The Human Comedy

Play trailer

The Human Comedy

1943,

1h 58m,

Comedy/

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Stream Now

Watchlist

100%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

69%

250+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

69%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

During World War II, high school student Homer Macauley (Mickey Rooney) and his boss, Willie Grogan (Frank Morgan), pull their weight at the local telegraph office. Homer is dedicated and enthusiastic at first, but becomes troubled when the office begins receiving death notices about local soldiers. Luckily, he finds inspiration in a new hire, the confident Tom Spangler (James Craig). But Tom has troubles of his own. Smitten with Diana Steed (Marsha Hunt), he too must overcome his insecurities.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Stream

Rent The Human Comedy on Fandango, or buy it on Fandango.

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Oct 18, 2026

3/4

Too often a human whirligig on screen, Mickey Rooney tones it down and delivers his finest performance in The Human Comedy.

Go to Full Review

Ian Kane

Epoch Times

Sep 3, 2024

4/5

“The Human Comedy” stands as a timeless portrayal that is both heartwarming and poignant, providing an insightful and inspiring window into the lives of ordinary Americans who navigated the challenges of World War II on the home front.

Go to Full Review

André Bazin

Poésie 45

Dec 9, 2021

The paradox of The Human Comedy lies in the fact that, with a systematic, exhaustive degree of precision, propaganda reaches the level of a sort of poetry as each lesson is understood separately and carefully set apart as its own sermon.

Go to Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

May 12, 2010

B-

Outdoes Capra in cornball melodrama, but does it well.

Go to Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Nov 9, 2006

B

Since Mickey Rooney was then at the height of his popularity, many viewers saw it as just another episode of the Andy Hardy series, but it was actually a bittersweet small-town saga, in the vein of Capra, dealing with the inevitable loss of innocence

Go to Full Review

Eric Lurio

Greenwich Village Gazette

Jun 6, 2005

3/5

Read all reviews

Hermione W

Apr 22, 2017

Not as good as the book, but it gives it a good go.

Read all reviews

Clarence Brown

Director

Mickey Rooney

Homer Macauley

Frank Morgan

Willie Grogan

James Craig

Tom Spangler

Jackie "Butch" Jenkins

Ulysses Macauley

Marsha Hunt

Diana Steed

Gigi

90%

74%

Gigi

Watchlist

Here Comes the Groom

60%

70%

Here Comes the Groom

Watchlist

There's No Business Like Show Business

67%

57%

There's No Business Like Show Business

Watchlist

TRAILER

for There's No Business Like Show Business

Sweet Charity

82%

73%

Sweet Charity

Watchlist

Dream Wife

60%

Dream Wife

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

During World War II, high school student Homer Macauley (Mickey Rooney) and his boss, Willie Grogan (Frank Morgan), pull their weight at the local telegraph office. Homer is dedicated and enthusiastic at first, but becomes troubled when the office begins receiving death notices about local soldiers. Luckily, he finds inspiration in a new hire, the confident Tom Spangler (James Craig). But Tom has troubles of his own. Smitten with Diana Steed (Marsha Hunt), he too must overcome his insecurities.

Director: Clarence Brown
Producer: Clarence Brown
Screenwriter: Howard Estabrook
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 2, 1943, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 58m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings