The Human Comedy

I would say this was the greatest movie I've ever seen. OK, I'm very partial to Mickey Rooney as an actor. In my book, there is NONE GREATER! HE WAS THE BEST! This movie is so peaceful compared to today's garbage. What a relief it was. I would highly recommend this movie to good Christian people who would like to see a good clean, family movie. Most people cannot enjoy this movie because it don't have sex, blasphemy and the like. OK, yes it is sentimental....and may I ask, since when was there something wrong with that????!!! Mickey Rooney was so cute in this too! He was the best! 10 STARS FOR THE MIGHTY MICK!

I first saw this movie as an 11 year old in 1943 and have been haunted by it since. I know it is very sentimental, but I am glad that the movie makers in those days tried to inculcate basic human values, even though they may have been a bit unrealistic. I consider Mickey Rooney a very fine actor, and I have always liked Van Johnson enormously. I liked Frank Morgan's role, having seen him in The Wizard of Oz, and listened to him as "Daddy" in the Baby Snooks radio program.

This movie, like the "The Sullivans" is extremely had to find at your video store. Set in Ithaca, Calif. It's the story of young boy(played by Mickey Rooney) who delivers telegrams in his small town during the war. Needless to say he has to deliver the heart wrenching "Dear Sir/Ma'am: The War Department regrets to inform you of the death of your son........" It truly is a great movie of small town values,hopes and fears during the war. If you liked the Sullivans, this movie will move you also. And interesting note here, is that the book was published after the movie.

Sure, it's probably true that this is a highly idealized version of America, but calling it "blatantly patriotic" ignores the fact that all American towns were blatantly patriotic when we fought the Last Good War. The idea that a Homer McCauley had every bit as much chance as a rich kid to make his mark might be uniquely American; he might never live in the big house on the hill, but he could become every bit as beloved in his world as a George Bailey might in Bedford Falls. One thing that makes "Human Comedy" rather unique for its time was that it was set in small-town central California back in the day when that was a long way off for most Americans. A wonderful movie; wish it was avilable on DVD.

This is a wonderful experience. It is a portrait of the America that still lives in many hearts and is the reason that many have the freedom to insult her and her brave sons. Apart from the war theme which continues to happen with every tragedy in every corner of the world where there is misery, the misery goes on until America intervenes -- much to the complaint of our home-grown naysayers -- there is the bright promise of America as the bright shining city on the hill. People swim through shark infested waters to reach these shores, not to escape. I am so happy that while I was watching this morning I could remember growing up in this golden land and that Mickey Rooney is still with us and I still remember when Americans were proud, happy and optimistic and worshiped God rather than a mere politician. Oh well, watch this movie and hope that we can go back to the days when the town park was a place where people danced and sang and above all celebrated the blessings of America.

While Rooney is touching in his role here, Frank Morgan as the drunken telegraph operator here delivered one of the most poignant performances I have ever seen in a film. He proves here that he was capable of great things. Watching this film made me think of the great moments in so many films that have been dwarfed by other, more famous, and more overrated moments in more well-known films. Pay attention to the scene in the telegraph office if you can get hold of this movie;I was truly moved nearly to tears.This was released years ago in the "Great Books" series on MGM video,and should still be available in libraries and video stores which have not disposed of their older classic videos.