MovieChat Forums > The Best Years of Our Lives (1947) Discussion > Social Class in "The Best Years of Our L...

Social Class in "The Best Years of Our Lives"

posted 8 years ago by hilaryjrp
12 replies | jump to latest

The first time I saw this film, I was startled by its frankness about--well, just about everything. For a seventy-year-old film, it didn't shy away from virtually any subject; it even squeezed in age-ism when "old" Fred has a teenager for a boss.

Although I suspect the idea was to present a middle-class life first (Homer), and then an upper-middle (Al), and finally Fred's family's poverty, I have never stopped being surprised by Al's family living in an urban apartment building. No question that the apartment building is clearly meant for affluent tenants, but still, apartment life for an intact upper-middle class family--in the American midwest--has always struck me as the film's sole less-than-realistic aspect.

I imagine that it was fashionable at that time for very wealthy families in both "Hollywood" and New York to have such living arrangements, but not in other parts of the country. Although Al's social class isn't announced before his arrival at the apartment building, as the oldest member of the trio and an officer, I expected Milly to have a maid. A fascinating film could be made about older family men in the 40's who felt morally compelled to join the military. In this respect, Al's "backstory" is more interesting than Fred's.

[–] vertigothic70 8 years ago

Slightly off topic...

A fascinating film could be made about older family men in the 40's who felt morally compelled to join the military. In this respect, Al's "backstory" is more interesting than Fred's.

Al's backstory is the most interesting to me. Especially since I gathered from the other threads on this board re: his age/rank that he probably 'volunteered' for combat service (perhaps not the right way to put it, these military specifics are difficult to translate for me). I would have liked to learn more about his family's reaction to this decision when he made it. In the movie it seems that at least his wife and daughter supported him wholeheartedly, but no matter how strong the sense of duty, it's no laugh when a loved one goes off to war, with all the implications for their own and their family's life.

After his return, Al clearly struggled to reconcile his wartime experience with the almost-too-smooth transition back into banking. But apart from his banquet speech, which was more bark than bite after all, it's simmering under the surface. Drowned in quite a lot of liquor too, if I may say so. Perhaps a latent aversion to his profession predated the outbreak of war and may have played a part in him joining up (again, right term?).

Although I didn't care much for the son, I would have liked to see one or two more scenes with the two of them --- but even as I write this I realize it's because, many decades after WWII and TBYoOL, there's an expectation to hear soldiers explain (justify?) why they went to war. If the story of TBYoOL was told nowadays, there would be those scenes. In the movie itself, remarkably, that was not necessary. Al, Fred and Homer knew what they had been fighting for and that their sacrifices were worth it.

There's so much in this movie. It's almost a pity high-quality miniseries weren't invented in 1946!

clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, here I am...

[–] hilaryjrp 8 years ago

I agree with everything you say, assuming that you would *not* welcome more of Al's son. I had enough of him in five minutes.

I never considered that Al's decision to go to war was the result of unhappiness with his fortunate life before the war. And yes, do I ever agree that this film would have made one whopping mini-series. If really manly actors could be found today (I don't think they can, but that's just me), I think I might welcome a limited series Best Years of Our Lives. No "updated" setting, no "modernization"--and of course a Dana Andrews duplicate for the ladies. 

[–] bhoover247 8 years ago

No information is given as to Al's satisfaction with his family and job before he joins the war. We certainly see a lot of how the war affected his attitude, especially the banking job after he returns home.

[–] joystar5879 8 years ago

My mom grew up in a three bedroom, 1 1/2 baths, with a living room, and a decent sized kitchenette. The "dining room" was that part of the living room that was closest to the kitchen. The family moved in when my mom was a toddler and my Uncle was around 5. My family was plain, honest middle class...who lived there from 1920 until 1963.

After the 1929 Crash, places like Al's were the exception, rather than the rule.

JS...who still remembers marble lobbies, and running up four flights of stairs to see "Gramma".

I do hope he won't upset Henry...

[–] hilaryjrp 8 years ago

JS...who still remembers marble lobbies, and running up four flights of stairs to see "Gramma".

That's so atmospheric. But maybe anyone who has memories of the world before the internet should consider him- or herself blessed. I assume you're talking about an apartment (or flat, since you punctuate parentheses U.K.-style). I grew up in the same floor-plan, cookie-cutter 70's "ranch" (ha) house. It's stunning to think whole families managed to survive in under 1500 square feet. 

[–] tmaj48 8 years ago

The Stephensons did, in fact, have a maid for many years, but Peggy explains that the maid took a night off one evening and never came back. She probably got one of those well-paying defense jobs and found working for the Stephensons less interesting, what with the kids growing up and not having to clean up after Al's late-night boozefests. And Peggy had taken over a lot of the home mannagement since she was now a DOMESTIC SCIENTIST--hoohah!!

I'm not crying, you fool, I'm laughing!

Hewwo.

[–] wrfarley 8 years ago

Interesting post. There are many films in the '30s and '40s where affluent people live in apartments. However, I get your point that as a realistic story set in the midwest, where the Stephensons were more apt to live in a large gabled house on the outskirts of town. I think the film's aim, however, is not just to show "Anywhere, USA," but a cosmopolitan city which has a thriving night-life, a professional baseball team and exclusive golf clubs so the ritzy apartment may be totally apropos. What may also unsettling to you is the look of the apartment. Architecturally, it suggests some sort of Spanish Colonial style which may have been perfectly in keeping with Los Angeles (where the film was made) as opposed to Cincinnati, Ohio, which some have claimed is the city Boone is modeled after.

It's also interesting that Myrna Loy appeared in another classic 1946 film, MR. BLANDINGS BUILDS HIS DREAM HOUSE, where the well-to-do family wants to escape their luxury urban dwelling for the splendors of suburban life. That story, however, takes place in New York City, where, as you point out, apartment dwelling was (and still is) the norm.

[–] darkavenger77 8 years ago

Although Al's social class isn't announced before his arrival at the apartment building, as the oldest member of the trio and an officer, I expected Milly to have a maid.

I didn't see this addressed anywhere in the thread, so I thought I'd add it. Al was enlisted (a Sergeant) as was Homer. Fred was the officer, a Captain.

Ignoring politics doesn't mean politics will ignore you.
-Pericles paraphrased in <100 characters

[–] hilaryjrp 7 years ago

I didn't see this addressed anywhere in the thread, so I thought I'd add it. Al was enlisted (a Sergeant) as was Homer. Fred was the officer, a Captain.

This is true, and Fred's status adds even more bitterness to Fred's story. Thanks for pointing it out.

wfarley's point about the "look" of the building being very L.A. is also true.

It doesn't matter. Boone City is a place in the heart.

[–] FilmQuestions (68) 4 years ago

I thought the apartment's concierge (guy at front desk) was an interesting point in the film. He had no deference to Al for being a returning war veteran. It was almost an annoyance to let Al into the building. Perhaps the concierge did not serve in the war for whatever reason, and had some antipathy toward returning servicemen.

[–] momur (107) 3 years ago

I don't think the concierge necessarily had any antipathy towards servicemen as a whole - certainly not like the customer Homer and Fred got into a fight with - but it was more that the rather scruffy-looking Al just clearly didn't look like he actually belonged in the luxurious building. Once he learns who Al is, he quickly backs off and Al's annoyed snipe at him ("What were you expecting, a four-star General?") indicates that it was less about the servicemen/war as a whole and more the fact that Al, as a relatively wealthy older man, would probably have been expected to make officer rank by everyone when he signed up. And perhaps reveals some insecurities on Al's part regarding that as well - it's subtle but he also looks vaguely uncomfortable before he enters the building when he goes to pay for the taxi and Fred playfully tells him he's outranked and to keep his money.

One of the things that instantly struck me about the film was just how little deference practically everyone showed towards the returning servicemen, from Fred being effectively brushed aside at the airport by both the check-in girl and the wealthy businessman (and being sent to what essentially amounted to a shack overcrowded with servicemen unable to get home), to Al's employers basically seeking to take advantage of veterans, to the Nazi-apologist customer Homer and Fred fight with, to little things like Al being repeatedly jostled when he takes his wife and daughter out on their binge and how most people react to Homer's hooks. It's strange because I think us younger generations (I'm currently in my mid-20s) are so used to the idea of WWII-era soldiers being hailed as heroes and that it was only later that attitudes towards soldiers and war became derisive rather than deferential; this film made in 1946 is a really stark contrast to that idea showing the vast majority of folks (besides their families) treating the three veterans more as an outright inconvenience than anything else.

[–] kwestmo (4268) 2 years ago

"One of the things that instantly struck me about the film was just how little deference practically everyone showed towards the returning servicemen, "

Watching the movie last night, I asked myself was if that accurate. I am 66 and as you said I am "used to the idea of WWII-era soldiers being hailed as heroes".