Apr 11

Apr 11 Of Mice and Men (1939)

Adapted from John Steinbeck’s classic novel, Of Mice and Men delivers as an equally classic film. Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr. deliver top-notch performances in this well-written, well-directed work. A true American tragedy, the story follows a pair of drifters trying to survive during the Great Depression. Mr. Meredith’s hard-bitten, streetwise George Milton reveals an underlying tenderness in the way he tries to protect his traveling partner, the physically strong but mentally slow Lennie Small. With nary a wasted word, the film moves sure-handedly from first scene to last, a sequence of events careering toward an increasingly inevitable—though unjust, and even unnecessary—conclusion. Highly recommended.

½ (out of *)

1939 • 1 HOUR, 46 MINUTES
UNITED ARTISTS • HAL ROACH STUDIOS

STARRING
• BURGESS MEREDITH, BETTY FIELD, LON CHANEY JR.

ALSO STARRING
• CHARLES BICKFORD, ROMAN BOHNEN, BOB STEELE, NOAH BEERY JR.

WRITTEN BY
• EUGENE SOLOW (SCREEN PLAY)
• JOHN STEINBECK (BY)

DIRECTED BY
• LEWIS MILESTONE

1939 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (4)
• BEST PICTURE (LOST TO GONE WITH THE WIND)
* BEST MUSIC SCORING (LOST TO STAGECOACH)
• BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (LOST TO THE WIZARD OF OZ)
• BEST SOUND RECORDING (LOST TO WHEN TOMORROW COMES)