Principal cast
Dana Andrews, Fredric March, Harold Russell, Teresa Wright and Myrna Loy
Film 37 of 498 on the Screen Path
The Best Years of Our Lives
Three wonderful loves in the best picture of the year!
About the film
The Best Years of Our Lives at a glance.
Screen Path places this 1946 film at stop 37 in one curated journey through cinema. The learning experience adds context before you watch and deeper analysis after.
It's the hope that sustains the spirit of every GI: the dream of the day when he will finally return home. For three WWII veterans, the day has arrived. But for each man, the dream is about to become a nightmare.
Key craft credits
Gregg Toland (director of photography), Daniel Mandell (editor), Hugo Friedhofer (original music composer), Robert E. Sherwood (screenplay) and George Jenkins (art direction)
- Director
- William Wyler
- Release
- 1946-11-22
- Runtime
- 171 minutes
- Genres
- Drama, Romance and War
- Country
- United States
- Quiz
- 50 questions
The Screen Path journey
Before. After. Remember.
The featured film is watched outside Screen Path. The app provides the learning experience around it: a guide, an analysis, and a quiz with explanations.
01
Before you watch
Start with a spoiler-free video guide to the context and filmmaking choices worth noticing.
Spoiler-free02
After the film
Return after watching for a deeper video analysis of craft, meaning, and legacy.
Contains spoilers03
Quiz yourself
Answer 50 questions with clear rationales designed to make the ideas stick.
50 questions in this journeyCitizen Kane is the complete public example: both learning videos and a five-question sample quiz are available below.
Start the example →Full cast
Full cast
- Dana AndrewsCharacter: Fred Derry
- Fredric MarchCharacter: Al Stephenson
- Harold RussellCharacter: Homer Parrish
- Teresa WrightCharacter: Peggy Stephenson
- Myrna LoyCharacter: Milly Stephenson
- Cathy O'DonnellCharacter: Wilma Cameron
- Virginia MayoCharacter: Marie Derry
- Hoagy CarmichaelCharacter: Butch Engle
- Gladys GeorgeCharacter: Hortense Derry
- Roman BohnenCharacter: Pat Derry
- Ray CollinsCharacter: Mr. Milton
- Minna GombellCharacter: Mrs. Parrish
Full crew
Full crew
- William WylerCredits: Director
- Gregg TolandCredits: Director of Photography
- Hugo FriedhoferCredits: Original Music Composer
- George JenkinsCredits: Art Direction
- Daniel MandellCredits: Editor
- Perry FergusonCredits: Art Direction
- Irene SharaffCredits: Costume Design
- Samuel GoldwynCredits: Producer
- Robert E. SherwoodCredits: Screenplay
- Julia HeronCredits: Set Decoration
- MacKinlay KantorCredits: Novel
- Jonathan C. BoyleCredits: Assistant Director
- John P. FultonCredits: Special Effects
- Harry Redmond Sr.Credits: Special Effects
- Larry GannonCredits: Sound
- Gordon SawyerCredits: Supervising Sound Editor
- Bill McLellanCredits: Gaffer
- Richard DeWeeseCredits: Sound Recordist
- Emil NewmanCredits: Music Director
- Marie ClarkCredits: Hairstylist
- Robert StephanoffCredits: Makeup Artist
Film data and images provided by TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.