I mentioned to Dawn that we would concentrate on dramas during this month here on Noir and Chick Flicks. She agreed and I figured we would focus on some of the classic great dramas of all time. Dramas that focused on family life, married life, dramas dealing with important issues such as race, women's rights, medical dramas, prison dramas, etc. We could go on and on. But since November is a time of being thankful, I wanted to showcase some dramas that are very emotional and tug at the heart and make you think. So I hope everyone will enjoy this month here on Noir & Chick Flicks. And I decided to kick things off with the 1946 classic film The Best Years of Our Lives, which I recently wrote about on my blog, All Good Things.
Facts about the film:
In 1946 this became the most successful film at the box office since Gone with the Wind (1939) which was released 7 years earlier.
For his performance as Homer Parrish, Harold Russell became the only actor to win two Academy Awards for the same role.
Myrna Loy receives top billing as she was the most successful female star at the time.
William Wyler, who served as a major in the Army Air Force during World War II, incorporated his own wartime experiences into The Best Years of Our Lives. Just as Fred Derry did in the movie, Wyler flew in B-17s in combat over Germany, although rather than being a bombardier, as Derry was, he filmed footage for documentary films. Additionally, Wyler modeled the reunion of Al and Milly, in which they first see each other at opposite ends of a long hallway, on his own homecoming to his wife, Talli.
This is the first film role for which Cathy O'Donnell, in the role of Wilma Cameron, receives screen credit. Her film debut was in Wonder Man (1945) as an uncredited extra in a nightclub scene.
In 1946 this became the most successful film at the box office since Gone with the Wind (1939) which was released 7 years earlier.
In 2007, the American Film Institute ranked this as the #37 Greatest Movie of All Time.
I'm ordinarily not a fan of dramas, but The Best Years of Our Lives is one of the finest films of all time, and one of my very favorites as well. I saw for the first time only a month or two ago.
ReplyDeleteAll of the actors gave top-notch performances, particularly Dana Andrews -- and there's not a single flaw in the entire picture. It's such a moving film. I confess, I almost cried.
I love this movie, plain and simple. It is like a time capsule of the period, and features great performances from every actor in it. I would certainly hae ranked it higher than #37. Very nice and informative article about this special film.
ReplyDeleteI almost cried too Emm. And Becky on my list Best Years is definitely in the top 10, maybe top 5.
ReplyDeleteMonty, I thought this was a very powerful movie, one you will not soon forget.. One of my favorite scenes, is when Dana is walking around with the retired military planes thinking back to his fighting days. Thank you for your wonderful thoughts on a very moving film.
ReplyDeleteNovember, is going to be a a great month here on N and CF.