The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) ALL Notes PDF

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The entire film of "The Best Years of Our Lives" in notes....

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Kameron Cross Prof. Kreger FILM 102 1/28/20-2/6/20

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

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Filmed in black and white.

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WWII Ended in 1945, the film took place after the war.

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Captain Fred Derry makes a reservation for a flight back home from overseas.

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Dissolve to; Fred carrying his bags under a plane that has not been flying.

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Fred goes to the US Air Force Base. It is announced that the flight has been cancelled until further notice.

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Fred Derry signs for a flight.

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Inside a plane, a sailor named Homer admits that it was his first narrow plane he flown.

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Fred gives Homer and Sargeon Al Stevenson a cigarette. Homer lights a match with his hooks. The sailor smokes with his hooks.

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Homer has a girlfriend named Wilma, and says that she has not seen anything like his own hooks.

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The sky turns dark, Fred talks to Al about wanting a job and a nice house for him and his wife.

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Homer fell asleep, but then woke up to Fred, who fell asleep, Homer stares at the sky that is being viewed through the window, and the clouds are visible. That scene fades to the three of them flying over town, including Jackson High, a ballpark, and a base of planes.

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That specific scene dissolve to Fred, Al, and Homer in the back seat of a cab.

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They continue through town, Homer goes home.

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Homer's little sister runs out of the house for Wilma to come out of the house next door to announce that Homer came home. Wilma runs out of the house and reunites with homer by Hugging. His parents reunite as well. They are happy.

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The taxi drives off with Fred and Al.

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Al, a former banker, returns home to nice apartment building. A receptionist gives Al a hard time until he tells him that he is the husband of Mrs. Stevenson.

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Al rings the doorbell of the apartment. His children Peggy and Rob appear, and then his wife hugs him. Rob brings Al's bags inside the apartment. Both Rob and Peggy have genuine smiles. And then Al and his wife kiss. Al hugs Peggy, and Rob. Al tells Rob "I'll have more time to get to know you." That scene dissolves.

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Fred returns home to his parents. Marie, Fred's wife, moved to a new apartment and has a new job.

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Al is with Rob in the living room, showing him souvineirs from the war.

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Rob speaks about his teacher lecturing about the atomic energy and the human race. Rob is oblivious and surprised.

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Al catches up with his wife about the children. Peggy has worked in a hospital for two years. Al finds the youth to be "frightening".

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Al's wife decides to drink until Peggy talks her out of it. Al rushes in and wants to take the family out in order to find his way back in civilixation. They arrive to multiple bars and clubs. Except for Rob.

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At the home Homer lives, Wilma's parents meet Homer's parents. Homer drops a glass beverage with his hooks. Homer is embarrased that he walks out of the room.

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In the car Peggy is driving, Al is drunk and requests one more stop to make.

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Homer enters a bar where a man plays a piano. He runs into Fred. Al shows up drunk, and introduces both his wife and daughter to Homer and Fred.

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The reason behind Homer having hooks is that he lost his hands in the war.

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Homer admits that he left that house because he was nervous about his hooks, and he wanted to be treated like other people.

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Al became even more drunk that he had the pianist play a song for him to dance with his wide. Both of their faces pressed onto each other.

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Fred became drunk as well, and then he leaned over to Peggy to introduce himself. The song changes for Al to dance like crazy with his wife. He looks at his wife's face and says "In a way, you remind me of my wife." Fred leans his head onto Peggy. Homer wants to go home, but then Al, who has another drink, attempts to dance with the waiter.

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Fred was the highest rank, but is the lowest social class while Homer happens to be middle class, and Al is the highest class.

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Music gets intense at times in this film.

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Homer goes home

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Al encounters Fred, but Al's wife drives Fred home.

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Fred is drunk, and Al passed out.

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Fred rings a buzzer for an apartment building and passes out. Al's wife and Peggy carry him back into the car. Fred puts his arm around Al.

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Peggy wakes Fred up by placing him in bed. However, Fred goes back to sleep.

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Al's wife places Al into his pajamas while he is still drunk. Al's wife forces Al on his back while on the bed, she flips him, and places the blanket over.

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Peggy is left with no choice but to sleep on a couch.

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Al's wife, Millie, turns the lights off.

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Homer is sleepless

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Music intensifies as Fred tosses and turns in his shleep. He sweats and talks in his sleep. He could be having a nightmare about the war. He says "Goloski, get out of that plane!" Peggy wakes Fred up, but he is still dreaming. And then he breaks down in tears because he is traumatized by the war. Peggy insists Fred to go to sleep. Fred finally falls asleep.

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In the morning, Peggy wakes Fred up by grabbing her clothes. Peggy exits.

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Fred gets out of bed.

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Rob introduces himself to Fred, and then rushes to school.

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Peggy prepares breakfast.

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Fred and Peggy have a conversation about marriage.

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Peggy still works at a hospital.

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Fred leaves.

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Al wakes up, and looks in two mirrors. He looks to his side, concerned, but then gets out of bed.

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He grabs his war boots, and threw them out the window.

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He matches an old picture of himself to his reflection in the mirror. He drops the picture.

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Al showers in his pajamas by mistake.

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Peggy drives Fred to the location where Marie lives while talking about ice cream

and soda. •

Al said he dreamt that he is home. He questions if he is really home. Millie gives Al breakfast in bed, but then, they passionately kiss.

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Peggy insists that Fred and Marie should go out to dinner with her and her family.

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The apartment building of which Marie allegedly lives has a "NO VACANCY" sign. Fred kept ringing the doorbell.

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Fred, unaware that he could just walk in, enters the building. Apartment 2L. Fred finally reunites with Marie at her apartment, Marie congratulates him about his ribbons.

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Al eats at a table like a maniac. Al is pessimistic about how Fred is taking care of himself.

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Millie gets a call from Mr. Milton, Al's boss, she gives the phone to Al, Al is on the phone, talking, smoking, and hangs up. Al wants to get used to being with his family. He isn't entirely fond of returning to his job at the bank.

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Fred enters a supermarket, originally a pharmacy, he goes to the prescription counter. Fred is trying to say hello, but wants a better job than his old job. He used to work at a "soda fountain".

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Fred used to make $400 per month while he was in the Air Force.

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Meanwhile, Al enters Cornbelt Trust Company. Al sits down, smokes a cigar, while Mr. Milton begs him to return.

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Mr. Milton wants to promote Al to become a vice president fue to his war experience being "valuable".

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Mr. Milton says Al is entitled to rest up for a while. Al shakes hands with Mr. Milton in regards to his return.

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Marie is on the phone, bragging about Fred until he comes in.

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Fred enters in "civilian clothes"

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Marie quits he job at the night club called "The Blue Devil". There are images of a bomb sight and planes.

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Fred puts his war clothes back on and exits with Marie.

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Homer is in the wood shed to allegedly practice shooting. Homer stays to himself.

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Wilma enters the shed as Homer continues to shoot in the same shed. He did a "fair" job on hitting the targets.

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Wilma wanted to talk about the relation ship. She mentione that Homer wrote that

they were getting married. Lassie and other kids peep through the window while Wilma continues to speak. Homer loses his temper, causing fear in Lassie, resulting into her crying. Homer tries to calm down, and is tired of "pity", and refuses to depend on others. Wilma runs home. •

Later on, Homer checks on Lassie, who is asleep.

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Homer lights a cigarette while his father prepares him for bed. Homer has the cigarette in his mouth. Homer's dad put the cigarette out. The music is emotional and partially intense.

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Marie is putting on mascara, Fred arrives home, confessiong he is "broke".

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Fred has no choice but to accept the fact that he is unable to land a decent job.

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Marie wants to go out, but Fred stops her in order for her to eat what he cooks.

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Red Romantice means "Romantic Dream"

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Mr. Novak is applying for a loan, but his request is risky for the bank.

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Homer runs into Al at the bank. Homer says he would take a piano lesson.

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Al tells Mr. Novak that he will definitely get a loan.

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Fred, working at a store, rings a mother up.

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The woman's son shoots a plane, which Peggy grabs, causing a run in with Fred Peggy doesn't buy anything.

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Fred takes Peggy out to lunch.

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Fred kisses Peggy, says "That should've happened". Peggy drives off.

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At the bank, Al learns that Novak did not have collateral.

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Fred comes home, frustrated, learning that Peggy invited him and Marie to the Embassy club, but flakes.

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Marie interrogates Fred about Peggy.

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Fred only makes $32.50 per week.

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Al gets ready to go out with Millie, but Peggy confesses that she is in love with Fred, although she does not want that.

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Peggy's date Woody arrive.

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Al has a speech about his success as a sargeant.

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At the Embassy, Fred and Matie are dancing on their own. Woody is concerned about Fred and Marie's marriage.

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Peggy and Marie talk about Fred's employment and wages.

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A picture is taken with Fred and Peggy together, and Marie and Woody together.

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Peggy decides to plot to break the marriage of Fred and Marie up. She believes the disdain between Fred and Marie, and admits Fred is in love with her due to a kiss.

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Al questions the kiss, however, Peggy rants to him that Al "forgot" what love is like.

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Peggy breaks down in tears about the marriage of her parents being without trouble unlike Fred and Marie.

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Milly confesses the rough patches to Peggy, as Peggy apologizes to her. And then Al smokes.

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Fred meets up with Al. Al asks Fred if he is in love with Peggy. Fred admits. Al expressies gratitude and questions Fred about the marriage. Al does not like the idea of Fred falling for Peggy. Fred says he will not be seeing Peggy anymore, and pays for the beverages.

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Homer arrives to play the piano/ He plays fluently. He has assistance on the other side of the piano.

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Peggy takes relationships seriously. She seems depressed about not seeing Fred again. But she says she is glad about it.

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Fred is working at a diner. Homer arrives. He is concerned about what happened between him and Al.

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Homer uses his hook to eat ice cream.

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A man rants about the war, Fred tries to kick the man out. The man continues to make remarks until Homer attempts to fight him. Fred punches the man and gets fired.

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Homer picks up a glass replica of the American flag, and puts it in his pocket.

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Homer apologizes to Fred, Fred asks about Wilma and marriage, and makes a suggestion for him to propose to her.

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Homer grabs a glass of milk, Wilma appears, to talk to him.

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Wilma's family wants her to go away, but she wants to stay. Her family wants her to forget about Homer. Homer doesn't want Wilma to feel tied down.

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Homer shows Wilma how he prepares to get ready for bed. Wilma volunteers to help put his pajama shirt on.

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Homer admits how hard it is for him to get wat he wants and needs. Wilma loves

Homer unconditionally. •

Wilma puts Homer to bed, and exits. Homer cries a tear of joy.

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A man is with Marie while Fred is still looking for a job. Fred comes home, catching her red handed with a man named Cliff, Fred wants him out.

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Cliff is also a veteran.

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Marie says Cliff was an old friend, however Fred is skeptical. Marie asks for a divorce, Fred approves of it. Marie says "There are drug stores everywhere." Fred rips the Embassy picture up.

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Fred returns to his parents house to pick everything up, but does not want anything meaningless to him.

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Fred moves out.

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"Eastbound 8:00"

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Fred no longer cares where he goes.

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Fred's parents read a letter written by a Lieutenent.

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Fred is still looking for a job, and stays in town.

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Butch plays the pianos, Homer marries Wilma.

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Fred and Peggy make up and kiss....