Over the holidays, I caught one of Robert Mitchum's earliest films for the first time. 'The Human Comedy' is one of the many 1943 films Mitchum appeared in when he first hit Hollywood.
This film, based on the book by William Saroyan, concerns a small-town family during World War II. It stars Mickey Rooney as a telegraph company messenger, a very young Donna Reed as his older sister and Van Johnson as his older brother, who's serving in the war.
Mitchum makes his appearance about halfway through the film, as one of a trio of G.I.s who ask Donna Reed and her friend Mary (played by Dorothy Morris), out to the theater. G.I. Barry Nelson does most of the talking, but when the quintet swings by the telegraph office, we learn that the first name of Mitchum's character, Horse, is actually Quentin! Before the G.I.s part, they give the girls a kiss, with Mitchum kissing Morris (at left, in the photo above). This was, sadly, the only time Reed and Mitchum shared the screen.
The film itself I have to give a thumbs down: Great cast, but a schmaltzy and often preachy script, alas. Still, I'm glad to have seen one of Mitchum's first movies!
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