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IMDbPro

The Best Years of Our Lives

  • 19461946
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
66K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,170
107
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
DramaRomanceWar
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
66K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,170
107
  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Robert E. Sherwood(screen play)
    • MacKinlay Kantor(from a novel by)
  • Stars
    • Myrna Loy
    • Dana Andrews
    • Fredric March
  • 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
    • 349User reviews
    • 115Critic reviews
    • 93Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Top rated movie #224
    • Won 7 Oscars
      • 21 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Best Years of Our Lives
    Trailer 1:46
    Watch 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 Stephenson
    Dana Andrews
    Dana Andrews
    • Fred Derry
    Fredric March
    Fredric March
    • Al Stephenson
    • (as Frederic March)
    Teresa Wright
    Teresa Wright
    • Peggy Stephenson
    Virginia Mayo
    Virginia Mayo
    • Marie Derry
    Cathy O'Donnell
    Cathy O'Donnell
    • Wilma Cameron
    Hoagy Carmichael
    Hoagy Carmichael
    • Butch Engle
    Harold Russell
    Harold Russell
    • Homer Parrish
    Gladys George
    Gladys George
    • Hortense Derry
    Roman Bohnen
    Roman Bohnen
    • Pat Derry
    Ray Collins
    Ray Collins
    • Mr. Milton
    Minna Gombell
    Minna Gombell
    • Mrs. Parrish
    Walter Baldwin
    Walter Baldwin
    • Mr. Parrish
    Steve Cochran
    Steve Cochran
    • Cliff
    Dorothy Adams
    Dorothy Adams
    • Mrs. Cameron
    Don Beddoe
    Don Beddoe
    • Mr. Cameron
    Marlene Aames
    • Luella Parrish
    Charles Halton
    Charles Halton
    • Prew
    • Director
      • William Wyler
    • Writers
      • Robert E. Sherwood(screen play)
      • MacKinlay Kantor(from a novel by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more 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 reviews349

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    One Of The Best Films Of Its Kind
    Painting an authentic, distressing & heartbreaking portrait of post traumatic stress disorder and expertly led by riveting performances from its outstanding ensemble, The Best Years of Our Lives is a work of restrained craftsmanship that narrates its drama with deft composure and has a thorough understanding of its subject matter.

    Crafted with care, narrated with flair & incessantly human in its approach, William Wyler's film's silent, thoughtful contemplation on PTSD is still as relevant today as it was at its time of release. Firmly grounded in realism & having stood the test of time all these years, The Best Years of Our Lives is one of the finest offerings of its kind.
    helpful•19
    2
    • CinemaClown
    • Aug 17, 2018

    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(Airplane graveyard)
    • 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
      • $23,661,347
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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

    Related news

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    Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Virginia Mayo, and Teresa Wright in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
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