I love this movie.  Though all the actors were excellent, Harold Russell is the reason to watch this movie.  He deserved every ounce of his two - yes two - Oscars that he received for this role.  He is amazing to watch.  Though disabled, it was hard to consider him handicapped.  I once used this film in my sunday school class.  The lesson was on overcoming adversity and I showed the scene where Russell plays a piano duet with Hoagy Carmichael.  The girls in my class were amazed.  Then I shared with them some of the other things Russell had accomplished in his life - like being a founder of AMVETS.  Russell's off screen story is a story in itself and should be made into a movie.  Unfortunately, no actor could convincingly play him.  That's the key to the impact he had on the screen - he wasn't an actor - he was a real, disabled person.  Watch this movie - you'll be amazed too.
I love this movie. Though all the actors were excellent, Harold Russell is the reason to watch this movie. He deserved every ounce of his two - yes two - Oscars that he received for this role. He is amazing to watch. Though disabled, it was hard to consider him handicapped. I once used this film in my sunday school class. The lesson was on overcoming adversity and I showed the scene where Russell plays a piano duet with Hoagy Carmichael. The girls in my class were amazed. Then I shared with them some of the other things Russell had accomplished in his life - like being a founder of AMVETS. Russell's off screen story is a story in itself and should be made into a movie. Unfortunately, no actor could convincingly play him. That's the key to the impact he had on the screen - he wasn't an actor - he was a real, disabled person. Watch this movie - you'll be amazed too.