THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES

WWII’s scars were still fresh as director William Wyler—who had served in the Air Force—met the challenge of making a meaningful film about the Stateside readjustment of servicemen (portrayed by Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and real-life vet/first-time actor Harold Russell) and their families. Audiences cherished it, fellow filmmakers King Vidor and Billy Wilder hailed it, and seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director followed. It’s one of the bleakest films of the whole post-war era.

Hitching a ride back to their home in the Midwest, three veterans newly demobbed from World War II meet and strike up a bond. Telling of their struggles to adapt to civilian life, THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES sees its ordinary heroes face up to disability, drinking problems, marital strife and joblessness. An unusually candid and sombre portrait for audiences accustomed to Hollywood’s rousing depiction of the war effort, the film struck a chord with critics and audiences. Wyler places a great emphasis on realism, drawing an especially touching performance from former paratrooper Harold Russell, who—like Homer, the character he plays—had lost his hands during the war. 

“William Wyler's heartbreaking postwar ballad seems even more radical today than it did in its Oscar-thick heyday. It's as non-propagandistic as an unemployment line.” - Michael Atkinson, Village Voice

“The best movie ever made?” - Jordan Horowitz