I think I would love anyone whose heart was touched by this movie and its sweet depiction of America’s values and greatness during the 1940’s. “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “It’s A Wonderful Life”......both 1946!
And yet it feels like current times as well! Like the man at the soda counter saying we fought for the wrong side. Incredible! Same happens now with folks thinking we should side with or collude with Russia. Some things never change.
David Ruben was talking about how the professional actors were supporting Harold Russell and to me, the one scene which stood outwas when the plane was flying over Boone City and Russell sees his old football field and he says, "If I could get a nickel for every time I threw a forward pass." Russell is looking down on the field while in back of him, Fredric March is responding to Russell's comment to look up to Dana Andrews. It isn't mocking Russell, but responding with empathy. Great acting by all three.
This movie is in a class by itself, having had a father who served, there were a lot of "Mexican divorces" of first marriages because they were rushed and based on a few good times, and physical attraction, (she liked how he looked in a uniform).
Samuel Goldwyn was actually an independent producer, who'd been seeking a validating Oscar for a long time. This was a tipping point away from the studios. Postwar, other independents and actor-led production companies would follow.
Loved her, too. But this film was so perfectly cast, that it's hard to find "the best." EVERYONE was so great. But there was something about Myrna Loy to me that made her so special. She exuded so much class, dignity, and humanity, that she owned every scene. And the crazy thing is she never even had an acting lesson, instead beginning her career as a dancer. She worked out of pure human behavior. Later, she quit acting and devoted her entire life to the Red Cross, a fitting life after witnessing the devastation caused by this war.
@@tiffsaver here I am bumping into you again, and Loy is lead billed with full propriety and measure, but Cathy O'Donnell as Wilma, the literal girl next door who looks past Homer's disability and sticks with him set a bar for myself, viewing the film in my 20s for my young lady peers to meet. Thankfully, I am almost 30 years married to a woman who has a big heart and a thick skin, which have proven to be essentials that have furthered our continued love, presence and parenthood.
@@JohnSmith-op1tc It's a pleasure! What soldier returning from that war wouldn't want a Wilma waiting for him when he got home... but many other soldiers only received "Dear John" letters, instead. It seems that war brings out the best and the worst in us all.
@@tiffsaver You nailed it. Myrna personified class as did Greer Garson. Both elegant ladies paired with William Wyler in The Best Years of Our Lives and Mrs. Miniver respectively. That was truly exceptional film making. Wish they had that style and grace today.
And: wonderful Gladys George, as Hortense, Fred's step-mom, who comes in and listens as Mr. Derry reads the citations for bravery that Fred has left behind. Hortense does not speak; her eyes however fill with tears and she gets up, incredibly moved and walks into the other room. A remarkable piece of acting, just in that small, eloquent moment.
@@cynthiahawkins2389 I liked Fred's folks. They were seedy and poor, not outwardly perfect like Al's family, but the movie allowed them a kind of dignity in their pride and affection. And it always struck me that hot-tempered Fred really wanted to be respectful and tolerant toward his dad's significant other.
Fred in the airplane graveyard, as the camera pulls back and you see him, literally walking through his memories, "or maybe getting some of them outa of my system," he tells the construction boss when he finally speaks...
Btw, I had no idea before watching this that Harold Russell received two Oscars essentially by accident! They had no idea he would win Best Supporting Actor. There are so many memorable scenes in this film, that I cannot possibly mention them all. But as far as *cinematically,* the shot where Andrews does his tour down Memory Lane through the bomber graveyard, without dialogue and only the panning camera angles and soaring musical score to dramatize it, is surely one for the ages. P.S. I also agree that this was Virginia Mayo's finest moment. I think it was a case of, "the perfect actor meeting the perfect character" that had something to do with it.
I never tire of watching this great film, probably more so because I consider Hugo Friedhofer's Oscar®-winning music score to be the greatest ever for an American-made sound film. After Aaron Copland turned down the offer to score this film, it was Alfred Newman who persuaded Sam Goldwyn to hire Friedhofer despite the fact that George Antheil and Gail Kubik were the first choices for the job.
I had read that Goldwyn wanted Alfred Newman to score the film because Newman had scored many of Goldwyn's films in the 1930s. But by 1946, Newman was extremely busy as a composer himself, but also as the head of the music department at 20th Century-Fox. It so happened, though, that Newman had under his employment at Fox, Hugo Friedhofer, who had been a star orchestrator at Warner Bros. (He orchestrated Korngold's "The Adventures of Robin Hood."). Newman had guided Friedhofer as a composer with a film like Hitchcock's "Lifeboat" and thought Friedhofer was perfect for TBYOOL.
@@williamsnyder5616 Yes I agree Hugo Friedhofer was a brilliant arranger/composer and his contribution to the emotional impact of the film just cannot be overstated.
Hoagy Carmichael, Cliff Scully, Novak, angry man at the counter, Foreman at the end, Roman Boehnen (Fred's dad) whoever played Hortense (Gladys), and Wilma was properly cast. As were the parents. Everybody in the movie was properly cast. The guy who played sticky, the guy who played the manager, the guy who played the original druggist. The people who played the parents of Homer and Wilma. Even the preacher. The black lady who took care of the woman's Lounge area. Even the lady who brought in the obnoxious boy who played with the toys.
Dana Andrews was absolutely gold in this movie along with the whole cast. Yes I remember that scene and Dana’s reaction when at the desk handing over the pencil to Harold Russell and giving the same look to the desk clerk not once but twice when both hands were revealed as being lost.
I thought your review was very moving. You eloquently depicted one of the greatest movies of all time with tremendous insight and defining the essence of each character so well. Your comments about the relevancy of the movie were so well spoken and personally I think your a very gifted individual, philosophically and spiritually. BTW, my father served in the Navy on a PT Boat from 43-45. Regards Randy
It was controversial he was cast, disabled & not a professional, yet only actor to win 2 Oscars for same role, his performance deserves the credit, attention & accolades.
God, if there is one, abandoned America many decades ago. Today, the country is one tragic shadow of its former self, no longer respected or admired anywhere else.
You might get to this but Harold Russell was born as a Southie, below Boston, nobody said jack shit about his Boston accent. I believe he was being given Direction and William Wyler said, don't do it, let him be natural.
I think I would love anyone whose heart was touched by this movie and its sweet depiction of America’s values and greatness during the 1940’s. “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “It’s A Wonderful Life”......both 1946!
And yet it feels like current times as well! Like the man at the soda counter saying we fought for the wrong side. Incredible! Same happens now with folks thinking we should side with or collude with Russia. Some things never change.
@@youreaquickone Agreed. The same America First Movement. Those who hate Democracy.
The best MOVIE of our lives...
This movie gets better as time goes by .
David Ruben was talking about how the professional actors were supporting Harold Russell and to me, the one scene which stood outwas when the plane was flying over Boone City and Russell sees his old football field and he says, "If I could get a nickel for every time I threw a forward pass." Russell is looking down on the field while in back of him, Fredric March is responding to Russell's comment to look up to Dana Andrews. It isn't mocking Russell, but responding with empathy. Great acting by all three.
This movie is in a class by itself, having had a father who served, there were a lot of "Mexican divorces" of first marriages because they were rushed and based on a few good times, and physical attraction, (she liked how he looked in a uniform).
This was definitely the best film to come out of the old Hollywood studio system.
Samuel Goldwyn was actually an independent producer, who'd been seeking a validating Oscar for a long time. This was a tipping point away from the studios. Postwar, other independents and actor-led production companies would follow.
A great movie. Loved Teresa Wright in this movie.
Loved her, too. But this film was so perfectly cast, that it's hard to find "the best." EVERYONE was so great. But there was something about Myrna Loy to me that made her so special. She exuded so much class, dignity, and humanity, that she owned every scene. And the crazy thing is she never even had an acting lesson, instead beginning her career as a dancer. She worked out of pure human behavior. Later, she quit acting and devoted her entire life to the Red Cross, a fitting life after witnessing the devastation caused by this war.
@@tiffsaver here I am bumping into you again, and Loy is lead billed with full propriety and measure, but Cathy O'Donnell as Wilma, the literal girl next door who looks past Homer's disability and sticks with him set a bar for myself, viewing the film in my 20s for my young lady peers to meet. Thankfully, I am almost 30 years married to a woman who has a big heart and a thick skin, which have proven to be essentials that have furthered our continued love, presence and parenthood.
@@JohnSmith-op1tc
It's a pleasure! What soldier returning from that war wouldn't want a Wilma waiting for him when he got home... but many other soldiers only received "Dear John" letters, instead. It seems that war brings out the best and the worst in us all.
@@tiffsaver You nailed it. Myrna personified class as did Greer Garson. Both elegant ladies paired with William Wyler in The Best Years of Our Lives and Mrs. Miniver respectively. That was truly exceptional film making. Wish they had that style and grace today.
I loved Teresa Wright in everything she did. Marvelous actress.
All the minor characters. Roman Bohnen, where he reads the citation from General Doolittle. Choke me up.
And: wonderful Gladys George, as Hortense, Fred's step-mom, who comes in and listens as Mr. Derry reads the citations for bravery that Fred has left behind. Hortense does not speak; her eyes however fill with tears and she gets up, incredibly moved and walks into the other room. A remarkable piece of acting, just in that small, eloquent moment.
@@cynthiahawkins2389 I liked Fred's folks. They were seedy and poor, not outwardly perfect like Al's family, but the movie allowed them a kind of dignity in their pride and affection. And it always struck me that hot-tempered Fred really wanted to be respectful and tolerant toward his dad's significant other.
Fred in the airplane graveyard, as the camera pulls back and you see him, literally walking through his memories, "or maybe getting some of them outa of my system," he tells the construction boss when he finally speaks...
How could they miss talking about Teresa Wright?
Btw, I had no idea before watching this that Harold Russell received two Oscars essentially by accident! They had no idea he would win Best Supporting Actor.
There are so many memorable scenes in this film, that I cannot possibly mention them all. But as far as *cinematically,* the shot where Andrews does his tour down Memory Lane through the bomber graveyard, without dialogue and only the panning camera angles and soaring musical score to dramatize it, is surely one for the ages.
P.S. I also agree that this was Virginia Mayo's finest moment. I think it was a case of, "the perfect actor meeting the perfect character" that had something to do with it.
I never tire of watching this great film, probably more so because I consider Hugo Friedhofer's Oscar®-winning music score to be the greatest ever for an American-made sound film. After Aaron Copland turned down the offer to score this film, it was Alfred Newman who persuaded Sam Goldwyn to hire Friedhofer despite the fact that George Antheil and Gail Kubik were the first choices for the job.
I had read that Goldwyn wanted Alfred Newman to score the film because Newman had scored many of Goldwyn's films in the 1930s. But by 1946, Newman was extremely busy as a composer himself, but also as the head of the music department at 20th Century-Fox. It so happened, though, that Newman had under his employment at Fox, Hugo Friedhofer, who had been a star orchestrator at Warner Bros. (He orchestrated Korngold's "The Adventures of Robin Hood."). Newman had guided Friedhofer as a composer with a film like Hitchcock's "Lifeboat" and thought Friedhofer was perfect for TBYOOL.
@@williamsnyder5616 Thanks for the back story.
@@williamsnyder5616 Yes I agree Hugo Friedhofer was a brilliant arranger/composer and his contribution to the emotional impact of the film just cannot be overstated.
TBYOOL made me really appreciate Dana Andrews.
Very underrated actor indeed!
Hoagy Carmichael, Cliff Scully, Novak, angry man at the counter, Foreman at the end, Roman Boehnen (Fred's dad) whoever played Hortense (Gladys), and Wilma was properly cast. As were the parents. Everybody in the movie was properly cast. The guy who played sticky, the guy who played the manager, the guy who played the original druggist. The people who played the parents of Homer and Wilma. Even the preacher. The black lady who took care of the woman's Lounge area. Even the lady who brought in the obnoxious boy who played with the toys.
Dana Andrews was absolutely gold in this movie along with the whole cast. Yes I remember that scene and Dana’s reaction when at the desk handing over the pencil to Harold Russell and giving the same look to the desk clerk not once but twice when both hands were revealed as being lost.
I thought your review was very moving. You eloquently depicted one of the greatest movies of all time with tremendous insight and defining the essence of each character so well. Your comments about the relevancy of the movie were so well spoken and personally I think your a very gifted individual, philosophically and spiritually. BTW, my father served in the Navy on a PT Boat from 43-45.
Regards
Randy
It was controversial he was cast, disabled & not a professional, yet only actor to win 2 Oscars for same role, his performance deserves the credit, attention & accolades.
America, America, God shed his grace on thee....
God, if there is one, abandoned America many decades ago. Today, the country is one tragic shadow of its former self, no longer respected or admired anywhere else.
@@josephcarlbreil5380 Thanks to Progressives.
@@tokenjoy More like thanks to uneducated morons.
@@tokenjoy What gibberish. Progressives? Americans wouldn't know the etymology of the word.
@@josephcarlbreil5380 Let me correct that. Miseducated morons.
You might get to this but Harold Russell was born as a Southie, below Boston, nobody said jack shit about his Boston accent. I believe he was being given Direction and William Wyler said, don't do it, let him be natural.
Hortense has a Boston accent, too, if I'm not mistaken. A lot of Bostonites moved to 'Boone City'?
Is that Teresa Wright talking?
It's interesting that Harold Russell wasn't even listed in the principle cast members in the opening of the movie.
They didn't pay him scale either.
Unknown amateur.
I wish they had talked more about the other actors aside from Harold Russell - wonderful performances.
Russell was great, but they are spending too much time on him. This film has a lot more that needs to be talked about.