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The Human Comedy (1943)

6.9
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Ratings: 6.9/10 from 908 users  
Reviews: 41 user | 13 critic

Teenager Homer Macauley stays at home in small-town Ithaca to support his family, while his older brother Marcus prepares to go to war.

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Writers:

(from the story by), (screenplay)
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Title: The Human Comedy (1943)

The Human Comedy (1943) on IMDb 6.9/10

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Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Homer Macauley
...
Willie Grogan
James Craig ...
Tom Spangler
...
Diana Steed
Fay Bainter ...
Mrs. Macauley
...
Mr. Macauley
...
Marcus Macauley
...
Bess Macauley
Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins ...
Ulysses Macauley (as Jack Jenkins)
Dorothy Morris ...
Mary Arena
...
Tobey George
Ann Ayars ...
Mrs. Sandoval
...
Miss Hicks
Henry O'Neill ...
Charles Steed
Katharine Alexander ...
Mrs. Steed
Edit

Storyline

Homer Macauley remains in a small town looking after his widowed mother and younger brother. Homer's older brother is fighting the war in Europe. Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Certificate:

Approved | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

14 February 1944 (Sweden)  »

Also Known As:

A Comédia Humana  »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

| (Turner library print) (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer William Saroyan wanted desperately to direct the film despite having no experience in directing. Louis B. Mayer told Saroyan that he would consider the request and assigned the writer to direct a one reel short. The short film was a disappointment and studio stalwart Clarence Brown was promptly assigned. Saroyan was so bitter about the experience he wrote a play about Mayer soon after titled "Get Away Old Man". He also adapted the story he wrote for the film into a novel, which was published within weeks of the movie premiere and became a best seller. See more »

Goofs

Near the end of the film when Homer and his friends walk to the telegraph office Homer's tie is tied up short (the tail below the broad part of the tie) but when Homer enters the office and in the following scenes, the tie is tied correctly. See more »

Quotes

Mr. Macauley: I am Matthew Macauley. I have been dead for two years. So much of me is still living that I know now the end is only the beginning. As I look down on my homeland of Ithaca, California, with its cactus, vineyards and orchards, I see that so much of me is still living there - in the places I've been, in the fields and streets and church and most of all in my home, where my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions still live in the daily life of my loved ones.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Forecast (1945) See more »

Soundtracks

"Rock of Ages"
(1830) (uncredited)
Music by Thomas Hastings (1830)
Lyrics by Augustus Montague Toplady (1776)
Sung a cappella by Frank Morgan
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User Reviews

Oh you jaded lot...
17 March 2003 | by See all my reviews

I saw HUMAN COMEDY when I was a young teen and its story haunted me. Now I'm grownup, jaded, if I saw it again I'd probably make snide comments like so many others here -- "LB Mayer wanted to sell the lie of homespun values all wrapped up pretty; if the movie had been made at Warners the set decoration certainly would've been grittier," etc etc.

But I come to its defense on the basis of my viewing it at a young age. Consider the story: Young boy lies about his age to get a job, ends up delivering telegrams informing families their sons are dead... that's potent. Probably even at age 13 I was able to figure out the invevitable ending: What would the FINAL telegram be? But it stayed with me in a way that few movies have...

Would it be more acceptable if it were classified as adolescent literature?


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