The Human Comedy (film)

The Human Comedy
Film poster
Directed by Clarence Brown
Produced by Clarence Brown
Screenplay by Howard Estabrook
Story by William Saroyan
Starring Mickey Rooney
Frank Morgan
Narrated by Ray Collins
Music by Herbert Stothart
Cinematography Harry Stradling
Edited by Conrad A. Nervig
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • March 2, 1943 (1943-03-02)
Running time
 118 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $1.0 million[1][2]
Box office $3.9 million[1][2]

The Human Comedy is a 1943 American drama film directed by Clarence Brown and adapted by Howard Estabrook.[3] It is often thought to be based on the William Saroyan novel of the same name, but Saroyan actually wrote the screenplay first, was fired from the film project, and quickly wrote the novel and published it just before the film was released.[3] The picture stars Mickey Rooney with Frank Morgan. Also appearing in the film are James Craig, Marsha Hunt, Fay Bainter, Ray Collins, Van Johnson, Donna Reed and Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins. Robert Mitchum and Don DeFore appear together as boisterous soldiers in uncredited supporting roles.

The film is the story of a teenaged Homer Macauley (Mickey Rooney) in high school, working part-time as a telegram delivery boy, in the fictional town of Ithaca, California, during World War II. The effects of the war on the "Home Front" over a year in Homer's life are depicted in sentimental scenarios involving himself, his family, friends, and neighbors, and acquaintances encountered. The storyline is directed by a narrator, Homer's deceased father (Ray Collins).

Cast

Robert Mitchum and Don DeFore appear in early small roles as soldiers with a night off from training, trying to meet girls and take in a movie; although they have character names and lines in the script (Mitchum portrays "Quentin"), both are uncredited. Carl Switzer, best known as "Alfalfa" in the Our Gang shorts, appears uncredited as Auggie, a friend of Ulysses.

Production

Saroyan wrote a film treatment and a screenplay that he was asked to direct. He was paid off and removed from the project when his film proved to be more than two hours long. Saroyan was not at all happy with the film as completed by Brown, and he wrote his novel from the script he produced.[3] The novel was published at the same time as the film's release with the intent of countering the film version of the story. There are noticeable differences between the film and the novel, including a stronger characterization of Ulysses, the small boy, in the novel and far fewer scenes of sentiment than were incorporated into the film by Estabrook and Brown (social criticism is also much blunter in the novel). Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM, who suggested that this was his favorite film, also suggest a very definite "MGM house style".[4]

Reception

The New York Times reviewer Bosley Crowther praised the film's performances, especially Rooney, saying that "There is a tenderness and restraint in his characterization." But he chided the film for excessive sentimentality, saying it featured "some most charming bits of fine motion-picture expression and some most maudlin gobs of cinematic goo."[3]

The film made $2.8 million in the US and Canada and $1.0 million elsewhere resulting in a profit of $1.5 million.[1][2][5]

Awards

It won the Academy Award for Best Story and was nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Mickey Rooney), Best Cinematography, Black-and-White, Best Director and Best Picture.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study .
  2. 1 2 3 Scott Eyman, Lion of Hollywood: The Life and Legend of Louis B. Mayer, Robson, 2005 p 349
  3. 1 2 3 4 Crowther, Bosley (March 3, 1943). "Movie Review: The Human Comedy". The New York Times. Retrieved August 19, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Rotten Tomatoes: The Human Comedy". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Top Grossers of the Season", Variety, 5 January 1944 p 54
  6. ↑ "The 16th Academy Awards (1944) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved October 4, 2013.
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