Et la vie continue

Nothing much happens in "The Human Comedy," and yet, everything happens in this gentle 1943 drama based on a story by William Saroyan and directed by Clarence Brown. It stars Mickey Rooney, Van Johnson, Frank Morgan, James Craig, Marsha Hunt, Fay Bainter, Donna Reed and Dorothy Malone. The main focus is on the Macauley family, and the opening and closing narration is by their late patriarch (Ray Collins) who initially introduces the audience to the family and to the town of Ithaca, California.

With oldest brother Marcus away fighting in World War II, it falls to Homer (Rooney) to add to the money his brother sends their mother (Fay Bainter) by getting a job in the local telegraph office after school. There, he finds himself sobering up the drunken man who runs the telegraph (Frank Morgan) and delivering telegrams - sometimes singing, sometimes from the War Department informing a family of a death. Homer has to grow up fast and ponder some serious issues.

There are others besides the Macauleys - kind Tom Spangler and his upper class girl (Marsha Hunt) - Tom is nervous about meeting her parents. Then there is Tobey (John Craven) a soldier with no parents and no real home who is befriended by Marcus while in the service.

"The Human Comedy" is filled with delightful scenes of innocence, goodness, sadness, mischief, tragedy and humor. One night, Bess Macauley and her friend Mary are on their way to the movies when they meet three lonely soldiers on leave (one of whom is Robert Mitchum) and invite them to come along. When the men leave them, the girls get a kiss on the cheek; the youngest Macauley, Ulysses, finds himself alone when the other boys leave after watching a live ad for a drink - is the man a real man or a huge wind-up toy? When he leans over and scares the heck out of Ulysses, Ulysses finds out and runs for his life.

The scenes of Marcus and his fellow soldiers shows us the youth of these men, their fears, and their homesickness; the scenes of the people at home show us what not having any young men around is like for a small town - the worry and the loneliness as they keep things together so their sons and fathers will have something to come home to.

Mickey Rooney, one of the screen's great talents, gives a subdued yet emotional performance as Homer. Frank Morgan is very good as the pathetic Mr. Grogan, and Van Johnson is likable as Marcus. The rest of the cast follows suit - everyone is excellent.

Was a town ever like this? Possibly, in a gentler time. The Human Comedy reminds us of old-fashioned things like responsibility, letter-writing, and prayer, and that love is eternal. A very warm movie. Highly recommended.

While the years may not have been entirely kind to "The Human Comedy," they have certainly been kinder than some of the comments I've seen here, the venom and churlish malice of which frankly astonish me.

In 1943, M-G-M commissioned author William Saroyan to develop a screen story about the World War II homefront. The result was this, which Howard Estabrook turned into a screenplay and Saroyan himself expanded into a novel -- which explains why the film was released before the book was published.

Yes, "The Human Comedy" is propaganda, but with a difference. Most of the propaganda of WWII arose from anger and grim determination, and films like "Air Force" and "Operation Tokyo" look excessive and embarrassing now that passions have cooled. The propaganda of "The Human Comedy" rises not from anger but from fear -- the fear that the crucible of war might be too harsh for the spirit of small-town America to survive.

To be honest, much of "The Human Comedy" also looks excessive and embarrassing now the fears have been alleviated. But few films struck such a chord in audiences of the time by showing them, if not as they were, then at least as they liked to picture themselves.

The film's appeal now is more than just as a historical curiosity, however. Despite the Andy Hardy sentimentality and Saroyan's blue-collar pseudo-poetry, "The Human Comedy" has much to recommend it if you can resist viewing it through the prism of our own time, with the war safely won these 50 years. It has, for example, one of Mickey Rooney's best and most restrained performances and a charming performance by Jackie "Butch" Jenkins as his baby brother -- he became a child star on the strength of this film, but was never this good again.

Frank Morgan, too, is first-rate as a sad old man taking pride in his work and refuge in his bottle; Morgan was an idiosyncratic actor, but he was capable of great depth and deserves to be known for something besides "The Wizard of Oz." Director Clarence Brown, now sadly neglected, shows once again his sure touch with Americana and his sensitive handling of child and teen actors.

"The Human Comedy" is a bit cloying, perhaps, but it's also a compassionate and generous-spirited film. It deserves to be regarded with the same generosity.

This Movie Must be restored and released on DVD. I hope the studio monitors these sites. This film is a snapshot of the mindset and moral ideals that American society agreed upon during the period of the 1940's. As such, it is history. Many today scoff at these ideals. Personally, I think they are to be sought after. This is a wonderful, uplifting movie. Everyone should see it.

Way, way back in the 9th grade, in the early 60's, our principal canceled all our afternoon classes and had the entire 9th grade meet in the assembly room (lunchroom without the tables) so he could show us this movie on a 16 mm projector. That's how strongly he felt about this movie. He pointed out, afterwards, that this is a fable, about how life could be if...

After a few decades I bought the video and watched it - not from the viewpoint of comparing it to today's movies, but in the context of what my old principal told us. Just to see if the old impressions held up in light of today's jaded world. It did, and I was surprised at how thoroughly I enjoyed it.

Note that the name of the town is Ithica, that two of the main characters are named Homer and Ulysses, & that the story is introduced from a "heavenly voice from above". All mythological references.

It is showing us how life could be, maybe should be, even with life's tragedies. Not too often, even back then, do you see a family saying their prayers, then discussing them. And, yes, it'd be great if male macho rivalries were settled that easily. And it'd be great if non-relative adults would take the time to help young adults improve (without worrying about ulterior motives). It's all what-ifs, but great what ifs.

Mickey Rooney was never better, and most of the cast was excellent. I highly recommend this movie only if you are aware of what you are really watching. 4/5

Sure, it's probably true that this is a highly idealized version of America, but calling it "blatantly patriotic" ignores the fact that all American towns were blatantly patriotic when we fought the Last Good War. The idea that a Homer McCauley had every bit as much chance as a rich kid to make his mark might be uniquely American; he might never live in the big house on the hill, but he could become every bit as beloved in his world as a George Bailey might in Bedford Falls. One thing that makes "Human Comedy" rather unique for its time was that it was set in small-town central California back in the day when that was a long way off for most Americans. A wonderful movie; wish it was avilable on DVD.