Teenager Homer Macauley stays at home in the small town of Ithaca, California to support his family while his older brother Marcus prepares to go to war.
Acting
Mickey Rooney's raw telegraph scene—Oscar-worthy restraint.
Writing
Saroyan's voiceover poetry hits different.
Director
Clarence Brown
Mickey Rooney
Homer Macauley
Frank Morgan
Willie Grogan
James Craig
Tom Spangler
Marsha Hunt
Diana Steed
Fay Bainter
Mrs. Macauley
Ray Collins
Mr. Macauley
Van Johnson
Marcus Macauley
Donna Reed
Bess Macauley
Jackie 'Butch' Jenkins
Ulysses Macauley
Dorothy Morris
Mary Arena
John Craven
Tobey George
Ann Ayars
Mrs. Sandoval
Mary Nash
Miss Hicks
Henry O'Neill
Charles Steed
Katharine Alexander
Mrs. Steed
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
William Saroyan wrote the screenplay in four days, then novelized it when MGM cut 20 minutes against his wishes.
Released when real telegrams were delivering actual war casualties—audiences wept in recognition, not just sympathy.
US
