Claim: Mickey Rooney played roles.

The Human Comedy is a 1943 American drama film directed by Clarence Brown and adapted by Howard Estabrook . It is often thought to be based on the William Saroyan novel of the same name , but Saroyan actually wrote the screenplay first , was fired from the movie project , and quickly wrote the novel and published it just before the film was released . The picture stars Mickey Rooney with Frank Morgan . Also appearing in the film are James Craig , Marsha Hunt , Fay Bainter , Ray Collins , Van Johnson , Donna Reed and Jackie ` Butch ' Jenkins . Robert Mitchum -LRB- as `` Quentin '' -RRB- and Don DeFore appear together as boisterous soldiers in uncredited supporting roles .   The film is the story of a teenaged Homer Macauley -LRB- Mickey Rooney -RRB- in high school , working part-time as a telegram delivery boy , in the fictional town of Ithaca , California , during World War II . The effects of the war on the `` Home Front '' over a year in Homer 's life are depicted in sentimental scenarios involving himself , his family , friends , and neighbors , and acquaintances encountered . The storyline is directed by a narrator , Homer 's deceased father -LRB- Ray Collins -RRB- .