The Human Comedy (1943)

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

Director:

Clarence Brown

Writers:

William Saroyan (from the story by), Howard Estabrook (screenplay)

Stars:

Mickey Rooney, Frank Morgan, James Craig

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mickey Rooney	...	Homer Macauley
Frank Morgan	...	Willie Grogan
James Craig	...	Tom Spangler
Marsha Hunt	...	Diana Steed
Fay Bainter	...	Mrs. Macauley
Ray Collins	...	Mr. Macauley
Van Johnson	...	Marcus Macauley
Donna Reed	...	Bess Macauley
Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins	...	Ulysses Macauley (as Jack Jenkins)
Dorothy Morris	...	Mary Arena
John Craven	...	Tobey George
Ann Ayars	...	Mrs. Sandoval
Mary Nash	...	Miss Hicks
Henry O'Neill	...	Charles Steed
Katharine Alexander	...	Mrs. Steed

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.

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Plot Keywords:

small town | army | telegraph office | orphan | hurdles | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Family

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

14 February 1944 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

A Comédia Humana

Filming Locations:

Clarence Brown Ranch - Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Loew's

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min 117 min (Turner library print) (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

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.

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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.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in Forecast (1945)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Oh you jaded lot...

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?