The Most Honored Picture In History!

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #23 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Best Years of our Lives

"I was burned. When I came to, I was on a cruiser. My hands were off. After that, I had it easy..." - Petty Officer 2C Homer Parish

Why watch this? Civilians need to see this to better understand our armed service veterans.

Plot Summary: Set in the aftermath of World War II, this story follows three servicemen returning to their small Midwestern town. Each man faces unique challenges readjusting to civilian life, including joblessness, changing family dynamics, and physical disability. The ex-servicemen must face the emotional and practical difficulties of transitioning back into society and navigate their new realities.

Dad's Preview: It might be easy to imagine that World War II Veterans returned home and re-acclimated without a lot of problems. They were America's Greatest Generation anyway, right? Of course that was not the case. This film follows three very different soldiers, all returning from overseas to the same hometown. It's a well-written, poignant film that gives the viewer a new appreciation for the price these servicemen paid both abroad and back home after the war.

Samuel Goldwyn Productions; RKO Radio Pictures