The Human Comedy
1943 · Movie · NR · 118 min · ★ 6.3 · 78% critics
During World War II, a teenager in a small California town takes on an after-school job to help support a widowed household while an older brother heads toward military service. The story follows home-front worries, family bonds, and moments of kindness in a community under strain.
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Details
- Years
- 1943
- Release date
- 1943-03-02
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 78/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.3/10 (34 votes)
About
You may like this if you enjoy old-fashioned, emotional family stories like National Velvet or Cheaper by the Dozen; Not for you if you dislike earnest patriotism and heavy sentiment.
Pros: heartfelt performances; warm small-town setting; moving family themes | Cons: heavy sentimentality; preachy speeches; wartime propaganda
Themes
- small town
- army
- orphan
- telegraph office
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Story · 1944
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1944 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1944 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1944 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1944 · nominated
Show all 6 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Story · 1944 · nominated
Cast & crew
Mickey Rooney
as Homer Macauley
Frank Morgan
as Willie Grogan
James Craig
as Tom Spangler
Marsha Hunt
as Diana Steed
Fay Bainter
as Mrs. Macauley
Ray Collins
as Mr. Macauley
Van Johnson
as Marcus Macauley
Donna Reed
as Bess Macauley
Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins
as Ulysses Macauley
Dorothy Morris
as Mary Arena
Directed by Clarence Brown