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The Best Years of Our Lives

  • 19461946
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 2h 50m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
63K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,834
456
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
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
63K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,834
456
  • 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
    • 331User reviews
    • 112Critic reviews
    • 93Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #226
    • Won 7 Oscars
      • 21 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

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

    Photos115

    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)
    Cathy O'Donnell and Harold Russell in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
    Marlene Aames, Walter Baldwin, Minna Gombell, Cathy O'Donnell, and Harold Russell 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
    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)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The story concentrates on the social re-adjustment of three World War II servicemen, each from a different station of society. Al Stephenson returns to an influential banking position, but finds it hard to reconcile his loyalties to ex-servicemen with new commercial realities. Fred Derry is an ordinary working man who finds it difficult to hold down a job or pick up the threads of his marriage. Having had both hands burnt off during the war, Homer Parrish is unsure that his fiancée's feelings are still those of love and not those of pity. Each of the veterans faces a crisis upon his arrival, and each crisis is a microcosm of the experiences of many American warriors who found an alien world awaiting them when they came marching home. —alfiehitchie
    • readjusting to civilian life
    • world war two veteran
    • 1940s
    • banker
    • speech
    • 161 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • THE SCREEN'S GREATEST LOVE STORY IS THE BEST FILM THIS YEAR FROM HOLLYWOOD!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide

    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 reviews331

    Review
    Top review
    Dana Andrews
    I saw the movie again recently. I always love it. It's touching, has great music, scope and complexity. The film is alive in its human details. But what especially stood out to me this time was how amazing Dana Andrew's performance is. His wife has cheated on him, he's suffering post-war trauma, and can't find a job--but he's still charming and funny. Even though his opinion of himself is pretty low, he keeps going ahead. I love how self-denigrating the character is, how he suspects he's pretty worthless, while his parents, friends and Peggy (but not his wife) see him as extraordinary. And Andrews does it all while being understated and real. Yeah, Dana!
    helpful•171
    24
    • ottoblom
    • Oct 10, 2004

    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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