The main aspect that the movie was able to get right about history is the struggle of returning war veterans to be integrated back into American society. Post traumatic stress disorder terrorizes the lives of the three main protagonists from a psychological perspective. Fred’s difficulties in finding a job within Boone City displays the struggles such as unemployment during this time period. Relationship difficulties were also present due to the prolonged separation and uncertainty of soldiers returning from combat that added a complex layer to the relationship dynamics. The casting for the characters like Harold Russell as Homer who suffers from losing both his hands during the war adds a level of raw realism that the film needs in the projection of this reality to the audience. Overall, the film’s nature is one of a dark past that torments the lives of the characters in which the wedding at the end presents a start to a hopeful and optimistic future not only for the three main characters but can also be for veterans as well. -Alex

I believe that The Best Years of Our Lives does a pretty good job of capturing the emotions and thoughts of the veterans. When the three men talked on the plane on their way home, they all expressed a desire to return to normalcy with a solid job and a decent home. This shows historical accuracy, some of the veterans who returned home had optimistic and idealistic thoughts, they also did experience the mental impacts of war. In the film, the men first came across as rather optimistic, but upon returning home, they had symptoms of PTSD. One veteran (I think it was Al) had some difficulty reintegrating into society and wanted to drink to forget while Homer had trouble reconnecting with his some of his family. Furthermore, the three males seemed frustrated and confused by the changes occurring in America, such as the employment and education of women. Another historical accuracy I noticed was at the 30-minute mark of the film, when one character says that America is going to be in a difficult time, with depression and unemployment, which was actually the truth. People after WW2 did have a fear of economic devastation following the war, they thought America would return to how it was before the wars. (Hannah E.)

This film does a very good job of portraying realistic experiences that servicemen faced after the war, as well as the thoughts of people in the post-war period. It accurately captured the public’s fear that the economic forecast for the nation after the war was projected to be dismal by many commentators. Additionally, the subject of nuclear war was broached and the fear surrounding the destructive potential that would hold. Fears about veterans taking civilian jobs was shown, as well as some of the nuances of the selective service act with employers not being forced to hire people after a change in ownership. Also importantly, the difficulty of readjusting to the civilian sector with skills that don’t translate very well was well captured. - Owen

The Best Years of Our Lives accurately captures the challenges American WWII veterans faced upon returning home, including reintegration struggles, economic insecurity, and the impact of physical and psychological trauma. Through characters like Fred, Al, and Homer, the film portrays issues like job scarcity, shifting family dynamics, and the mental toll of combat—issues that were real and widespread for returning servicemen. Homer’s story also highlights the difficulties disabled veterans faced, marking one of the first times these realities were shown so openly in Hollywood. By depicting these struggles, the film provides an empathetic view of postwar American life. -Sam B

It’s nigh impossible to pick out historical inaccuracies in a film that is set contemporaneously (for reasons which are obvious), so instead, it might be prudent to point out where the movie fell short with regards to representation. Whilst the film should be (and, upon release, was) praised for its inclusion of a disabled veteran as one of its main characters, which lead to insight into how life might look for a man who was marred in service to his country once the war ended, it falls short in its inclusion of other groups. There is no demonstration of what returning minority servicemen might have experienced, and instead, the experience of all returning veterans is funneled through the view of a trio of white men. More than a million Black people served during the war, along with half a million Hispanic-Americans. While they did not constitute the majority of returning veterans, they certainly made up a sizeable minority, and their experiences upon returning home were likely to be different from those of their white counterparts. - John M.

I believe this film is excellent as a primary source because it was filmed around the end of WWII. The war is still fresh to the director and even to the actors because it was shot close to the war. From what I've read, one of the actors was an actual war veteran, so he was able to experience and feel the war while transferring it (somewhat) to the screen. Overall, the three men in the film portray the various difficulties that veterans encountered in the 1940s, indicating a change from celebrating war heroism to recognizing the difficulties of acclimating to everyday life. (Hannah E.)

This movie speaks to the type of movies that Americans were pumped full of during WWII. After years of propaganda films about the idea of American superiority and happy stories to boost morale this movie tries to tell a heavier tale of WWII, but is still clearly beholden to the propaganda mold. The story depicts the men struggling to adjust to their life, but ultimately they are able to overcome these struggles and have happy endings. I think that this speaks to not wanting to alienate an audience that is still definitely riding high on the victory and propaganda. - Ewan H

The Best of Years Of Our Lives feel unique when placed in the collection of other films we’ve watched insofar as it is the only one that is set during the year of its release. For this reason, it serves as an immaculate demonstration of some of the ideals surrounding returning veterans following the conclusion of the Second World War. Whilst serving as an activist piece with regards to treatment of disabled veterans, which grants insight into how society treated the permanently wounded at the time, its more serviceable role as a window into 1946 comes from the subtext it presents. It seems, in some ways, to play things safely, never fully wanting to meaningfully and openly flaunt the notion that America, in many ways, was flawed in many aspects of its treatment of returning servicemen. Instead, it is more tempered in its portrayals of wrongdoing (with the exception of Marie), demonstrating the desire to avoid the powers that be. - John M.

The Best Years of Our Lives is a valuable primary source for understanding post-World War II America because it shows the real concerns people had at the time. Made just after the war, it reflects society’s empathy for returning veterans and the challenges they faced, like finding jobs, dealing with trauma, and fitting back into family life. The character Homer, a disabled veteran, highlights the struggles of those with visible injuries, while other characters show the hidden scars of war. It also touches on changing family roles, as women readjusted after working during the war. The film captures the emotions and issues of 1946, giving us a direct look at what society valued and worried about right after the war. -Sam B

The reason why we should care about this film is that it should be an eye opener to the harsh reality that faced these soldiers when returning home from the war. PTSD, trauma, and the difficulties with integrating back into American society were prominent issues that resonated with post war audiences that should not be understated. This film was able to shift away from the norms of movies outputted at this time towards a more raw and realistic approach so that we can be more socially aware. This allows for us to have a mutual understanding and respect for one another as citizens so that we can move forward and progress together as a country. -Alex

This movie is important to watch because it's a direct look into the way people were reacting to the end of the war at the time where it was actually happening. There aren't many movies that had the opportunity to do so, and certainly not so well as this one. It shows how people at the time period were reacting to changes in their families, in their societies, in their lives. I believe it's important to watch this movie because there are plenty of movies about war, but not as much about what happens after. Those stories deserve to be told, and I believe that this movie does that pretty well. - Caty

This is a movie worthy of analysis because of the unique perspective it provides on the history it portrays. The film is documententing a phenomenon that is taking place concurrently with the movie being made, and that makes the depiction of the events interesting. They are very fresh and real, but also depict very limited perspectives and definitely leave some lacking. This kind of historical film is unique in that this doesn’t happen often, and especially in this context it deserves to be studied. - Ewan H

This film serves an important role in providing the public a decent look at the experiences of veterans coming home after the war. Telling the stories of a physically disabled sailor, a sergeant with a drinking problem, and a pilot with relationship issues could not have been the easiest decision to arrive at when pitching ideas, but I think it’s good that they did. Movies like this help the public see veterans as people with very human problems rather than dangerous people to be avoided. - Owen