The Battle After

Rating: 9/10 (27 November 2017)

This film, expertly and passionately directed by William Wyler, is a captivating glimpse of America immediately following World War II when scores of veterans returned home from dangerous and distant battles overseas. The story is centered on three servicemen who had each endured combat, respectively on land, at sea, and in the air, and who find themselves back in their fictitious home town of Boone City, which is patterned after Cincinnati. Having dreamed on the battlefront of reuniting with those they love in the familiar, peaceful environment of civilian life, are they adequately prepared for the transition from one world to another? Each of the men carry their battle scars, both physically and mentally, from the war to the "peaceful" existence of Boone City. As the superbly directed, explosive drugstore scene indicates, the sad reality is that post-war Boone City, as a microcosm of America itself, is anything but peaceful.
Aside from Wyler's outstanding direction, the screenplay by Robert E. Sherwood is very perceptive and often very touching. As moved as I am by the exchanges between Homer and Wilma during the film, I didn't realize just how powerful their dialogue is until I re-read the words in the "quotes" section on this website. I'm not ashamed to say that I bawled like a baby when I read at least some of these genuinely heart-rending words, and that is not a frequent occurrence for me.
I can't praise the cast enough, both the leads and the support, especially the three men who play the vets, Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and, last but never least, Harold Russell, a non-professional actor who managed to nail two different Oscars for his very credible portrayal of disabled Homer Parish. I also agree with the one reviewer who states that of the three leading men, the best performance comes from the guy who didn't win an Oscar at all, Dana Andrews, in what may be the best role of his lifetime. That having been said, March's drunken speech before the bank bosses at the Cornbelt Loan and Trust is one of the movie's several "high" moments, and initially made me as anxious as his wife, played by Myrna Loy, but all's well that ends well.
The three leading women, Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright, and Cathy O'Donnell are excellent as well. While this very important role launched O'Donnell's all too brief career ("They Live By Night", "Ben-Hur"), it was eventually stifled by producer Samuel Goldwyn only because she married the older brother of director Wyler, with whom Goldwyn was feuding, before she tragically succumbed to cancer at the young age of forty six.
Virginia Mayo fought for the role of Marie Derry, the selfish, unlikeable wife of Fred (Andrews), who had not fallen in love with Fred as much as the uniform that he wore. I'm glad that Mayo landed the part because no one could deliver Marie's nasty, sneering lines as well. "There are drugstores everywhere!" Ouch! You sure know how to hurt a guy, Marie, especially one who sacrificed so much for your freedom, and you sure love your freedom, sweetheart.