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.

I moved to Fresno, California in 1948 when I was 4. I was welcome at all the gardens to plug a melon. That meant to cut a triangle and then remove that piece to be sure the melon was ready. A scary old man showed me how to do that. Then I learned a person was not scary just because they were not known and old. Yes I grew up a few miles south of town. And everybody knew everybody else. I vividly recall Rhoeding Park where the hot and weary travelers stopped amidst the large trees to cool from the summers heat. Air Conditioning was new. It was called 'cooled by refrigeration'. Swamp coolers were the norm and created a lot of humidity. Days in the 100s were the normal occurrence. Many many groups of various nationalities picknicked there. This movie may seem unreal to someone from more recent times and other places. But it sure reminds me of my childhood home. Families were a lot closer then. I lived there 5 years after the movie was made and possibly 5-8 after it was set. I too waved at the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific trains. I rode a bicycle for miles from home. I didn't know bad people existed. All adults were friendly and helpful. I knew a man like the old telegrapher. Others problems were my problems. The Korean war took our beloved doctor that made housecalls and knew everyones first name. Mothers worried about their husband returning Children did not understand. I attended the Presbyterian Church. I miss those times. I miss the trust we had with strangers. I miss the safety we felt at night. I even miss the names like Zahigian and Kechaloian. It is a shame younger people feel this was not a real place and time. Roger

The Human Comedy begins with the voice of the deceased father describing life in the small town of Ithaca California. He slowly introduces the viewer to his family in such a warm and loving way, that you are convinced that love really does survive death. The movie goes on to follow the lives of the family as they cope with the daily trials and tribulations of life in war time America. To those of us removed by time from this era, this movie transports you back to a place where values such as patriotism, neighborliness, compassion and community are alive and vibrate in the hearts and souls of those living through the war on America's home front. This movie never fails to move me every time I view it. There is really something magical about the confluence of events, from the voice and ghostly appearance of the recently deceased father, to the flesh and blood everyday characters that populate the film, to the young soldier who never had a family and comes to Ithica to fufill his own dream. What a movie! And the most surprising element of the entire story is the fact that even though told from the vantage point of the dead, the movie is totally and refreshenly life affirming. One of the most heart warming movies I have ever seen, I cannot recommend it enough.

I first saw this movie as an 11 year old in 1943 and have been haunted by it since. I know it is very sentimental, but I am glad that the movie makers in those days tried to inculcate basic human values, even though they may have been a bit unrealistic.

I consider Mickey Rooney a very fine actor, and I have always liked Van Johnson enormously. I liked Frank Morgan's role, having seen him in The Wizard of Oz, and listened to him as "Daddy" in the Baby Snooks radio program.

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.