The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

 The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

The Vietnam War brought the issue of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) to the forefront of people’s minds. In today’s combat, PTSD is a topic that is regularly explored. PTSD is nothing new, but its thematic exploration is only recent. However, there happens to be an honest, intelligent film depicting PTSD from before Vietnam…during World War II. That particular film is William Wyler’s The Best Years of Our Lives. The film began production a mere seven months after the war ended and Wyler wanted to bring an honest, authentic feeling to his movie. He even had the principal actors buy their own clothes. At nearly three hours long, you don’t feel the time passing. Wyler, the man behind Wuthering Heights and Ben-Hur, immerses his audience into his film with a timely topic, impressive, well-developed characters, and a wonderful film score composed by Hugo Friedhofer.

Big-time American producer Samuel Goldwyn came up with this film’s idea when reading about veterans returning from abroad and trying to adjust from a Times article. He hired a former war correspondent to write a screenplay which was turned into a novella. Furthermore, Robert Sherwood adapted the current film’s screenplay from that novella. Sherwood’s script is impressive because its honest with the terms of how hard it is for veterans to readjust themselves to society…brutally honest sometimes. Wyler was hired to direct, as he flew a few missions himself during the war. Authenticity was very important to him. Instead of creating grand sets as accustomed to during this time period, he created lifelike sets. He also went out of his way to hire a non-actor, Harold Russell, to play one of the returning veterans. He happens to be the only actor to win two Academy Awards for the same performance (best supporting actor and an honorary award). He also worked with cinematographer Gregg Toland to come up with rather impressive well-focused shots.

This movie depicts the lives of three soldiers returning home from the war to different lives but somehow connected to one another. Al Stephenson (Frederic March) returns to his influential banking position but comes to realize that being loyal to his fellow soldiers may not be a good thing. Fred Derry (Dana Andrews) is just your typical, ordinary man that works hard for a living. He realizes how hard it is to find or hold down a job. Homer Parrish (Harold Russell) has both of his hands burned away during combat. He comes home unsure if his family and especially his fiancé loves him anymore. With these issues in mind, the three men must try and reacclimate themselves to a harsh society.

The performances are excellent all across the board, Harold Russell deserves all the credit because he nails it as someone with no acting experience. He sold the idea of having no hands and trying to live in his “new normal” very well. His scenes with his fiancé are very heartbreaking. Frederic March does a great job and his scenes where he tries to be loyal by approving loans but receiving blowback from the bank in the process is engrossing and likewise heartbreaking. On the supporting end, Myrna Loy and Teresa Wright are fantastic as Al’s respective wife and daughter. And Dana Andrews! He had some excellent scenes, especially in the bomber sequence towards the end. One of the reasons why the film worked because each actor delivered a raw, honest portrayal. No gimmicks or anything. Each performance was natural, and the strong writing and direction only elevated these performances.

William Wyler’s The Best Years of Our Lives hit home how horrible war veterans can have it returning home from war whether it be trying to find a job, reuniting with loved ones, etc. After service is completed and the war is over, people seem to forget about these folks-the same folks that defended this country so we Americans can live a life of freedom. Wyler was not afraid to mince words or scenes when trying to push across his themes. It is the same today as it was back in 1945. Readjusting to society while having bouts of PTSD is near impossible without the necessary help and love that is required. This movie is a moving, and hard portrayal about life after war. I definitely give this movie a recommend.

My Grade: A