Dish of the Day
Just some film musings of a more succinct, spontaneous and sometimes seditious nature:
Friday, March 3, 2023
Today on TCM:
After World War II, many returning servicemen were disillusioned to find jobs scarce and their wives’ (or girlfriends’) faithfulness even scarcer. The Best Years of Our Lives addresses this reality head on when the Dana Andrews character finds it impossible to please either his previous employer or trophy wife upon returning to civilian life. Perhaps for this narrative distinction, authors Borde and Chaumeton referred to The Best Years of Our Lives in their highly respected book “Panorama of American Film Noir 1941 - 1953”, the first to be published on the subject.
Dana Andrews holding the Mayo… Virginia Mayo that is
The film portrays no crime, the focus is not on Andrews’ experiences alone, and he comes out better off at the end without his superficial but admittedly gorgeous wife, which for myself, collectively place this film well outside of noir’s dark and gloomy world of illegal activity. Previously, I highly praised The Best Years of Our Lives for its exceptional musical score composed by Hugo Friedhofer in the first part of a series entitled Top Ten: Motion Picture Music Treasures. This emotionally powerful tour de force will commence on TCM Friday, March 3 at 2 pm PST.
If I was in charge of choosing a single film noir for someone only willing to see one in the entire canon, I would select Double Indemnity as its most fulfilling and accomplished representative. It has been previously reviewed in Opening Up a Treasure: Double Indemnity. Thoughts of adultery, greed and murder will manifest themselves immediately following The Best Years of Our Lives on TCM Friday, March 3 at 5 pm PST.
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All responses are not only welcomed but encouraged in the comments section below.
Hope to see you tomorrow.
A.G.