VICTORY IN MY HANDS

A production number, and in spite of its triple-decked facade, a story worth telling. Russell's loss of two hands in the paratroops, on stateside manoeuvers not overseas, plunged him into psychological and emotional as well as physical problems. He learned the difference between being crippled and handicapped, chose between hands that were ""cosmetic"" and hands that were hooks, resolved not to become a ""mental basket case"", and did become an object lesson of a bilateral amputation taking normal life in normal stride. A documentary for fellow amputees helped him get in the movies and win two Oscars in The Best Years of Our Lives. Education under the GI Bill, work with the Anti-Defamation League continued the job of smoothing over his selfconsciousness and shame and gave him an active part in the world to which he was returning. This is an extremely personal story of an average guy whose determination to lick, not only the obstacles raised by his accident, but also the history of his past failures, is an object lesson based on awakening self-knowledge and adds another vista to the annals of the maimed.