Of Mice and Men (1939)

Two itinerant migrant workers, one mentally disabled and the other his carer, take jobs as ranch hands during the Great Depression to fulfill their shared dream of owning their own ranch.

Director:

Lewis Milestone

Writers:

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

Stars:

Lon Chaney Jr., Burgess Meredith, Betty Field

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Burgess Meredith	...	George Milton
Betty Field	...	Mae Jackson
Lon Chaney Jr.	...	Lennie Small
Charles Bickford	...	Slim
Roman Bohnen	...	Candy
Bob Steele	...	Curley Jackson
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 disabled 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:

rabbit | migrant worker | mercy killing | friendship | male male relationship | 

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Taglines:

A mighty novel! A sensational stage success! Now! The year's most important picture!

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was produced by Hal Roach, producer of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy and "Our Gang" comedies. During one of Roach's last interviews, television talk-show host Tom Snyder complimented him on the film. Roach responded, "It could've used more laughs."

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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: It ain't your fault, but look, if a fella steps on a round pebble and he falls down, breaks his neck, it ain't the pebble's fault, but the guy wouldn't a done it if the pebble hadn't been there.

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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

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Mad Monster (1989)

User Reviews

Steinbeck's classic invisioned perfectly; flawless Chaney

OF MICE AND MEN (1939) **** Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr. embody John Steinbeck's tragic migrant workers George and Lennie during The Great Depression facing all the hard work and hard knocks life offers in their pursuit of The American Dream of `livin' off the fatta the lan' and wind up on a ranch with its share of down on their luck characters all enclaved to certain destinies and a heavy fall for our protagonists. Chaney (in his second icon role, the latter would be as the accursed Larry Talbott aka The WolfMan) personifies the gentle souled giant with a dim bulb who obeys his best friend George like a loyal dog and as his brother's keeper, Meredith allows his scrappiness a warmth underneath. Lennie Smalls would be endlessly used as a punchline in Looney Tunes toons to come (`which way did he go George!') and the film would be updated twice - one a tv movie with Robert Blake and Randy Quaid and a theatrical 90s version with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. This classic was also produced by famed studio maven Hal Roach.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

La fuerza bruta

Filming Locations:

Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hal Roach Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1