Human Spirit at its Best

A few days ago I was invited to a friend’s to watch the 1943 movie “The Human Comedy.” Not a huge fan of old movies, I had no expectations except Paul’s warning that it was a “six handkerchief affair” for him, and that William Saroyan (who wrote the screenplay) had as much as “saved his life” back when he himself was becoming a man in the 1940s.

Comedy in the usual sense it is not, but the true definition of comedy turns out thus: a dramatic work in which the central motif is the triumph over adverse circumstance, resulting in a happy conclusion.

In fewest words, the movie is about a family living in a small California town during WWII, when all age-eligible young men are risking their lives in uniform.

“Father” (Ray Collins) narrates, having died two years before the story opens. The main character (Mickey Rooney) is a 14-year old who takes a job as telegraph delivery boy to support the family when his older brother (Van Johnson) goes off to war. Mother (Fay Bainter) is the loving mother we all wish we had. Older sister (Donna Reed) attends the university and baby brother (Jackie Jenkins) lightens the story with his 4-year-old viewpoint.

The telegraph office has enormous influence. Here we find the telegraph operator (Frank Morgan a.k.a. “Wizard of Oz”) and the office manager (James Craig) who falls in love with a young woman from the well-to-do side of town (Marsha Hunt). Both men at the telegraph office place ultimate trust in the young Mickey Rooney as he catches his first glimpse of real life. He continues school by day, but now finds it child’s play in contrast with delivering telegrams, many of which announce the death of soldiers to friends and neighbors. In keeping with the sweet, safe, small-town environment of “The Human Comedy,” there is little distinction between family, friends, and neighbors.

This is a story of incredible optimism and sentiment. All characters are either good from the start or have a change of heart at some point by the end of 118 minutes.

When it was over, Paul looked at me hard and posed the question, “Do you know anyone else in this day and age who would like this movie?”

A fair question. Most people today, I daresay, would watch it through a lens of cynicism only to poke fun at its characters.

“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. “I know one other person who would love this movie.”

You know who you are.

I’m proud to say I still have friends who believe in the goodness of the human spirit. Perhaps it is more than ever a movie for today.