Long before Saving Private Ryan or Schindler’s List redefined how Hollywood portrayed the horrors and heartbreaks of war, there was The Best Years of Our Lives – a 1946 drama that won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Directed by William Wyler, this film has quietly influenced generations of filmmakers, none more than Steven Spielberg, who has called Wyler one of his favourite directors and praised the film’s ability to reinvent itself stylistically.
The Best Years of Our Lives explores the difficult homecoming of three World War II veterans returning to small-town America. Unlike many war movies that focus on battlefield heroics, this film turns its lens inward, capturing the emotional and social struggles of soldiers trying to reclaim their lives, their families, and their identities after years of trauma.
It stars Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and Harold Russell – himself a World War II veteran who lost both hands in combat and whose authentic performance earned him two Oscars (Best Supporting Actor and a special honorary award).
The film’s powerful narrative unfolds through their interconnected stories, depicting the veterans’ struggles with physical injuries, broken relationships, and the challenges of finding work in a post-war economy.
Its realism and emotional depth were groundbreaking for the era, tackling topics often avoided in Hollywood at the time. The film’s carefully crafted cinematography and nuanced direction create an intimate yet epic portrayal of America’s return to peace.
The film’s sensitive approach to subjects like post-traumatic stress, physical disability, and the challenges of reintegration was groundbreaking for its time and still keeps its relevance today.
Spielberg’s admiration for Wyler is no secret. In interviews, he has described Wyler as a director who “never came out of the same hole twice” – able to shift from intimate family dramas to epic spectacles like Ben-Hur while always innovating.
For Spielberg, The Best Years of Our Lives exemplifies this versatility, blending classical filmmaking with profound emotional truth. He has spoken of lighting candles for directors like Wyler who refuse to be pigeonholed, and it’s clear this film’s legacy lives on in Spielberg’s own work – especially his more personal war dramas.
Despite its critical acclaim and Oscar haul, The Best Years of Our Lives isn’t always top of mind in discussions of war cinema today. Streaming platforms rarely spotlight it, and younger audiences might know it only by reputation.
The Best Years of Our Lives is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.