The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jonathan H

  
  It definitely gets a little too syrupy at times, but William Wyler's ode to returning veterans is a remarkably bold and frank look at post-WWII America (especially brave, considering these were topics Hollywood avoided for years before its release). Fredric March is brilliant as… More
  It definitely gets a little too syrupy at times, but William Wyler's ode to returning veterans is a remarkably bold and frank look at post-WWII America (especially brave, considering these were topics Hollywood avoided for years before its release). Fredric March is brilliant as always, and underrated Dana Andrews and Teresa Wright are terrific as well. It features Wyler's traditionally tight direction, and the legendary Gregg Toland shines by composing some truly stunning deep focus photography as well. In the end, The Best Years of Our Lives may be a little too conventional, but it's done well enough to draw you in and root for its characters.

• Chris W

  
  Before films like The Deer Hunter (among others) provided commentary on the readjustment of soldiers after the Vietnam War, this film tackled the way in which soliders dealt with coming home after World War II. This is a long story that looks at the lives of three men from the same… More
  Before films like The Deer Hunter (among others) provided commentary on the readjustment of soldiers after the Vietnam War, this film tackled the way in which soliders dealt with coming home after World War II. This is a long story that looks at the lives of three men from the same town who all come home together and form a bond as they each struggle individually to move on with their lives after having served overseas. It's also an extremely relevant and good story, too. I liked how the narratives interweaved, although the connection between the men and their fast friendship seems a little undercooked and more coincidental than anything, as these men have apparently never known one another before the war. The film won a ton of Oscars though (including for Best Picture), and I have to say that they're all pretty well deserved. The performances are great, and I loved how they got an actual handicapped guy to play Homer, adding authenticity to things. The film is really touching, and well shot, but not without a few minor flaws. The editing could be a bit tighter, cutting down some of the run time. This would also cut down on the film's occasional dragging. Also, ike I mentioned above, a slightly better developed background connection for the characters. While the film does a fairly good job of covering each man's story, it seemed like things could have been a bit more equally balanced in terms of amount of time devoted to each. All in all, a very well done and engaging film about an important subject. I'm glad I saw this, because I really had no idea that there were any films about post war experiences of soldiers for the WWII era. Highly Recommended.

• AJ V

  
  An interesting, but long, drama about life after returning from WWII.

• Jon L

  
  The editing on this film could have been a little tighter, which would also have made this film a little shorter as it was quite a long film. The acting was really good and the story was a very simple one, but one that was told in such a way that it really brought the characters to… More
  The editing on this film could have been a little tighter, which would also have made this film a little shorter as it was quite a long film. The acting was really good and the story was a very simple one, but one that was told in such a way that it really brought the characters to life. This is difficult to do for most films whoever this film did just that, did it well and it did it over 60 years ago. One of the strongest points of the film for me was the music. It worked really well and I think it was far ahead of its time. I really found myself rooting for all the characters in this one. There was no real physical protagonist, other than each person against themselves trying to find their place in a post-war world. I found this very intriguing. All aspects of the film were brought together nicely and made it very enjoyable to watch.

• Ken S

  
  Very good, very long, and very much a melodrama.

• Michael G

  
  The Best Years of Our Lives is an extremely long but well-constructed and well put together movie. It chronicles the struggles of American servicemen coming home from WWII from all imaginable angles. Great and solid performances all around from Frederic March, Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy… More
  The Best Years of Our Lives is an extremely long but well-constructed and well put together movie. It chronicles the struggles of American servicemen coming home from WWII from all imaginable angles. Great and solid performances all around from Frederic March, Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy and the rest of the cast. Any scene that takes place on the inside of an airplane in this movie is stunning (namely the sunrise scene towards the beginning). I'll admit I wasn't in the best of moods when I watched this but I was turned around by the end.

• Stella D

  
  a bit sentimental but still great and remarkably honest portrait of the problems faced by returning veterans of ww2. i wish teresa wright had made more films. beautifully directed by william wyler

• moon r

  
  an anti war film; about the coming home part nobody likes to talk about when we're gettin' all fired up to go kick some camel jockey's ass...oh, wait, that's a different war, ain't it? our children coming home, well, at least they're the same… More
  an anti war film; about the coming home part nobody likes to talk about when we're gettin' all fired up to go kick some camel jockey's ass...oh, wait, that's a different war, ain't it? our children coming home, well, at least they're the same children...ain't they?

• Daniel P

  
  Watching this one on Turner Classic Movies, and knowing that The Dirty Dozen was on AMC, I had to make a choice... I'm glad I stuck with this one: it may be the best film I've ever seen. The introduction to the film given by TCM's host said that some critics put it… More
  Watching this one on Turner Classic Movies, and knowing that The Dirty Dozen was on AMC, I had to make a choice... I'm glad I stuck with this one: it may be the best film I've ever seen. The introduction to the film given by TCM's host said that some critics put it above Citizen Kane and Casablanca as the best Hollywood movie ever, and it's hard to disagree. Some of the scenes near the end drag a little, but I have rarely been so immediately immersed in characters' lives as I was in the opening minutes of this one, and never before in black and white. It's got everything, and the three story-lines (young navy, twenty-something air force and nearly retired soldier) are incredibly well interwoven, and give three perspectives on the war that only, in the beginning, intersect geographically, but soon develop many new wrinkles. With what is being said about the war, only a year after it ended, this movie must have been controversial, but unless you're Titanic, eight Oscars (including best picture) don't lie.

• Jennifer X

  
  extremely long but i really like the way this movie is set up. it kinda provides an entire story of the war veterans and not just concentrating on one character. you've got the high, middle, and working class struggles.

• Byron B

  
  Another social issue movie of the 40's. A topic that continues to be an issue in society since, returning vets adjusting to home life. One performer stands out exceptionally- Harold Russel! He was not an actor, but a real vet, and you can tell his performance is pure truth.… More
  Another social issue movie of the 40's. A topic that continues to be an issue in society since, returning vets adjusting to home life. One performer stands out exceptionally- Harold Russel! He was not an actor, but a real vet, and you can tell his performance is pure truth. Even from WWII it was hard for the three main characters, as played by March, Andrews, and Russell, to overcome the inner conflict that has formed within each one. It's a battle with one's self having seen the things a soldier sees and remembering more innocent times, plus not knowing the reactions of those who stayed home. This movie ends romantically, the main characters find a way to adjust to civilian life without quite so much trouble as vets from later wars perhaps faced. But some strong forces that need overcome are portrayed. Awe inspiring.

• Mark K

  
  Movies are a reflection of our society in real-time. The Best Years of Our Lives is one that spans multiple generations and does it so well, you'd think it was a new film, despite the black and white. In addition to tackling a tough issues facing of post-WW-II era soldiers and… More
  Movies are a reflection of our society in real-time. The Best Years of Our Lives is one that spans multiple generations and does it so well, you'd think it was a new film, despite the black and white. In addition to tackling a tough issues facing of post-WW-II era soldiers and servicemen, it's also chock full of strong performances. You have to view some of the hokum through the 1946 lens, but overall, it's a 'modern' looking film, and interesting in its triple storyline. Skillfully interwoven, these propel the movie forward at a good clip, and it only meanders slightly with some of the romantic aspects, but you are drawn in to the men's lives. One of the protagonists is physically scarred (wonderfully played by Harold Russell in a brave, Academy Award-winning role)Fredric March plays a family man whose problem are more hidden; and Dana Andrews is in top form as a man in search of himself. It's very powerful stuff, the kind that only rarely gets done well in modern day film. There some great sequences, and the story lines are tied up with satisfying endings. Robert Sherwoods smartly written script, combined with Wm. Wyler's direction and some nicely nuanced acting by everyone makes this a real winner, and not just of awards. Andrews is really terrific as Derry, who is really very charming, despite being a complete loser for a while. Recommended.

• Alec B

  
  I'll grant that a lot of the elements put it ahead of its time, the filmmakers seem very sincere in attempting to present an honest post WWII veteran story and I like the scenes that place the three men at odds with a home and family they don't fully understand. The problem… More
  I'll grant that a lot of the elements put it ahead of its time, the filmmakers seem very sincere in attempting to present an honest post WWII veteran story and I like the scenes that place the three men at odds with a home and family they don't fully understand. The problem is that it was made so close to the ending of the war that its just not able to really examine the serious impact of all that occurred. And for a nearly three hour movie it gets pretty muddled in melodrama and uninteresting details, rather than the serious issues. There is also an unpleasant smugness in many scenes that suggests that Wyler and everyone else involved with the production were a little too proud with themselves for making this movie. I can't bring myself to totally dislike it, mostly because it does manage to occasionally deconstruct the myth surrounding WWII (which is pretty impressive for a film of 1946), I just wish the rest of the film could be as good as those moments.

• Andrew F

  
  A touching classic film.

• William G

  
  Mildly melodramatic these days, yet a striking capsule of WWII homecoming.

• Tom S

  
  I want to make an entire movie about Myrna Loy's character. There won't be any conflict because nothing throws that woman, but I still think it would be a great movie.

• Simeon D

  
  A pretty damn good movie. Like The Deer Hunter without the misery and violence and with more sentimentalism. 100/100

• nefnie l

  
  A wonderful film about what happens after the war. Three men from different branches of the service readjust to civilian life. It has an honest and realistic approach for those who have served in battle and try to reconnect with their loved ones while dealing with their inner… More
  A wonderful film about what happens after the war. Three men from different branches of the service readjust to civilian life. It has an honest and realistic approach for those who have served in battle and try to reconnect with their loved ones while dealing with their inner turmoil.

• Lord N

  
  I am of the opinion that this film deserved only one of the awards it received, Best Supporting Actor. that's it. nothing else. I really liked the story quite a bit, soldiers returning home and how they adjust to their time after the war. I feel that the execution wasn't… More
  I am of the opinion that this film deserved only one of the awards it received, Best Supporting Actor. that's it. nothing else. I really liked the story quite a bit, soldiers returning home and how they adjust to their time after the war. I feel that the execution wasn't that great. I don't think Fredric March deserved his second Best Actor win for this. I personally believe that Jimmy Stewart should have won HIS Second Best Actor win. Overall I felt that this film was rather weak. I feel that the only reason that it won is because of the plot resonated with America as it came out in 1946, the year after WWII (for more on this check my senior project essay: politics in the academy awards in my blogs). The Idea behind it and the fact that it was an entertaining film to watch made it a decent film overall. Final Verdict: it was a decent film however it wasn't exactly Best Picture worthy. I label this a mistake. Replacement Winner: Frank Capra's far superior film It's A Wonderful Life.

• Ivan D

  
  A highly deserving best picture winner, with unforgettably poignant performances by the three leads: Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and Harold Russell(a real-life WWII amputee). And though the two(March and Russell) won the Oscars, it was Dana Andrews' emotionally penetrating, yet… More
  A highly deserving best picture winner, with unforgettably poignant performances by the three leads: Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and Harold Russell(a real-life WWII amputee). And though the two(March and Russell) won the Oscars, it was Dana Andrews' emotionally penetrating, yet still charming performance as Fred that was ultimately left in my mind. "The Best Years of our Lives" is not an anti-war film, yet it shows the deep psychological effects of the war, with strands of high optimism. The three main characters went home as soldiers honored as heroes, but as it all wore off, they're prisoners on an unwanted paroles. But through all the emotional uneasiness, they all eventually found the way to turn an alien world feel like home again. A grand tribute to all the veterans of the great war, not for their belligerent acts on the battlefield, but the reality of their lives after it. "The Best Years of Our Lives" is certainly one of the great films of our times.

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