One of the finest movies ever made!

Rating: 10/10 (16 September 2004)

I first saw THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES on some AFRTS TV station in Japan years ago on active duty and was amazed. I've seen it several times since and several scenes stick with me: Harold Russell's hooks peering through his pea coat, the humiliation of Dana Andrews' character returning to his old job at the soda fountain after being a decorated bombardier, the frustration felt by the retread sergeant/banker's inability to assist returning vets--- and especially the gut wrenching scenes of Russell's adjustment to his prosthetic arms shown without even a twinge of self-pity. This is absolutely masterful film-making and if Bill Wyler had never directed another film this alone would rank him at the very top of his craft. It stands the test of time as a testimonial to our ability to adjust and accept any burden life throws at us as a country, our spirit is effectively summed up by Andrews' last line in the movie, "I can learn." I understand this was originally made under the independent Liberty Pictures banner (as was Capra's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, which still sports the logo) but was absorbed under United Artists due to the financial implosion of the fledgling company. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES belongs near the top 10 of AFI's all time greats... a timeless classic that deserves to be seen again and again. This is an example of art in American cinema.