The Best Years of Our Lives ★★★★ 1946 Three WWII vets return home to try to pick up the threads of their lives. A film that represented a large chunk of American society and helped it readjust to the modern postwar ambience is now considered an American classic. Supporting actor Russell, an actual veteran, holds a record for winning two Oscars for a single role. In addition to his Best Supporting Actor award, Russell was given a special Oscar for bringing hope and courage to fellow veterans. Based on the novella by MacKinlay Kantor. Remade for TV as "Returning Home" in 1975. 170m/B VHS, DVD. Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright, Dana Andrews, Virginia Mayo, Harold Russell, Hoagy Carmichael, Gladys George, Roman Bohnen, Steve Cochran, Charles Halton, Cathy O'Donnell, Ray Collins, Victor Cutler, Minna Gombell, Walter Baldwin, Dorothy Adams, Don Beddoe, Ray Teal, Howland Chamberlain;
Director:
William Wyler;
Writer:
Robert Sherwood;
Writer:
Gregg Toland;
Cameo:
Hugo Friedhofer. Oscars '46: Actor (March), Director (Wyler), Film Editing, Picture, Screenplay, Support. Actor (Russell), Orig. Dramatic Score; AFI '98: Top 100; British Acad. '47: Film; Golden Globes '47: Film—Drama; Natl. Bd. of Review '46: Director (Wyler), Natl. Film Reg. '89;; N.Y. Film Critics '46: Director (Wyler), Film.
