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Information

Year
1946
Runtime
170 min.
Director
William Wyler
Genres
Drama, Romance, War
Rating *
8.1
Votes *
41,610
Checks
8,164
Favs
841
Dislikes
53
Favs/checks
10.3% (1:10)
Favs/dislikes
16:1
* View IMDb information

Top comments

  1. devilsadvocado's avatar

    devilsadvocado

    Interesting how Frederic March was regarded as one of the greatest living actors of his time (major inspiration to Brando) and yet you never hear him mentioned anymore. This was his self-proclaimed most important film role and he certainly does stand out among this ensemble of medium-hitters (one of the more convincing drunks I've seen on screen).

    Overall, this is a wonderful, relatively realistic (for its time) post-war picture with just the right balance of cynicism and hope. You really have to admire the direction that William Wyler took here, a soldier himself who had just returned from overseas months before beginning this production. It's plainly evident just how personal of a project this was for him. According to IMDB, his aim was to have a no-frills production and shoot it almost like a documentary (I guess they had a different idea of what documentary style was back then). Whatever superficial frills do show up in the final product are apparently the result of studio interference -- notably the score, which Wyler detested.

    I certainly have to give the man props.
    11 years 2 months ago
  2. Rodney Dangerfield's avatar

    Rodney Dangerfield

    Three men dealing with the consequences of the sacrifices they made during the war and the brotherhood and fraternity that develops on their arrival home. Honest and caring without ever being over-sentimental. 10 years 11 months ago
  3. Timec's avatar

    Timec

    Yeah, how dare a film treat returning veterans and their families with dignity and respect and try to comfort their physical and emotional injuries?

    Also, I know "propaganda" is kind of a catch-all term for any film that you don't like that deals with anything related to war - but, really, this film doesn't qualify as propaganda (which isn't to suggest that there aren't also propaganda films that make for great cinema.)

    Its treatment of real issues is honest and respectful and far more complex than propaganda films. It doesn't try to cover up the real problems that people were facing, nor does it paint an overly glorified portrait of those returning from war. It doesn't provide simplistic answers to the problems it does present. It does, however, offer hope for those suffering and/or trying to readjust to home life - but that hardly makes it propaganda.
    12 years 6 months ago
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In 30 official lists

  1. This movie ranks #1 in BAFTA Award - Best Film
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    BAFTA Award - Best Film

    1
  2. This movie ranks #4 in Golden Globe Award - Best Motion Picture
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    Golden Globe Award - Bes…

    4
  3. This movie ranks #11 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers
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    AFI's 100 Years...100 Ch…

    11
  4. This movie ranks #12 in IMDb's 1940s Top 50
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    IMDb's 1940s Top 50

    12
  5. This movie ranks #15 in Library of Congress's National Film Registry
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    Library of Congress's Na…

    15
  6. This movie ranks #20 in Academy Award - Best Picture
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    Academy Award - Best Pic…

    20
  7. This movie ranks #26 in iCheckMovies's 1940s Top 100
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    iCheckMovies's 1940s Top…

    26
  8. This movie ranks #35 in IMDb's Romance Top 50
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    IMDb's Romance Top 50

    35
  9. This movie ranks #37 in AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies
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    AFI's 100 Years...100 Mo…

    37
  10. This movie ranks #40 in IMDb's War Top 50
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    IMDb's War Top 50

    40
  11. This movie ranks #48 in Arts & Faith's Top 100 Films
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    Arts & Faith's Top 100 F…

    48
  12. This movie ranks #51 in Leonard Maltin's 100 Must-See Films of the 20th Century
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    Leonard Maltin's 100 Mus…

    51
  13. This movie ranks #65 in Rotten Tomatoes's Top 100 Movies of All Time
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    Rotten Tomatoes's Top 10…

    65
  14. This movie ranks #77 in The New York Times's Book of Movies
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    The New York Times's Boo…

    77
  15. This movie ranks #85 in Time Out's 1000 Films to Change Your Life
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    Time Out's 1000 Films to…

    85
  16. This movie ranks #87 in Box Office Mojo's All Time Adjusted Box Office
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    Box Office Mojo's All Ti…

    87
  17. This movie ranks #105 in Emma Beare's 501 Must-See Movies
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    Emma Beare's 501 Must-Se…

    105
  18. This movie ranks #154 in Academy Award - Best Picture Nominees
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    Academy Award - Best Pic…

    154
  19. This movie ranks #162 in Mark Cousins's The Story of Film: An Odyssey
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    Mark Cousins's The Story…

    162
  20. This movie ranks #180 in BFI's 360 Classic Feature Films Project
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    BFI's 360 Classic Featur…

    180
  21. This movie ranks #190 in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
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    190
  22. This movie ranks #224 in IMDb's Top 250
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    IMDb's Top 250

    224
  23. This movie ranks #239 in Halliwell's Top 1000: The Ultimate Movie Countdown
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    Halliwell's Top 1000: Th…

    239
  24. This movie ranks #246 in TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest Films
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    TSPDT's 1,000 Greatest F…

    246
  25. This movie ranks #249 in Jonathan Rosenbaum's Essential Cinema
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    Jonathan Rosenbaum's Ess…

    249
  26. This movie ranks #302 in Empire's The 500 Greatest Movies of All Time
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    Empire's The 500 Greates…

    302
  27. This movie ranks #318 in Roger Ebert's Great Movies
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    Roger Ebert's Great Movi…

    318
  28. This movie ranks #321 in David Thomson's Have You Seen?
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    David Thomson's Have You…

    321
  29. This movie ranks #364 in Sight & Sound's The Greatest Films of All Time
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    Sight & Sound's The Grea…

    364
  30. This movie ranks #933 in UNESCO's Memory of the World
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    UNESCO's Memory of the W…

    933
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