Of Mice and Men (1992)

Two drifters, one a gentle but slow giant, try to make money working the fields during the Depression so they can fulfill their dreams.

Director:

Gary Sinise

Writers:

John Steinbeck (novel), Horton Foote (screenplay)

Stars:

John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Ray Walston

1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
John Malkovich	...	Lennie Small
Gary Sinise	...	George Milton
Ray Walston	...	Candy
Casey Siemaszko	...	Curley
Sherilyn Fenn	...	Curley's Wife
John Terry	...	Slim
Richard Riehle	...	Carlson
Alexis Arquette	...	Whitt
Joe Morton	...	Crooks
Noble Willingham	...	The Boss
Joe D'Angerio	...	Jack
Tuck Milligan	...	Mike
David Steen	...	Tom
Moira Sinise	...	Girl in Red Dress (as Moira Harris)
Mark Boone Junior	...	Bus Driver

Storyline

Two traveling companions, George and Lennie, wander the country during the Depression, dreaming of a better life for themselves. Then, just as heaven is within their grasp, it is inevitably yanked away. The film follows Steinbeck's novel closely, exploring questions of strength, weakness, usefulness, reality and utopia, bringing Steinbeck's California vividly to life.

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Plot Keywords:

simple minded | reference to the novel of mice and men | california | dead mouse | puppy | 

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Taglines:

We have a dream. Someday, we'll have a little house and a couple of acres. A place to call home.

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some scenes of violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Curley's wife has an unrevealed name, but actress Sherilyn Fenn gave her the name "Daisy."

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Goofs

When George and Lenny first arrive at the ranch, Candy quiets the barking dogs by yelling at them. The two in front whimper and quiet, but the third one behind them is still barking despite no sound being heard.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[George sits on a train on a dark night looking depressed, scene cuts to girl with red dress running through field whimpering as George and Lennie escape from her]
George: [to Lennie] Come on.
[woman continues running in fright as George and Lennie continue running away from her as sergeants on horses with dogs track George and Lennie]
Lennie: George, they're gone. They're gone.
George: [angrily] Come on! Keep moving!
[both keep running as sergeants continue following them]

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Connections

Referenced in Melrose Place: Of Bikes and Men (1993)

User Reviews

Beautifully done!

How often are we forced to endure the uninsightful changes that are made to American classics in the process of turning them into feature films? The 1939 version of this movie is a prime example. It, very simply, was not the story that Steinbeck wrote. The changes that were made were too sweeping to be seen as anything other than some ego thinking that Steinbeck could be improved upon.

Now, anyone who is truly familiar with Steinbeck knows that this is just not true. Gary Sinise has proven this familiarity. I have rarely had the pleasure of watching a movie that stayed so completely true to the original text. Not only does this movie not add or subtract from the book, the characters themselves are almost exactly how I had pictured them when I read this story for the first time.

If you are looking for overblown sex and violence, for spectacular special effects, or for unbelievable demonstrations raw physical strength, move on. This movie will not interest you in the slightest. However, if you are looking for a story of true love and true courage, if you are looking for a movie whose beauty stems from a raw sense of humanity, then find yourself a quiet place, where you won't be interrupted and watch this. You won't be let down.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 October 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Of Mice and Men

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$97,851, 4 October 1992

Gross USA:

$5,471,088

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,471,088

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1