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The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Approved   |    |  Drama, Romance, War

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) Poster

Three World War II veterans return home to small-town America to discover that they and their families have been irreparably changed.

8/10
57,172
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93 Metascore

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

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Awards

Won 7 Oscars.

Another 14 wins & 3 nominations.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
22 February 2005 | GMJames
10
| Over 60 years old and still a classic!
In 2004, I wrote the following statements on an IMDb message board when a user wondered if The Best Years of Our Lives was a forgotten movie:

***** To me watching this movie is like opening up a time capsule. I think in many ways "The Best Years of Our Lives" is probably one of the more fascinating character studies and it holds up extremely well as a look at life in the US in the mid-1940s after WWII. I believe "Coming Home" and "The Deer Hunter", both released in 1978, were the most recent films that were closest in capturing the numerous issues of military men returning from war that were brought up in "The Best Years of Our Lives".

What really impressed me was watching the movie in its entirety when I was in college around 1980-81 and many if not all of the college students applauded at the end of the movie.

This movie still packs a wallop and I'm very happy to read in other posts other users feeling of a movie that will definitely stand the test of time. *****

I'm very happy to see the movie ranked near the top 100 movies on IMDb and AFI. Also, though it was in competition with what eventually became a Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life, arguably, The Best Years of Our Lives' Oscar wins, including Best Picture, were very well-deserved.

I've just seen the film again in 2005 and after almost 60 years, The Best Years of Our Lives is still a powerful, beautifully acted and well-crafted motion picture.

Metacritic Reviews

Critic Reviews

Did You Know?

Trivia

Was remade in 1975 as a TV movie called "Returning Home (1975)" with Dabney Coleman, Tom Selleck and James R. Miller as the returning soldiers and Whitney Blake, Joan Goodfellow, Sherry Jackson and Laurie Walters as the wives and sweethearts. Miller, like Harold Russell, was chosen to play Homer because Miller lost his hands fighting in Viet Nam.

Quotes

Al Stephenson: We don't need to worry about that child. She can take care of herself.
Milly Stephenson: That's what she thinks.

Goofs

When Homer is talking to the obnoxious customer at the soda counter, Fred serves water at the customer's right hand, but in another shot, it's at his left hand side.

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.

Soundtracks

Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out the Barrel)
(1927) (uncredited)
Music by Jaromir Vejvoda
Played on piano by Hoagy Carmichael

Storyline

Plot Summary

Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)

Genres

Drama | Romance | War

Details

Release Date:

29 May 1947

Language

English

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

Walnut Hills High School - 3250 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,100,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$23,650,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$23,656,620

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