THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES: THE CROTON CONNECTION

In what has become a long-standing tradition, Turner Classic Movies played THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES for Veterans Day. 

The 1946 film directed by William Wyler starred Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Virginia Mayo, Theresa Wright, Harold Russell and Fredric March. (Click on the photos and links.)  In your editor's opinion, this is required viewing for every generation, especially today's.  The film is also available at Amazon http://amzn.to/2hmkPox

For those who don’t know, there's a "Croton Connection"--Harold Russell  won Academy Award recognition for playing the handless WWII veteran Homer Parrish in the 1946 film The Best Years of Our Lives. Russell was himself disabled. He lost both hands in a TNT explosion during his Army training.

As in the movie, Russell's hands were replaced by metal hooks. The film was a mega hit and justifiably so--the music, acting, and direction is wonderful. Mr. Russell continued to work tirelessly for veterans until his death in 2002.  He truly was a member of The Greatest Generation.

FAST FORWARD TO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES where we learned that on December 20, 1948, Harold Russell visited Croton and spoke at the high school.  

Read more here http://bit.ly/2jlT83j.  You may also have an interest in these additional links:

--REMEMBERING THERESA WRIGHT,  http://bit.ly/2hkgwKq

--A FRENCH POSTCARD OF MYRNA LOY; CLICK HERE 

--FOR MORE ABOUT DANA ANDREWS, CLICK HERE

--FOR MORE ABOUT VIRGINIA MAYO, CLICK HERE 

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