This man was an incredible human being…..never acted before in his life, yet he was an incredible human being and a natural born actor….an upstanding human through and through…God bless his spirit!!
His best scene in the movie is surely not the one they showed! It's the scene where he is explaining to his future wife while he is getting ready to go to bed what he is after his hooks are off! He is speaking his real truth! What a humbling experience for a man!
This scene is one of the great love scenes in film history. It has "truthiness" but not literal truth. In actuality, Russell could put on his prosthetics himself. And even in those days, a door with a handle could have been replaced with a swinging door, as in a kitchen., and able to be opened even without hands. Life would have been hard for Wilma, but not as hard as the film portrays.
Harold lived in Hyannis. I used to work in a supermarket as a bagger and Harold came in and I treated him like a normal person and ignored his hooks. Every time he came in to shop he always requested me to bag his groceries. Then when I became a cashier he would come through my line. One time he invited me over to his house after work. He didn't live in a huge mansion but when I went in his house I noticed his trophy rack and the two academy awards. I asked him if the are the real thing. He took one out and told me to hold it. I weighed about 10-15 pounds. Ever since me and Harold always talked with each other when he came into shop. An awesome guy and a great friend.
Just watched it. 2022. My mother and father watched this film in the late 40s. Now l know why and when they said it was the best film they had seen it ever.
Mr. Russell is a very handsome man. He acted terrific in The Best Years Of Our Life. Thank you Mr. Russell for serving in our great country. God Bless you.
The Best Tears Of Our Lives. One of the best movies ever made! I have seen this movie many times and I am not able to see the whole movie without crying!
He was about 32 years old when he made the film. I will alway keep it in the best movies I've ever seen and I'm 70. Just a fantastic film, with Mr. Russell essentially playing a character like himself, and even set in the proper time period i.e. just after WW II.
Bette Davis was right when she said that "The Best Years of Our Lives" was the very best movie to come out of the old Hollywood studio system. Harold Russel was excellent in it, as was the rest of the cast--but I'm especially interested in Cathy O'Donnell, whom I consider one of the most underrated actresses in American cinema. It's sad that she died so young--but she had left acting in the last six years of her life--and I wonder why.
You're right, she was just superb in that role. I cry every time I see her and Harold in that film. It is so well directed and also draws really moving performances from Frederick March and the always talented Dana Andrew's, among others. I've watched it maybe 5 times and will probably see it a few more, God willing. Thanks to everyone involved! Also, thanks to the folks out there who appreciate the movies, bless you. PS: Another somewhat similar film is the great From Here To Eternity, another masterpiece observation of people in the military! Anybody else have favorites?
Those interested in the incredible story of Harold Russell, You might want to check out “Diary of a Sergeant”-1945. It is an excellent short educational film featuring..........Harold Russell! I found it on RU-vid after watching this video interview from 1982.
I'd love to read Harold's book...I believe he wrote one and I thought his wonderful unaffected, honest acting in TBYOOL was so perfect and I loved he and Cathy O'Donnell as Homer and Wilma.
Mr. Russell is a great guy. I am glad he had the strength to overcome hardship and go on helping people and being happy himself. A priceless model for anyone.
It was a great movie! Russell in this interview was very articulate and you can tell he knew his stuff how to help other veterans. Sadly, he ended up having to sell his two Oscars to raise money to take care of his ill wife. BTW, they got the date wrong. The film came out in 1946 right after the war and won 8 Oscars including for Best Picture of 1946.
Oh my goodness! Thank you for posting this! I love this actor and I've seen "The Best Years of Our Lives" a hundred times--but I've never seen an interview with this remarkable man!
Holy Cow Howard Russell. They really broke the mold when they made him. What a life lived. and probably from his POV it was just a minor chapter that he happened to participate in the one of the greatest films and moving love stories in the history of cinema.
He opposed the politicization of the American Legion and headed his own large organization Amvets that sent a letter of support to President Truman for firing MacArthur for clear insubordination. The American Legion was FURIOUS and he made it clear that the country's veterans were NOT going to be a 'block vote' for simplistic politics.
The film made its opening in 1946 not 1948! The director was William Wyler who was a great director! He also directed Ben Hur in 1959 winning 10 academy awards! And Mrs. Minever, the Little Foxes, jezibel!
