Making The Best Years of Our Lives: The Hollywood Classic That Inspired a Nation

The Best Years of Our Lives was a 1946 film that was an immediate success, tackling the veterans problem of PTSD. It earned Samuel Goldwyn his only Best Picture Academy Award, offered William Wyler a triumphant postwar return to Hollywood, and provided Harold Russell with a surprising second act. Alison Macor chronicles the film's journey from script to screen, revealing its nuanced critique of American ideals and its impact on audiences worldwide.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 05 September 2023
Publisher: University of Texas Press

"The Best Years of Our Lives" was released in 1946 and achieved immediate success. Life magazine hailed it as the first major film of the post-war era to address the issue of veterans, a problem that would later be known as PTSD. At the time, the modern language of war trauma did not exist. The film brought numerous accolades to its producer, Samuel Goldwyn, including his sole Best Picture Academy Award. It also provided a triumphant postwar return to Hollywood for its injured director, William Wyler. Moreover, the film offered a remarkable second act to Harold Russell, a double amputee who starred alongside Fredric March and Dana Andrews.

Award-winning author Alison Macor delves into the journey of the film from script to screen, highlighting its impact on audiences worldwide. General Omar Bradley believed that "The Best Years of Our Lives" had the potential to contribute to the building of a stronger democracy in the aftermath of the war. The movie sparked widespread discussions on the reintegration of the walking wounded. However, the film's nuanced critique of American ideals also made it a target during the anti-Communist witch hunts of the late 1940s. Macor's comprehensive history explores the making and significance of this film, which profoundly changed America.

Weight: 372g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781477328330