X
- 1946
- Approved
- 2 h 50 m
- 1946
- Approved
- 2 h 50 m
Summary Three World War II veterans return home to small-town America to discover that they and their families have been irreparably changed.
Directed By: William Wyler
Written By: Robert E. Sherwood, MacKinlay Kantor
- 1946
- Approved
- 2 h 50 m
- 1946
- Approved
- 2 h 50 m
The Best Years of Our Lives
8.4
Where to Watch
Summary Three World War II veterans return home to small-town America to discover that they and their families have been irreparably changed.
Directed By: William Wyler
Written By: Robert E. Sherwood, MacKinlay Kantor
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
93
100% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
93
100% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
A best picture Oscar winner, and one of the finest of all American films. [04 Aug 1989, p.37]
The best American movie about returning soldiers I've ever seen—the most moving and the most deeply felt. It bears witness to its times and contemporaries like few other Hollywood features, and Gregg Toland's deep-focus cinematography is one of the best things he ever did.
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 49 User Ratings
8.4
88% Positive
43 Ratings
43 Ratings
8% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
4% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Universal Acclaim
Based on 49 User Ratings
8.4
88% Positive
43 Ratings
43 Ratings
8% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
4% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Even at nearly three hours in length, this visceral, gripping drama film about three war veterans never fails to interest.
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It’s not the whole story, of course; it’s resolutely on the side of decorum and falls far short of the inner and outer postwar apocalypses envisioned in film noir. But the intensity of its liberal romanticism is utterly gripping.
Unlike most sure-fire movies, it was put together with good taste, honesty, wit—and even a strong suggestion of guts.
The movie does have an air of cautiousness about it, trying so hard to be a respectful, definitive statement on WWII (and often succeeding) that it sometimes feels cadaverous.
The film is very proud of itself, exuding a stifling piety at times, but it works as well as this sort of thing can, thanks to accomplished performances by Fredric March, Myrna Loy, and Dana Andrews, who keep the human element afloat. Gregg Toland's deep-focus photography, though, remains the primary source of interest for today's audiences.
This film is a marvel. It perfectly stands the test of time despite one or two antiquated special effects. Whilst it is as realistic as possible and tries to capture a fleeting moment in American history it manages to reveal the quintessence of the American soul, its extreme optimism, strength in front of pain and adversity, as well as supreme magnanimity (what was foreseen and celebrated as the real übermensch by Nietzsche and, sadly, despised by Dostoyevsky)...exactly what has made American culture so universally revered and envied by its enemies to this day. This is the same artistic transcendence found in other American art forms such as jazz for instance.
Not only do the script, acting and editing manage to make this 3-hour film feel so engaging and entertaining, some of scenes' cinematography shows glimpses of brilliance.
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Hollywood's first real honest look at the effects of war on veterans returning home. This deeply felt, extremely well performed movie shows the painful experiences of 3 WW2 veterans trying to cope with trauma of battle and the altered reality of homecoming, and the failings of trying to explain that agony to their family and friends
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I can not say much, but seeing it bored me, and It was also very bad!!!!!!!
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Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 8 Wins & 9 Nominations
Golden Globes, USA
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
