| 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 | |
| Ray Collins | ... | Mr. Milton | |
| Minna Gombell | ... | Mrs. Parrish | |
| Walter Baldwin | ... | Mr. Parrish | |
| Steve Cochran | ... | Cliff | |
| Dorothy Adams | ... | Mrs. Cameron |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Glory for Me (USA) (working title)Home Again (USA) (working title)
Samuel Goldwyn's The Best Years of Our Lives (USA) (poster title)
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Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
172 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)Certification:
UK:U | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:15 (2002) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Argentina:13 | Australia:G | Australia:PG (alternate rating) | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #11972)Filming Locations:
Long Beach Airport - 4101 E. Donald Douglas Drive, Long Beach, California, USA moreFun Stuff
Trivia:
In 1946 this became the most successful film at the box office since Gone with the Wind (1939) which was released 7 years earlier. moreGoofs:
Factual errors: Fredric March's name is misspelled as "Frederic" March in the closing credits. moreQuotes:
[Homer has asked Wilma into his bedroom to see what happens as he prepares for bed. After removing his hooks and harness, he 'wiggles' into his pajama top]Homer Parrish: I'm lucky I have my elbows. Some of the boys don't; but I can't button them up.
Wilma Cameron: I'll do that, Homer.
Homer Parrish: This is when I know I'm helpless. My hands are down there on the bed. I can't put them on again without calling to somebody for help. I can't smoke a cigarette or read a book. If that door should blow shut, I can't open it and get out of this room. I'm as dependent as a baby that doesn't know how to get anything except to cry for it. Well, now you know, Wilma. Now you have an idea of what it is. I guess you don't know what to say. It's all right. Go on home. Go away like your family said.
[...]
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FAQ
Is this movie based on a novel?Is there a reference to "the best years of our lives" in the movie itself?
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This is a home-coming tale of three WWII veterans, returning to the same small town. One was a bank clerk who rose through the military ranks (Fredric March, who got the Best Actor Oscar for this, well-deserved) with an understanding wife (Myrna Loy, excellent) and daughter (Teresa Wright). One has lost his hands (Harold Russell, real-life veteran, putting in a touching performance) and struggles to cope with this and with his relationship with his girlfriend (Cathy O'Donnell). The other was a soda jerk but has flown bomber planes throughout the conflict (Dana Andrews, in one of his best roles) and is now heading back to his pin-up wife (Virginia Mayo, a small role but an interesting one).
We follow them on their respective journeys, often meeting up in Butch's bar (run by Hoagy Carmichael, who gets the chance to play piano, etc.) and often finding their paths cross. The film comes in at around 3 hours, but it is time well spent. 'The Best Years' is not only perceptive and clever, with some great scenes, but also is innovative in some of its cinematography, thanks to the great Gregg Toland, master of the deep focus.