The Best Years of Our Lives was pretty good. Its biggest downside is its length--almost three hours. But I actually think more people should watch it, especially combat veterans.
The story centers around three WWII veterans who are returning home and happen to meet on the plane flying back. They share their fears and dreams about returning to civilian life. One is a decorated bombardier who has no other marketable skills and a young wife he married hastily before being shipped out to Europe. One is an infantry sergeant who has a wife and grown children, and is a successful loan officer at a bank. One is a Navy engineer who left behind a high school sweetheart, and while a former football quarterback had his hands burned off when his ship was attacked and now wears prosthetic hooks. He isn't sure his sweetheart will want to marry him now that there are things he can't do for himself.
The movie then continues to follow these three and their families as they try to readjust. They have varying ups and downs at this, and they cope very differently. But I think modern veterans and their families will relate to their struggles--a lot of it reminded me of things I've heard about coming home after combat from people who have experienced how tough that adjustment period is. Especially for the ones who were wounded and now have to figure out a different normal. The actor who played the sailor who lost his hands actually was a disabled veteran with prosthetic hands. You could tell they weren't faked in part because of how deft he was with them. He won Best Supporting Actor for his performance.
For obvious reasons this movie was very popular in 1946. It was the next big "blockbuster" after Gone With the Wind--the movie everybody saw and talked about. It's all but forgotten today, but we enjoyed it and I think it deserves a revival.
Watched : December 26, 2017
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