OF MICE AND MEN

US, 1939, 106 minutes, Black and white.
Burgess Meredith, Betty Field, Lon Chaney Jnr, Charles Bickford, Roman Bohnen, Bob Steele, Noah Beery Jnr.
Directed by Lewis Milestone.

Of Mice and Men has been filmed several times (television versions in the 1980s with Randy Quaid and Robert Blake, in the 1990s directed by Gary Sinise with Sinise himself and John Malkovich – which Sinese and his Steppenwolf Theatre was to take on stage around the world.

This is the classic version made during John Steinbeck’s life. Steinbeck had made an impact in American literature not only with Of Mice and Men but also with The Grapes of Wrath which was to be filmed with Henry Fonda in the following year. Other versions of Steinbeck novels include Tortilla Flat, with Spencer Tracy and Hedy Lamarr, Cannery Rose in the 1970s with Nick Nolte and Debra Winger. There were also two versions of his story for family and children, The Red Pony.

This film was directed by Lewis Milestone who had won an Oscar for All Quiet on the Western Front. Milestone had continued directing during the 40s and 50s and into the 1960s – but was overwhelmed by his treatment by Marlon Brando on the filming of the epic Mutiny on the Bounty.

Burgess Meredith is very good as George, the smaller man who works with his mentally impaired companion Lennie, here played by Lon Chaney Jnr. They work on a farm, are attracted by the owner’s wife, Mae, played by Betty Field. This leads to some violent interactions.

Lennie is a simple and gentle giant, not able to understand the consequences of his actions, especially in his affection, for Curly’s dog, for instance.

What happens in the end, is to protect him, that George actually allows him to die in the same way as Curley’s dog.

The film is a view of American life, rural life in the 1930s, its strengths and weaknesses. But it is also a story of humanity, of comradeship. It is based on a line of Robert Burns: “The best-laid plans of mice and men gang all agley.”

The film has a classic score (Oscar-nominated) by celebrated composer Aaron Copeland.

1. The impact of the film in itself, as derived from the work of John Steinbeck? Steinbeck’s status in American literature, reflecting the thirties, Nobel Prize winning?

2. The title of the film, the reference to Robert Burns' poem, a pessimistic view of life, as applied to human nature, America in the thirties? A more universal pessimism?

3. The film representing the American dream, to live off the fat of the land? The visualizing of George's dreams, Lennie's dreams and those shared by Tandy and Curly's wife? Dreams of happiness, possessions, peace, wealth? The shattering of American dreams - on what are they based?

4. The importance of the theme of companionship: the strong with the weak? The qualities of human companionship, support, strengths and weaknesses? Loving friendship?

5. The plot as reflecting the thirties, the atmosphere of the Depression, the poor, the nature of jobs and work, life on the farms? The film's attention to detail and the way of life, the authenticity?

6. The initial portrayal of Weed, George and Lennie running away, the importance of the bus tickets and the bus ride? Presenting them as victims at the opening? Sympathetic victims - George as boss, Lennie as slow-witted especially in regard to the ticket? The bus driver tricking them and their having to walk? Indication of characters and themes?

7. The change of work: their approach to the farm, the interviews with the boss and George not wanting Lennie to talk? Candy and his immediate friendship with the men? The introduction to Crooks, Slim, Carlson and the others? The attention to detail on their work? Lennie's strength, George's aid? Slim supervising their work? Curly's intervention? The authentic way of life in the bunkhouse with cards, the birth of the pups, the men's talk? An authentic human world?

8. The introduction to George and Lennie in flight? This resumed at the ending? The bond between the two, the background of their being cousins, George saying to Lennie to jump in and Lennie being grateful for being saved? Their common memories? The strong and the weak, the big and the small, the brains and the innocence? George's shrewdness and Lennie's naivety? Their mutual needs? The importance of Crooks' story and enlightening the audience about the two?

9. George in himself as a small but strong man, yet not able to handle things ultimately? His doing the business, his mistaken? His being the dreamer and teller of stories? His plans, coping with the work, his goodness? The importance of his putting the money in the post and not spending it? His protection and care of Lennie?

10. The contrast with Lennie as so big, yet weak, forgetful and simple, childlike? Too strong for his own good in killing what he loved and protected?

11. How was this well symbolized with Lennie's treatment of rabbits, dogs, birds, Curly's wife?

12. The symbol of the dogs? Candy's dog and the prelude to its being shot, its being likened to an old useless man? The significance of shooting what was no longer useful? Curly's wife as symbolized by the pup fondled by Lennie?

13. The significance of Slim and his place amongst the men, Curly's attitude, Curly's wife and her flirting? Slim's strength of character in confronting them all?

14. How sympathetic a character was Candy - his symbolism, uselessness, injury, dog? The treatment of the dog and Carlson's advice about its death, its being shot? His sharing in Lonnie's and George's dreams, offering the money? Exhilarated by the plans?

15. The significance and symbolism of Crooks as the black man on the white farm? As seen initially, his education? His inviting Lennie in? His observations about the plight of the black man? His sharing the vision and dream with Candy, Lennie and George?

16. The contract with the owner and his attitude, especially seen at the meal table with Curly's wit? Curly as his con, a small and vicious man, attacking people, jealous, arrogant especially at the meal? The confrontation with Slim? The fight with Lennie and his hand being crushed and his having to keep face? The hostility towards Lennie at the end?

17. Curly's wife and her dreams, her story and her hopes about Hollywood, her being bored, escaping from home to husband? Her flirting, her work? Her hurt at Curly's treatment of her? Her flirting with Slim? Her decision to leave, her being killed while being protected by Lennie?

18. The presentation of the farm, themes of the farm, the men? Their all joining in the hunting of Lennie and their sense of justice but their savagery?

19. The finale with Lennie returning to the creek, their plans? The initial sequences at the waterhole with their meal and their dreams? The irony of the futility of the return?

20. Lennie's death and George’s decision? Was it the only thing to do in the light of the death of Candy's dog?

21. The impact of the ending with Slim, the Sheriff, George's going into custody with the Police? His future?

22. American themes, the background of the Depression, the more universal application of themes of human nature?