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IMDbPro

The Best Years of Our Lives

  • 19461946
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,617
2,345
Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Virginia Mayo, and Teresa Wright in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Home Video Trailer from HBO Home Video
Play trailer1:46
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • War
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
64K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,617
2,345
  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Robert E. Sherwood(screen play)
    • MacKinlay Kantor(from a novel by)
  • Stars
    • Myrna Loy
    • Dana Andrews
    • Fredric March
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Robert E. Sherwood(screen play)
    • MacKinlay Kantor(from a novel by)
  • Stars
    • Myrna Loy
    • Dana Andrews
    • Fredric March
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 332User reviews
    • 112Critic reviews
    • 93Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #227
    • Won 7 Oscars
      • 21 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Best Years of Our Lives
    Trailer 1:46
    The Best Years of Our Lives

    Photos137

    Dana Andrews in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    Dana Andrews and Harold Russell in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    Harold Russell in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    "Best Years of Our Lives, The (1946)" Myrna Loy & Teresa Wright
    Myrna Loy and Fredric March in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    Dana Andrews, Fredric March, and Harold Russell in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    Dana Andrews & Teresa Wright
    Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Fredric March, and Teresa Wright in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Virginia Mayo, and Teresa Wright in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    Dana Andrews and Virginia Mayo in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    Michael Hall in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    Myrna Loy, Michael Hall, Fredric March, and Teresa Wright in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Myrna Loy
    Myrna Loy
    • Milly Stephensonas Milly Stephenson
    Dana Andrews
    Dana Andrews
    • Fred Derryas Fred Derry
    Fredric March
    Fredric March
    • Al Stephensonas Al Stephenson
    • (as Frederic March)
    Teresa Wright
    Teresa Wright
    • Peggy Stephensonas Peggy Stephenson
    Virginia Mayo
    Virginia Mayo
    • Marie Derryas Marie Derry
    Cathy O'Donnell
    Cathy O'Donnell
    • Wilma Cameronas Wilma Cameron
    Hoagy Carmichael
    Hoagy Carmichael
    • Butch Engleas Butch Engle
    Harold Russell
    Harold Russell
    • Homer Parrishas Homer Parrish
    Gladys George
    Gladys George
    • Hortense Derryas Hortense Derry
    Roman Bohnen
    Roman Bohnen
    • Pat Derryas Pat Derry
    Ray Collins
    Ray Collins
    • Mr. Miltonas Mr. Milton
    Minna Gombell
    Minna Gombell
    • Mrs. Parrishas Mrs. Parrish
    Walter Baldwin
    Walter Baldwin
    • Mr. Parrishas Mr. Parrish
    Steve Cochran
    Steve Cochran
    • Cliffas Cliff
    Dorothy Adams
    Dorothy Adams
    • Mrs. Cameronas Mrs. Cameron
    Don Beddoe
    Don Beddoe
    • Mr. Cameronas Mr. Cameron
    Marlene Aames
    • Luella Parrishas Luella Parrish
    Charles Halton
    Charles Halton
    • Prewas Prew
    • Director
      • William Wyler
    • Writers
      • Robert E. Sherwood(screen play)
      • MacKinlay Kantor(from a novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      For his performance as Homer Parrish, Harold Russell became the only actor to win two Academy Awards for the same role. The Academy Board of Governors thought he was a long shot to win, so they gave him an honorary award "for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance." Later that ceremony he won for Best Supporting Actor.
    • Goofs
      When Al introduces his wife and daughter to Fred and Homer at Butch's, he refers to Dana Andrews as Homer and Harold Russell as Fred. This was intended as a consequence of Al being drunk.
    • Quotes

      [after Peggy tells her parents that they never had any trouble in their relationship]

      Milly Stephenson: "We never had any trouble." How many times have I told you I hated you and believed it in my heart? How many times have you said you were sick and tired of me; that we were all washed up? How many times have we had to fall in love all over again?

    • Crazy credits
      The character played by Ray Teal (the Axis sympathizer whom Homer Parrish attacks at the soda fountain) is listed in the credits as "Mr. Mollett". However, the character's name is never mentioned or otherwise alluded to.
    • Alternate versions
      The film was modified to play on a wide screen and reissued on February 3, 1954.
    • Connections
      Edited into Chain Lightning (1950)
    • Soundtracks
      Among My Souvenirs
      (1927) (uncredited)

      Music by Edgar Leslie

      Lyrics by Lawrence Wright

      Played on piano by Hoagy Carmichael

    User reviews332

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Those Left Behind
    Three WWII veterans return home to small-town America to discover that they and their families have been irreparably changed.

    Such a powerful film. At first the new lives of the soldiers seem to be facing small adjustments, such as their children's interest in "atomic energy" and "scientific efficiency". But soon we find that jobs are hard to find, and the wives and girlfriends sometimes met new people while the battles were fought.

    Although a serious topic, the film has the right balance of entertainment and drama. It never gets outright depressing, and things like depression and suicide are overlooked. But it still remains a valuable lesson: as bad as dying in the war is, sometimes the transition back to normalcy can be just as damaging.

    Although not one of the better known movies today (2014), "The Best Years of Our Lives" won seven Academy Awards in 1946, including Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actor (Fredric March), Best Supporting Actor (Harold Russell), Best Film Editing (Daniel Mandell), Best Adapted Screenplay (Robert Sherwood), and Best Original Score (Hugo Friedhofer). It still sits on the IMDb Top 250, just as it should.
    helpful•15
    1
    • gavin6942
    • Dec 1, 2014

    FAQ5

    • Is "The Best Years of Our Lives" based on a book?
    • Is there a reference to "the best years of our lives" in the movie itself?
    • Where is the airplane graveyard located?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 29, 1947 (Mexico)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Glory for Me
    • Filming locations
      • Ontario International Airport - 2900 E. Airport Drive, Ontario, California, USA
    • Production company
      • The Samuel Goldwyn Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,100,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,650,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,656,620
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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