You Gotta Have Friends Blogathon – The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – Encore Review 3

This is the final of 3 reviews for the You Gotta Have Friends Blogathon being run by Debra over at Moon in Gemini.  Tnx for letting me take part!

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“I’d stand up for you, kid, til I drop.” – Fred Derry

Number of Times Seen – At least 10 (21 July 2001 on TV, DVD, 16 Jun 2013 and 31 Aug 2015, 21 Feb 2016 and 20 Nov 2016)

Link to original review – Here, Here and Here

Brief Synopsis – The lives of three returning veterans from World War II are turned upside down when they try to return to their old lives.

My Take on it – This is one of my all-time favorite films and I can never get tired of watching it over and over.

The themes depicted here are quite timeless because they truly remain relevant even 70 years after this film was made which is a testament to how amazing it truly is.

The cast is superb here and each and every one of them helps make this film feel so real.

Fredrick March, Harold Russell both won Oscars for their roles here, but Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Virginia Mayo, Cathy O’Donnell and Teresa Wright are all equally amazing here.

This film went on to win 8 Oscars that year and is so powerful in so many different moviemaking aspects.

The bond shared by returning veteran soldiers is depicted so well here because each of them needs to rely upon one another for so many aspects of their attempts to reintegrate into civilian life.

The three stories are all so powerful, but they are able to intertwine the treads sop taht that story would remain incomplete without the connection between them all.

The themes depicted here are very powerful and emotional and this film repeatedly shows how the bond of friendship between these characters helps strengthen each of their resolves to do what they know needs to be done both for themselves and for everyone around them.

Bottom Line – Amazing film because it remains timeless with its themes even after 70 years.  Unbelievable cast helps make this film feel so real.  It deservingly won 8 Oscars that year and remains extremely powerful in so many aspects. The bond shared by these men is indescribable and their need for one another to weather the return home is such a powerful and emotional theme that is repeatedly shown here. Highly Highly Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – William Wyler, who served as a major in the Army Air Force during World War II, incorporated his own wartime experiences into the film. Just as Fred Derry did in the movie, Wyler flew in B-17s in combat over Germany, although rather than being a bombardier, as Derry was, Wyler shot footage for documentary films (his hearing was permanently damaged when an anti-aircraft shell exploded near his plane while on a bombing raid). Additionally, he modeled the reunion of Al and Milly, in which they first see each other at opposite ends of a long hallway, on his own homecoming to his wife, Margaret Tallichet. (From IMDB)

Rating – Oscar Worthy (no change from original review)

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