A movie I have seen perhaps more times than any other is THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. It was made in 1946 and focuses on the return of World War II veterans to the U.S. It features a stellar cast, including the relatively unknown Harold Russell, who lost both of his hands in combat. His character in the film echoes some of his real-life experiences.
I had the honor of meeting Harold Russell when he came to Rochester, NY for a special screening of THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES at the George Eastman House. I am glad I had an opportunity to share with him how much the movie meant to me, and how his character and real life experiences resonated with me.
There is a sad story concerning Harold Russell I will never forget. Having lost both his hands, it was difficult for him to get film roles following THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. He fell on hard times, and sold his Best Supporting Actor Oscar statue. Many actors and actresses rallied to his aid, and got the statue back to him, in addition to assisting him financially.
If you have never seen this movie, I encourage you to do so. In my estimation, it is a masterpiece, well deserving of the multiple awards it received.
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