Mrs. Miniver or The Best Years of Our Lives?
-
ABetterDay — 13 years ago(May 13, 2012 10:25 AM)
Keep in mind that the two films are quite different and really cannot be compared as films of the same genre. As entertainment vehicles, I much preferred TBYoOL. Mrs. was a bit too "Hollywood manufactured" for me. Wyler had learned a lot in 4 years.
Remember When Movies Didn't Have To Be Politically Correct? -
todd-197 — 13 years ago(May 13, 2012 05:29 PM)
I will go with Mrs. Miniver. Dame May Whitty making the difference. I think she did a great job objecting to Teresa being too young and giving the cup to Henry. The fact that it was made during the war trumps anyone's argument about it being too dramatic. Extremely tough choice, but I take Greer Garson over Myrna Loy even though I love Myrna.
-
shandy8 — 12 years ago(February 14, 2014 07:34 AM)
Just watched 'Mrs. Miniver', but I've seen 'The Best Years of Our Lives' several times. They are both fine films and can both be considered 'propaganda' movies delivering important messages to the public; however, I prefer Mrs. Miniver, as I think some of "The Best Years of Our Lives' is a bit maudlin (still a good picture).
"What do you want me to do, draw a picture? Spell it out!" -
lewis-51 — 12 years ago(February 15, 2014 08:40 PM)
Definitely the Best years of Our Lives. I love Mrs. Miniver, but the sense of realism of TBYOOL is amazing. The cinematography is amazing. TBYOOL has some wonderful and compelling secondary characters, like Hoagy Carmichael and Gladys George. It has so many fine touches, like the scene with the isolationist at the lunch counter.
Greer Garson vs Myrna Loy that's a close one! Such a conundrum! -
hilaryjrp — 12 years ago(March 28, 2014 03:12 AM)
I really disliked Mrs. Miniver. I found it understandably contrived, a propaganda film where character development was a laugh. It's "Downton Abbey" to a "T" (including the unexpected death of one major character, when the death of almost every other major character would be more likely). If this film had been about Mr. Ballard, or about a poor family in a non-air-conditioned bunker, I am positive I would have liked it. But the first twenty minutes are devoted to the purchase of an expensive hat and an expensive car. This film isn't even remotely in the same league as TBYOOL in its depiction of suffering.
-
missrhea — 11 years ago(June 19, 2014 10:17 AM)
The problem with war is that it brings "unexpected death" to civilians as well as soldiers.
My husband considers BYOOL depressing but I watch it every time it airs (and actually have it on DVD). I'm watching Mrs. Miniver right now for the first time in years. I've usually avoided it since I remember it being too sentimental for me. My favorite WWII film is actually
Journey for Margaret
which ends a little differently than the book but was based on a real child's story.