Of Mice and Men

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Kevin P @RT55971421 Dec 31, 2025 A fantastic adaptation of the classic novel. Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr are both fantastic as George and Lenny. They share great chemistry and you really buy their friendship. Chaney is so likable and innocent as Lenny. He's like a big puppy or a lost child. Curley's wife's loneliness and desire to socialize is established immediately with the puppy scene. She's really sympathetic in this version. Even her "flirting" is pretty tame. But unfortunately the male characters treat her pretty harshly and it feels less justified. It's a shame, because her final speech to Lenny near the end is really humanizing and heartbreaking. However, props to the movie to acknowledge racist segregation in 1939. The finale is heartbreaking, but with just enough hope to let George end things on his terms. A few key moments are paced a bit faster than the 90's version and the book. But it still captures the humanity of the characters with some very memorable performances that will never be forgotten. See more paul d @PaulieDi Dec 10, 2025 Just as this Steinbeck novel is a quick read, this movie is a briskly paced story of human tragedy told with simple characters. For those of you who first associated B Meredith as "The Penguin" and L Chaney Jr as "The Wolfman" (I plead guilty), you will be amazed at their powerful acting and emotion. Well worth the watch...you will feel this one for awhile! See more Dave S @RT68722908 Nov 15, 2022 Based faithfully on John Steinbeck's novella, the film adaptation of Of Mice and Men tells the story of migrant workers George (Burgess Meredith), diminutive but fiercely intelligent, and Lennie (Lon Chaney Jr.), powerful but mentally challenged, and the remarkable bond that cements their relationship. It is a timeless story about the importance of enduring friendships and, perhaps more pointedly, the myth of the American Dream. While Chaney often seems to overplay his role, Meredith gives an absolutely stunning (and sadly underrated) performance as Lennie's compassionate but firm guardian. As inspiring as the story is in many ways, the tragedy in the final scene seems inevitable and will impact most audiences today as profoundly as it did when the movie was released over eighty years ago. See more michael d @RT16138633 Jan 2, 2022 It's amazing that a film as good as this one came from a small studio like Hal Roach. Sure, they released many of their films through MGM but they were tiny and specialized in short comedies with the likes of Laurel & Hardy, Charley Chase and The Little Rascals--but they were not known for dramas. Well, starting in the late 1930s, the studio tried their hand at such fare and in some cases did some lovely films--and "Of Mice and Men" is the best example of these new dramas. As far as the story goes, it's much like the book and play---but with a few changes to meet the tough Production Code. The language was toned down--with swearing removed. Also, the film made a few minor changes in the play--but not many. What you see is essentially the Steinbeck story--and the studio trusted the source material enough to stick with it. They also should be applauded for picking two relative unknowns to star in the film--Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney, Jr.. Overall, the film is a smashing success. The acting is very good, the direction also nice and the film kept me on the edge of my seat. The only negative, and it's very, very, very minor, is that a few of the scenes looked very much like they were filmed on a set. Still, it's one of the best films of the year and had it not come out in 1939 (the same year as "Gone With The Wind", "The Wizard of Oz", "Goodby Mr. Chips", "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and many other great films), it might have taken home some Oscars. Well worth seeing and a great example of a film made very well on a relatively small budget. See more Nov 3, 2021 Steinbeck has appeared on my Mt Rushmore of authors at his best and is never going to be far off of it. This adaptation was decent but this is the kind of story that will rarely create the same impact or emotional response on a second reading or viewing. Side note: Grumpier Old Men is still an all time favorite of mine and one of my most watched films as a child so seeing Burgess Meredith in 1939, who delivers some absolute bangers in GOM, as a much younger man was of special interest to me as well. See more georgan g @RT98616417 Aug 22, 2021 Great rendition of an outstanding novel with friendship being the main theme. Money is important as this is taking place during the Great Depression, but loneliness is worse than being poor. See more Read all reviews

Of Mice and Men

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