Poster

The Human Comedy ()

Reference View | Change View
Teenager Homer Macauley stays at home in small-town Ithaca to support his family while his older brother Marcus prepares to go to war.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 5 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

12 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

Edit
...
Homer Macauley
...
Willie Grogan
...
Tom Spangler
...
Diana Steed
...
Mrs. Macauley
...
Mr. Macauley
...
Marcus Macauley
...
Bess Macauley
...
Ulysses Macauley (as Jack Jenkins)
...
Mary Arena
...
Tobey George
...
Mrs. Sandoval
...
Miss Hicks
...
Charles Steed
...
Mrs. Steed
...
Brad Stickman
...
Lionel
...
Fat Dana
...
Helen Elliot
...
Henderson
...
Librarian (as Adeline DeWalt Reynolds)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harry Adams ...
Serious Customer (uncredited)
Ernie Alexander ...
Soldier in Canteen (uncredited)
...
Mr. Beaufrere (uncredited)
...
Man on Street (uncredited)
Dora Baker ...
Steed Cook (uncredited)
...
Woman on Street (uncredited)
Margaret Bert ...
Woman on Street (uncredited)
Conrad Binyon ...
Gang Member (uncredited)
...
Daughter Beaufrere (uncredited)
...
Flirting Man (uncredited)
...
Drunk at Bar (uncredited)
...
School Principal (uncredited)
...
Customer (uncredited)
...
Mess Sergeant (uncredited)
...
Man at Steed Party (uncredited)
...
Bit Role (uncredited)
...
Man on Street (uncredited)
...
Soldier (uncredited)
...
Bernard Anthony (uncredited)
Rosita Delva ...
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
Daisy DeWitt ...
Woman in Telegraph Office (uncredited)
Jane Drummond ...
Woman at Steed Party (uncredited)
...
Woman at Steed Party (uncredited)
...
Woman at Steed Party (uncredited)
...
Mr. Blenton (uncredited)
...
Reverend Holly (uncredited)
...
Leonine Man (uncredited)
...
Scowling Man (uncredited)
...
Hubert Ackley III (uncredited)
...
Larry (uncredited)
Payne B. Johnson ...
Boy Stealing Peaches (uncredited)
...
Gang Member (uncredited)
Irving Lee ...
Joe (uncredited)
...
Steed Butler (uncredited)
Anthony Mazzola ...
Hajohn Ara (uncredited)
...
Woman on Street (uncredited)
...
Quentin Gilford (uncredited)
...
Bartender (uncredited)
...
Policeman with Scared Ulysses (uncredited)
Paul Revelle ...
Specialty Dancer (uncredited)
...
Soldier (uncredited)
Drew Roddy ...
Gang Member (uncredited)
Bobby Samrich ...
Gang Member (uncredited)
Allen Schute ...
Starter (uncredited)
...
Mrs. Beaufrere (uncredited)
John Shay ...
Man at Steed Party (uncredited)
Leigh Sterling ...
Man at Steed Party (uncredited)
Howard J. Stevenson ...
Mr. Mechano (uncredited)
...
Auggie (uncredited)
...
Soldier at Railroad Station (uncredited)
Fred Walburn ...
Gang Member (uncredited)
Jay Ward ...
Felix (uncredited)
...
Soldier (uncredited)
...
Black Man on Train (uncredited)
Rudy Wissler ...
Gang Member (uncredited)

Directed by

Edit
Clarence Brown

Written by

Edit
William Saroyan ... (story)
 
Howard Estabrook ... (screen play)
 
Herman J. Mankiewicz ... () (uncredited)

Produced by

Edit
Clarence Brown ... producer

Music by

Edit
Herbert Stothart

Cinematography by

Edit
Harry Stradling Sr. ... director of photography (as Harry Stradling)

Editing by

Edit
Conrad A. Nervig

Editorial Department

Edit
William Webb ... assistant editor (uncredited)

Art Direction by

Edit
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by

Edit
Edwin B. Willis

Makeup Department

Edit
Jack Dawn ... makeup creator

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Edit
Hugh Boswell ... assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

Edit
Paul Groesse ... associate art director
Hugh Hunt ... associate set decorator

Sound Department

Edit
Douglas Shearer ... recording director
Newell Sparks ... sound (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

Edit
Sam Leavitt ... camera operator (uncredited)
Frank V. Phillips ... assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

Edit
Irene ... costume supervisor
Eugene Joseff ... costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department

Edit
Murray Cutter ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Wally Heglin ... orchestrator (uncredited)

Additional Crew

Edit
Ernst Matray ... dance director
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

Edit

Distributors

Edit

Special Effects

Edit

Other Companies

Edit

Storyline

Edit
Plot Summary

Homer Macauley remains in a small town looking after his widowed mother and younger brother while his older brother is fighting the war in Europe. Written by Anonymous

Plot Keywords
Taglines Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Great Production See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

Edit
Also Known As
  • Et la vie continue (France)
  • ...und das Leben geht weiter (Germany)
  • La comedia humana (Spain)
  • A Comédia Humana (Brazil)
  • 't Leven gaat verder (Belgium, Flemish title)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 117 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $1,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

Edit
Trivia Writer William Saroyan wanted desperately to direct the film despite having no experience in directing. Louis B. Mayer told Saroyan that he would consider the request and assigned the writer to direct a one-reel short. The short film was a disappointment, and studio stalwart Clarence Brown was promptly assigned. Saroyan was so bitter about the experience that soon afterward he wrote a play about Mayer titled "Get Away, Old Man". He also adapted the story he wrote for the film into a novel, which was published within weeks of the movie premiere and became a best seller. See more »
Goofs Near the end of the film when Homer and his friends walk to the telegraph office Homer's tie is tied up short (the tail below the broad part of the tie) but when Homer enters the office and in the following scenes, the tie is tied correctly. See more »
Movie Connections Featured in MGM: When the Lion Roars (1992). See more »
Soundtracks My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night See more »
Quotes Mr. Macauley: I am Matthew Macauley. I have been dead for two years. So much of me is still living that I know now the end is only the beginning. As I look down on my homeland of Ithaca, California, with its cactus, vineyards and orchards, I see that so much of me is still living there - in the places I've been, in the fields and streets and church and most of all in my home, where my hopes, my dreams, my ambitions still live in the daily life of my loved ones.
See more »
Getting Started | Contributor Zone »

Contribute to This Page


Clear your history

Recently Viewed