OF MICE AND MEN (1939). Director: Lewis Milestone.
"It's just havin' someone to talk with. It's just bein' with another guy."
George (Burgess Meredith) and his brain-damaged cousin Lennie (Lon Chaney Jr.) arrive at a ranch and hope to save up enough money to buy their own farm and be their own boss. The elderly Candy (Roman Bohnen), afraid of almost literally being put out to pasture, wants to go in with them, as does Crooks (Leigh Whipper), the black man who is isolated in his own shack away from the bunk house with the other men. But then there's the nasty little Curley (Bob Steele), the boss's son, and his bored, lonely wife, Mae (Betty Field), and the trouble they represent. John Steinbeck's heartbreaking tragedy is brought to the screen with great intensity and power and has many memorable moments: the death of Candy's dog; Curly gets his hand crushed; the climactic accidental death. Bohnen gives perhaps the best performance, but Meredith and Field are also great, and Charles Bickford, Lon Chaney Jr. and Bob Steele are no slouches. Okay, maybe the acting is a little over-emphatic at times, and Copland's score is nice but not that special. Still, this is a very strong and memorable picture. The streak of misogyny -- if that's what it is -- and the moral ambiguity of the ending, only make it more fascinating. Remade several times, including a version in 1992, starring and directed by Gary Sinise of CSI New York.
Verdict: Another masterpiece from 1939 and a great study of loneliness. ****.
A total classic. The best film version of the Steinbeck novel and play. I knew Burgess Meredith in his later years. The theater I worked for as dramaturg was developing a one-man show for him and we did a couple workshops, then Meredith became ill and eventually passed away. But even during his illness we had many phone conversations, and he told me so many wonderful Hollywood stories. He was writing a book--I don't think it was ever published.
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Too bad. I imagine the book would have been loaded with great inside stories from his very, very long career. He must have been fascinating to talk to. A fine actor!
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