THE HUMAN COMEDY

US, 1943, 118 minutes, Black and white.
Mickey Rooney, Butch Jenkins, Fay Bainter, Van Johnson, Donna Reed, James Craig, Marsha Hunt, Frank Morgan.
Directed by Clarence Brown.

The Human Comedy is based on a novel by prize-winning author and playwright, philosopher, William Saroyan. (His play The time of Your Life, was filmed in the late 40s with James Cagney.)

Saroyan's philosophy is optimistic about human nature. With a World War II setting in a small town in California, the film shows ordinary Americans with traditional values, their loyalty to the U.S., their involvement in the war, their happiness and their griefs. While the film's plot is a glimpse of life in the town, the emphasis is given to characters - from Ray Collins's dead father who offers the commentary and guides us through the town to his wife played with delicacy by Fay Bainter. Mickey Rooney gets star billing as Homer Macauley, the young high school student who delivers telegrams in his spare time. Rooney gives a very good performance. Van Johnson, Donna Reed, James Craig, Marsha Hunt all fill out supporting roles as does Jackie Butch Jenkins. Frank Morgan is very good as the alcoholic elderly man who receives the telegrams.

The film is full of American sentiment and high-mindedness. It is a reminder of the American ideals portrayed in the movies of the 30s and 40s. The film was directed by Clarence Brown, veteran director of many Greta Carbo vehicles as well as such films as National Velvet, The Yearling, Of Human Hearts.

1. Entertaining wartime movie? Piece of Americana? Moral boosting? Optimistic ideals about human nature?

2. M.G.M. production, the black and white photography, the musical score and songs, the American town?

3. The title, the sentiment, the comic touches? The optimistic philosophy? The universal values of the characters and the themes?

4. The impact of this film during the war? The reality of call-up, volunteers, the impact of the fighting, the news of deaths and woundings, the impact on the ordinary American family? The hopes for the future?

5. The focus on the Macauley family, Matthew Macauley being dead, his comments, introducing us to the town and the characters? His wife, her loyal support, bringing up the children? The playing of the instruments? Explaining death to Ulysses? her support and care? The picture of the ideal American parents?

6. Homer and Mickey Rooney's presence and style, at home and his generosity, care for Ulysses, admiration for Marcus, reading his letters? At school, the clashes with his rival, running the hurdles after being kept in, with the school teacher? His speech in the classroom? At work, delivering the telegrams - and the grief of the Hispanic mother? His friendship with Spangler and keeping the job? With Willie Grogan, their talking, his learning from him? Handling his alcoholic bouts? Getting things from the store? His enjoying life in the town, riding his bike? The ideal young man with the hope for the future? With Bess and with Mary? His achievements, the news of his brother's death? Spangler helping him to cope? The news for the family?

7. The intercutting of scenes with Marcus, his background from home, with the troops, playing the accordion, singing? Training, the peeling the potatoes, the letters home? Befriending Toby and explaining everything? In the train, on active service? His death? Toby, the orphan? Sharing Marcus's experience? coming home, encountering Homer, being welcomed into the family?

8. Ulysses, the sentiment with the portrayal of the little boy, watching the train, his fears, learning about death, singing, playing? His relationship with Homer? With the awkward boy whom he befriended - at the cinema queue?

9. Bess, her place in the family, Mary and her love for Marcus, coming over to the house, playing music? Going shopping with Homer? The encounter with the soldiers, friendship, going to the movies with them? The moral boost? The portrait of the three soldiers - on leave, sending the telegrams, going to the movies, enjoying the companionship, going back to fight?

10. Willie Grogan, the old man, at the telegram station, his drinking, the effect of the telegrams? Friendship with Homer, training him? Getting him to bring him out of the alcoholic bouts? His grief, his death?

11. Tom Spangler, running the firm, efficiency, an idealist, generous with Homer? The money on the Pies? The hurdles? Diana, her affluent family, the touch of snobbery? Tom not wanting to go to dinner, Diana prattling on? The portrait of her parents, commonsense with their daughter? Tom and his befriending the family? The wedding? Happiness together, her pregnancy? The future?

12. The classroom, the teacher and the traditions, the clash with coach, the arrogant boy, the fight in the ancient history class, her lecturing the boys, keeping them back, the decision to let Homer go and supporting him?

13. The Hispanic mother, the telegram, the news of her sons death, Homer and his comfort for her?

14. The portrait of the town, the details of ordinary life? A piece of Americana - a vision of an America that has gone?