BrianKoller's Full Review: Best Years of Our Lives
There are many war movies. However, after the Vietnam war, Hollywood believed that a new film genre was born with "Coming Home" (1978): the postwar movie. This genre deals with soldiers after they have returned from the war, and sometimes find that the greater battle was not left behind. Spouses have grown independent, children have grown up and become strangers, and skills learned in the war may not translate to stateside jobs. And if you've left a part of you behind on the battlefield, physically and/or mentally, you must face your inner demons, overcome handicaps, and find a new place in society.
Of course, there's rarely such a thing as a new
genre. "The Best Years of Our Lives" had "Coming
Home" beat by more than thirty years, and what's
more, it is a superior film, with a broader story
and a better script.
"The Best Years of Our Lives" concerns the return
of three World War II veterans, and their
problems adjusting to postwar society. The oldest
(Fredric March) promptly gets a promotion and has
a strong supporting family, anchored by wife
Myrna Loy and full-grown daughter Teresa Wright.
But he has a drinking problem, feels guilty about
his success, and bears unfathomable antipathy
towards his obliging boss.
Dana Andrews is the second veteran, and his
leading man looks ensure the most screen time.
His readjustment is more difficult. His skill at
dropping bombs doesn't help him land a job, and
his wife proves selfish and shallow. Aware of his
problems, he spends much of the movie wearing a
dazed look, as if saying 'How could this have
happened to me, such a swell guy?'
Harold Russell is a sailor who lost his hands in
battle. He now has metal hooks in their place,
that allow him to open doors and light matches,
but he can't hug his fiancee with them. Russell
has strong family support and a devoted fiancee,
but struggles with depression and inadequacy.
Russell won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for
his performance, but did not appear in another
movie until a minor role 34 years later. I guess
the studios wouldn't lend him a hand.
"The Best Years of Our Lives" takes its time, and
the slow pace is very agreeable, allowing
commonplace dialogue to make characters and
events appear real. Andrews doesn't find his wife
until the film's second hour, giving him plenty
of time to establish bonds with March, Russell,
and Wright.
Hoagy Carmichael is in this movie. I mention this
because he is always welcome, and he sure can
play a piano.
It can be argued that "The Best Years of Our
Lives" is really a lengthy soap opera. Well,
bring on the detergent, and don't forget your
hanky. (95/100)
World War II verterans from different strata of society face difficult readjustments to everyday civilian life in this thoughtful film, which simply a...More at HotMovieSale.com
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