" BackgroundThe Best Years of Our Lives(1946) is producer Samuel Goldwyn""s classic, significant American film about the difficult, traumatic adjustments (unemployment, adultery, alcoholism, and ostracism) hat three returning veteran servicemen experienced in the aftermath of World War II.This was the first film without the deceased Donald Pleasence, who had appeared in all of the previous Halloween films (except the third one).Producer David O.Selznick had acquired the film rights to Mitchell""s novel in July, 1936 for $50,000 - a record amount at the time to an unknown author for her first novel, causing some to label the film "Selznick""s Folly.She is concerned, worried, and uncertain about Henry, and wondering if he is emotionally disturbed.Anxious about her marital partner, she explains how Henry""s most recent letter, the first she has had in four months, makes no sense.