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The Best Years of Our Lives: Post-war American Cinema

1. 1945-1946: post-war society

--VE day

--VJ day?

--“point” system

--problems in conversion to peace-time society?

2. the industry after the war—turn to realism in studio styles

--economic constraints

--war experiences of film industry workers

--saw a more serious purpose for their work

3. Liberty Films: partnership formed by Capra, Stevens and Wyler

--Wyler and Best Years

“semi-documentary” style:

4. Discussion: where is the film's semi-documentary style evident? How is it put to use to address social problems? How does the film present social problems (cinematically) as moral dilemmas?