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The Human Comedy

  • 19431943
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 57m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Mickey Rooney in The Human Comedy (1943)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:38
1 Video
15 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Family

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

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Clarence Brown
  • Writers
    • William Saroyan(story)
    • Howard Estabrook(screen play)
    • Herman J. Mankiewicz(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Mickey Rooney
    • Frank Morgan
    • James Craig
Top credits
  • Director
    • Clarence Brown
  • Writers
    • William Saroyan(story)
    • Howard Estabrook(screen play)
    • Herman J. Mankiewicz(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Mickey Rooney
    • Frank Morgan
    • James Craig
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 58User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    The Human Comedy
    Trailer 1:38
    The Human Comedy

    Photos15

    Mickey Rooney, James Craig, Marsha Hunt, and Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Mickey Rooney in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Mickey Rooney, James Craig, Marsha Hunt, and Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Donna Reed and Dorothy Morris in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Mickey Rooney and Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Van Johnson, Clancy Cooper, and John Craven in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Mickey Rooney and Fay Bainter in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Donna Reed, Mickey Rooney, Fay Bainter, and Dorothy Morris in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Mickey Rooney and Frank Morgan in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Mickey Rooney, James Craig, and Frank Morgan in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Mickey Rooney, Van Johnson, Fay Bainter, James Craig, Marsha Hunt, and Frank Morgan in The Human Comedy (1943)
    Mickey Rooney, Fay Bainter, Marsha Hunt, and Frank Morgan in The Human Comedy (1943)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mickey Rooney
    Mickey Rooney
    • Homer Macauleyas Homer Macauley
    Frank Morgan
    Frank Morgan
    • Willie Groganas Willie Grogan
    James Craig
    James Craig
    • Tom Spangleras Tom Spangler
    Marsha Hunt
    Marsha Hunt
    • Diana Steedas Diana Steed
    Fay Bainter
    Fay Bainter
    • Mrs. Macauleyas Mrs. Macauley
    Ray Collins
    Ray Collins
    • Mr. Macauleyas Mr. Macauley
    Van Johnson
    Van Johnson
    • Marcus Macauleyas Marcus Macauley
    Donna Reed
    Donna Reed
    • Bess Macauleyas Bess Macauley
    Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins
    Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins
    • Ulysses Macauleyas Ulysses Macauley
    • (as Jack Jenkins)
    Dorothy Morris
    Dorothy Morris
    • Mary Arenaas Mary Arena
    John Craven
    John Craven
    • Tobey Georgeas Tobey George
    Ann Ayars
    Ann Ayars
    • Mrs. Sandovalas Mrs. Sandoval
    Mary Nash
    Mary Nash
    • Miss Hicksas Miss Hicks
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Charles Steedas Charles Steed
    Katharine Alexander
    Katharine Alexander
    • Mrs. Steedas Mrs. Steed
    Alan Baxter
    Alan Baxter
    • Brad Stickmanas Brad Stickman
    Darryl Hickman
    Darryl Hickman
    • Lionelas Lionel
    Barry Nelson
    Barry Nelson
    • Fat Danaas Fat Dana
    • Director
      • Clarence Brown
    • Writers
      • William Saroyan(story)
      • Howard Estabrook(screen play)
      • Herman J. Mankiewicz(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Homer Macauley remains in a small town looking after his widowed mother and younger brother while his older brother is fighting the war in Europe. —Anonymous
    • telegram
    • ring
    • letter
    • reading a letter
    • drinking
    • 90 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Great Production
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Family
      • Romance
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Passed
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • 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.
    • 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.

    • Alternate versions
      Also available in a computer colorized version.
    • Connections
      Featured in MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992)
    • Soundtracks
      My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night
      (1853) (uncredited)

      Music and Lyrics by Stephen Foster

      Sung a cappella by Ernest Whitman

      Also sung by Mickey Rooney and Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins

    User reviews58

    Review
    Top review
    Just like where I grew up.
    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
    helpful•40
    1
    • albanyaquarium
    • Oct 14, 2004

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 14, 1944 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Ljudska komedija
    • Filming locations
      • North Hollywood High School - 5231 Colfax Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 57 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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