The Best Years of Our Lives
172 min,
  1. "I don't care if it doesn't make a nickel," Samuel Goldwyn reportedly declared in a famous Goldwynism regarding this classic film, "I just want every man, woman, and child in America to see it."
    1. Life magazine article about returning World War II veterans and their difficulties in adjusting to civilian life.
    2. MacKinlay Kantor to write the story
    3. Robert E. Sherwood to write the script. the greatest screenplays of all time.
  2. Three servicemen as they return to their home town of Boone City: Al Stephenson (Fredric March), Fred Derry (Dana Andrews), and Homer Parrish (Harold Russell)
    1. "You know what it'll be, don't you, Peggy," he tells her. "It may take us years to get anywhere. We'll have no money, no decent place to live. We'll have to work-get kicked around." Through this Wright's smile fills the screen as they once more kiss and the film ends.
  3. William Wyler's direction is masterful
  4. Gregg Toland's deep focus photography, which enhances every scene.
  5. Russell, who earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, gives a powerful, complex performance as the wonderful Homer. His only other film appearance was in INSIDE MOVES (1980), but in 1988 he also appeared in the television series "China Beach," sensitively portraying the uncle of series lead Dana Delaney.
  6. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1946, and Wyler was honored as Best Director. Sherwood's compelling script, Hugo Friedhofer's excellent score, and the superb editing by Daniel Mandell all were honored with Oscars, as were March and Russell for their performances. Russell was presented with an additional honorary Award for his performance.
  7. Pauline Kael Review: . stars out of 0
    1. A satisfy the public desire to see what changes the Second World War had made in people's lives
    2. it's not a great picture; it's too schematic and it drags on after you get the points.
    3. details stand out and help to compensate for the soggy plot
  8. William Wyler(1902 - 1981)
    1. Born: July 1, 1902, Alsace-Lorraine, Died: 1981
    2. German-Swiss-Jewish parentage, career as a haberdasher
    3. publicity department of Universal's New York offices. cut his directorial teeth on low-budget westerns.
    4. Wyler also teamed with cameraman Gregg Toland, Oscar-nominated for all three films,
    5. Wyler won his first Academy Award for MRS. MINIVER (1942),
    6. commissioned a major in the US Army Air Force. While Over Italy he suffered injuries that left him partially deaf.
    7. In 1947 he rallied to counteract the stinging accusations of the Congressional HUAC investigations of Hollywood by helping to organize, along with John Huston and Philip Dunne, the Committee for the First Amendment.
    8. In 1948, he and fellow directors Frank Capra, George Stevens and Samuel Briskin formed their own production company, Liberty Films, which was later taken over by Paramount.
    9. (DETECTIVE STORY, 1951), (ROMAN HOLIDAY, 1953), (THE BIG COUNTRY, 1958). BEN-HUR (1959), , FUNNY GIRL (1968).
    10. the third recipient of the prestigious Life Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.