Of Mice and Men (1939)

A mentally retarded giant and his level headed guardian find work at a sadistic cowboy's ranch in depression era America.

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

John Steinbeck (by), Eugene Solow (screen play)

Stars:

Burgess Meredith, Betty Field, Lon Chaney Jr.

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burgess Meredith	...	George
Betty Field	...	Mae
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Lennie
Charles Bickford	...	Slim
Roman Bohnen	...	Candy
Bob Steele	...	Curley
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Whit
Oscar O'Shea	...	Jackson
Granville Bates	...	Carlson
Leigh Whipper	...	Crooks
Helen Lynd	...	Susie

Storyline

George Milton and Lennie Small are migrant workers in the 1930s Depression. Lennie is mentally retarded and George looks after him. While working as hands on a Western ranch, they dream of owning their own ranch and the opportunity may be available. Their current ranch is owned by a sadistic man who has a flirtatious wife.

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Plot Keywords:

ranch | depression | great depression | migrant worker | friend | 

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Taglines:

The picture Hollywood said could never be made

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 December 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

La fuerza bruta

Filming Locations:

Agoura Hills, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lewis Milestone himself was once an itinerant worker.

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Goofs

At the beginning, when George and Lennie are being chased, they are running alongside a train, then climbing inside. As they run, the shadow of the camera operator, wearing a cap, is clearly seen against a train car.

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Quotes

George Milton: You had a cigarette and a drink and a look at a pretty dress, and it cost you fifteen bucks! You just shot a week's pay to walk on that red carpet!
Candy: A week's pay? Sure, but I worked weeks all my life. I don't remember none of them weeks, but this - nearly twenty years ago - I remember that.

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Crazy Credits

The movie begins before the credits are shown. George and Lennie are fleeing a mob. They board a boxcar on a moving train, and as they close the door of the boxcar we see the main title already written on the door of the boxcar.

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Connections

Version of Of Mice and Men (1968)

User Reviews

EXCELLENT CINEMA!

The first comment given here shows an incredible lack of understanding of Steinbeck in his California period. Our Irish friend's acrid comments show he obviously doesn't like Steinbeck and that's his privilege. Now, having said that, I must say he's wrong. This film is excellent. Just that. The cast is wonderful and the story is a classic: the destruction of innocence by cruel reality (viz: the title of the story taken from a line from a Robert Burns's poem). And, while Steinbeck was not one to let a sentimental moment pass by, e.g, Lennie's Christ-like innocence, inappropriate super-human strength which inadvertently wreaks havoc resulting in his euthanasia with the same instrument as used for Curley's dog, these scenes are never maudlin. Too, for the serious Steinbeck fan, there's more, much more. This story, and the play, created at Steinbeck's most experimental period, is fraught with symbolism. There's the "big" guy, a victim of the "little" guy's vanity. Many are not aware that Steinbeck was small (5'3") and very self-conscious about his size. The cast is outstanding: Betty Field's careless and bored character, Mae contrasts with the mighty innocence of Chaney's Lennie. There are the solid characters of Bickford's Slim, Meredith's George and Bohnen's Candy; Steele was at his best as the vain, pugnacious Curley; Veteran character actor, Noah Berry Jr. as Whit adds another element of sympathy. This is one of our American classic films. We invented and developed this genre of art and this film must stand as one of its finest examples.