No. 23 - The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

Filled with all the love and warmth and joy. . .the human heart can hold!

Rated: Not Rated, but would be rated G (General audiences)

Director: William Wyler; Screenplay: Robert E. Sherwood, MacKinlay Kantor

Starring: Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Harold Russell, Teresa Wright, Virginia Mayo, Cathy O'Donnell, Hoagy Carmichael

Movie Introduction: Al, Fred and Homer are three World War II veterans facing difficulties as they re-enter civilian life. Fred (Andrews), a decorated Air Force bombardier, is unable to compete with more highly-skilled workers and has to return to his low-wage soda jerk job. Bank executive Al (March), returns to his job, but is discouraged by his boss when he offers favorable loans to veterans. After losing both hands in the war, Homer (Russell) returns to his loving fiancée, but struggles to adjust, and does not want to burden her with the difficulties of a his disabled condition.

Defining Moment: the bank dinner

Al Stephenson has returned to his bank executive job and must attend a bank dinner. Earlier that day his boss cautioned him regarding a risky loan he approved for a veteran who had no collateral for the loan. At the diner, Al who is not too pleased with the bank's direction, is having a few too many drinks. You can see nervousness on his wife's face as rises to speak. She's tracking his drinks. After a shaky start, Al delivers one of the most memorable speeches ever on film.

Something subtle you might have missed:  stay focused

The film's cinematographer, Gregg Toland, used a technique called "deep focus" photography, in which objects both close and distant from the camera are in sharp focus. This effect can be seen specifically in the scene at Butch's Bar. We see Fred, in the background, using the indoor phone booth on the left side of the screen (he's having an intense conversation with Al), while in the foreground, Homer and Butch are doing a piano number together. Their musical number is sweet and interesting, but it is secondary to Fred's phone call in the background.

Memorable Quotes:

“Who are you, God? How did you get this power to interfere in other people's lives?” Al Stephenson

Dad's Review:

Our country had just helped win the Big War. We stopped Hitler in Europe. We stopped the Empire of Japan in the Pacific. Soldiers, the lucky ones anyway, started coming home. After tearful reunions with parents and families, these young men needed to get “back to normal”. The problem is that American moved on in their absence. Their old jobs were filled. This sudden flood of able men into the work force did not all have a place to go.

This film follows three soldiers, all strangers to each other, who fly back to their hometown the same day. They are very different, but the war binds them to each other. Fred used to be a soda jerk; he dropped bombs as an Air Force bombardier. Al was a bank VP; he led men as a Technical Sergeant. Homer was a high school sports star; he lost both his hands on a burning ship in the Navy.

They instantly become friends.

As each man returns to their loved ones, three different stories begin. Fred’s wife has been living it up on this Veteran’s benefits, and she now work at the local night club. Al’s bank wants him back, putting him in charge of Veteran loans.

Homer, so very conscious of his malady, has the most trouble. Folks keep staring at his Navy-supplied hooks. His high school sweetheart is still in love with him, but he pushes her away and wants to free her from his burden.

Thematically, we see how these men, who put their lives on the line for our country, were marginalized upon their return. It is as though their service meant nothing. “Just get in line, buddy, we’re all looking for a job.”

We also see how hard it was for these men, many who were traumatized and damaged, struggled to integrate back into American life. We look back and say, that’s very understandable. However, honestly, folks who stayed home had no idea what these soldier’s went through. There’s not much anyone can do except support them.

There is a great scene where Butch, the wise piano player (portrayed by the amazing Hoagy Charmichael), is counseling Homer, his nephew, about re-assimilating with this family. Homer basically says that his family just can’t do anything right. Butch responds:

“Give 'em time, kid. They'll catch on. You know, your folks will get used to you, and you'll get used to them. Then everything will settle down nicely, unless we have another war. Then none of us have to worry because we'll all be blown to bits the first day. So cheer up, huh?”

It’s warm moments like this that set this film apart. We become personally invested in our three protagonists as they struggle. Though their lives are separate, they become interwoven. Fred develops feelings for Al’s daughter, but he’s already married. Homer gets into an altercation at the soda fountain and Fred sticks up for him.

These three lives will be forever changed by the plane ticket that put them together on the plane home.

This film won nine Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (March), Best Supporting Actor (Harold Russell).

 Onto No. 24a... Non-native