would have been perfect if only it had taken an open side against war

Rating: Null/10 (4 July 2006)

Though "The Best Years of Our Lives" was adapted from "Glory for Me" by MacKinlay Kantor it reminded me of "The Road Back" by Erich Maria Remarque.I did not read "Glory For Me" but after having read "All Quiet on the Western Front" I had read The Road Back which was a sort of sequel. The Road Back tells the experience of young men in Germany who have returned from World War I and are trying to rehabilitate back into the society."The Best Years of Our Lives" is a similar story even though it does not have a very strong attitude towards war. It tells the story of three ex-servicemen (an airman, a sergeant, and a sailor) who have been trying to integrate back into society.While each one is trying to sort their life out,Fred (the airman) has come to realize that his wife who took a job as a night club waitress while he was overseas doesn't really love him.Al(sergeant)who developed a drinking problem in the army gets a promotion in the bank he used to work but he has had to struggle for the loan rights of the ex-servicemen.Homer(the sailor) cannot seem to face with his situation of losing his hands at the war and he doesn't want to tie his longtime girl Wilma to himself because of that. During their laudable struggles we see Wilma talking the sailor into marriage,Fred falling in love with the sergeant's daughter and Al's efforts to try to catch up on the growth of his son and daughter.The performance of Harold Russell, who lost both hands in the war and played an amputee is really commendable.He absolutely deserves to be "the only actor to receive two Academy Awards for the same performance." Actually there is a little bit latent praise on heroism and war in the movie.For example in a scene where the sailor Homer is offered some sundae by Fred who is working at the drugstore a guy approaches the sailor and implies he lost his hands for nothing and Homer is offended with some sort of exclamation "Some Americanism!So we're all a bunch of suckers?So we should've been on the side of the Japs and the Nazis?". I just did not feel that the director reflected enough attitude against war.It just feels like he kinda supported Homer's mindset.Of course the movie succeeds in reflecting harsh situation of the post-bellum life of veterans. We can see that they feel alienated,aloof and detached from their normal life and their loved-ones but it just doesn't fit right if you do not take an open side against war and its harsh realities and harms.