The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) | |
| Director(s) | William Wyler |
| Producer(s) | Samuel Goldwyn, Lester Koenig (associate uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Drama, Romance, War |
| Top Topics | Book-Based, Husband Wife, Marriage, Romance (Drama) |
Featured Cast:
The Best Years of Our Lives Overview:
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by William Wyler and produced by Samuel Goldwyn and Lester Koenig.
The film was based on the novel Glory for Me written by MacKinlay Kantor published in 1945.
SYNOPSIS
Perhaps the most memorable film about the aftermath of WWII, it unfolds with the homecoming of three veterans to the same small town. The leads all touch emotional truths: Loy seems able to express longing, joy, fear, and surprise - even with her back turned - in a particularly poignant welcome home. The movie never glosses over the reality of altered lives and the inability to communicate the experience of war on the front lines or the home front. A landmark achievement. WWII vet Russell, who lost his hands in the war, is the only person to win two Oscars for the same role, Best Supporting Actor and a special Oscar "for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance."
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.The Best Years of Our Lives was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1989.
Academy Awards 1946 --- Ceremony Number 19 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Actor | Fredric March | Won |
| Best Supporting Actor | Harold Russell | Won |
| Best Director | William Wyler | Won |
| Best Film Editing | Daniel Mandell | Won |
| Best Music - Scoring | Hugo Friedhofer | Won |
| Best Picture | Samuel Goldwyn Productions | Won |
| Best Writing | Robert E. Sherwood | Won |
| Special Award | To Harold Russell for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans through his appearance in The Best Years of Our Lives. | Won |
BlogHub Articles:
"The Best Years of Our Lives" is the Best Picture of 1946
By Stephen Reginald on Aug 22, 2022 From Classic Movie Man"The Best Years of Our Lives" is the Best Picture of 1946 The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) is an American drama directed by William Wyler and starring Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Virginia Mayo. The screenplay was written by Robert E. Sherwood, based on a novella... Read full article
Book Review: Making The Best Years of Our Lives: The Hollywood Classic That Inspired a Nation
By Stephen Reginald on Aug 17, 2022 From Classic Movie ManBook Review: Making The Best Years of Our Lives: The Hollywood Classic That Inspired a Nation The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) is one of the most honored and beloved films from Hollywood's Golden Age. It was released over 75 years ago. Author and film historian, Alison Macor has written a ver... Read full article
Best Picture of 1946: "The Best Years of Our Lives"
By Stephen Reginald on Mar 7, 2021 From Classic Movie ManBest Picture of 1946: "The Best Years of Our Lives" The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) is an American drama directed by William Wyler and starring Myrna Loy, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Virginia Mayo. The screenplay was written by Robert E. Sherwood, based on a novella, Glor... Read full article
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946, William Wyler)
By Andrew Wickliffe on Mar 3, 2018 From The Stop ButtonIf it weren?t for the first half of the film, The Best Years of Our Lives would be a series of vingettes. The film runs almost three hours. Almost exactly the first half is set over two days. The remainder is set over a couple months. Director Wyler and screenwriter Robert E. Sherwood don?t really d... Read full article
Teresa Wright in The Best Years of Our Lives
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jun 16, 2016 From 4 Star FilmsI was born and bred a California boy, but there’s a certain something about the girl-next-door. Maybe it’s my midwestern roots, because after all, my mom was born in Iowa before making the move westward. Anyways, the first time I saw Teresa Wright onscreen I was immediately smitten. She ... Read full article
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Quotes from
Al Stephenson: No. Too sane for my own good.
[Homer has asked Wilma into his bedroom to see what happens as he prepares for bed. After removing his hooks and harness, he 'wiggles' into his pajama top]
Homer Parrish: I'm lucky I have my elbows. Some of the boys don't; but I can't button them up.
Wilma Cameron: I'll do that, Homer.
Homer Parrish: This is when I know I'm helpless. My hands are down there on the bed. I can't put them on again without calling to somebody for help. I can't smoke a cigarette or read a book. If that door should blow shut, I can't open it and get out of this room. I'm as dependent as a baby that doesn't know how to get anything except to cry for it. Well, now you know, Wilma. Now you have an idea of what it is. I guess you don't know what to say. It's all right. Go on home. Go away like your family said.
Wilma Cameron: [She kneels in front of him] I know what to say, Homer. I love you and I'm never going to leave you... never.
[She kisses him]
Milly Stephenson: What do you think of the children?
Al Stephenson: Children? I don't recognize 'em. They've grown so old.
Milly Stephenson: I tried to stop them, to keep them just as they were when you left, but they got away from me.
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Facts about
The first movie recorded in Stereo using the Westrex Recording system. The Stereophonic version exists in the form of studio acetate masters but was never married to the picture. Only a handful of theaters were equipped for multi-channel sound at the time of its original release.
Cathy O'Donnell went on to marry William Wyler's brother, Robert Wyler.
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