Classic Movies - Fabulous Films of 1939: Of Mice and Men

Today, let’s talk Classic Drama-Of Mice and Men! We continue our presentation of the fabulous films of 1939 with the film adaptation of John Steinbeck’s heartbreaking classic, Of Mice and Men, the first movie with a pretitle sequence. It begins with two migrant workers, Lennie (Lon Chaney, Jr.) and George (Burgess Meredith), fleeing from a sheriff’s posse. They succeed in boarding a moving freight train, and when they slide its heavy door shut, the camera remains outside. A passage from a Robert Burns poem is scrawled on the door in chalk: “The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft a-gley; An’ lea’e us nought but grief and pain, for promis’d joy.” The prophetic words fade until only the title itself remains. The “scheme” of this poignant story is Lennie and George’s dream of a farm of their own where they can live in peace. These plans go awry when the mentally-challenged Lennie accidentally kills his foreman’s wife, Mae (Betty Field). This was not the first time the powerful, child-like Lennie unintentionally inflicted harm on a weaker creature. Lennie’s friend and protector, George, kills him to prevent him from being brutalized by a bloodthirsty posse, and at the same time, destroys the dream as well. (The theme of euthanasia in this story is still a controversial topic.)

The story is set in the farming country of the Monterey-Salinas area of California and was filmed in sepia by director-producer Lewis Milestone. The dreary brown tone of the film emphasizes the feeling of futility that is shared by all of the characters in Of Mice and Men. Everyone, with the exception of the ranch owner, seems to personify the spiritual desolation caused by the Great Depression. The audience can honestly feel the hope and excitement of Lennie and George as well as Candy, and Crooks (the two old men they befriend), as they discuss pooling their money for a place of their own. Those feelings are literally shattered when Lennie commits murder. All, but Lennie, realize that the dream is over and hope is lost.

The film’s suggestion of rootlessness and despair is further enhanced by the superb musical score composed by the distinguished American composer, Aaron Copland. In addition to the technical perfection of the film, Burgess Meredith’s small, protective George, Lon Chaney, Jr.’s lumbering, dull-witted Lennie, Bob Steele’s jealous, bullying Curley, Roman Bohnen’s pathetically careworn Candy, and Betty Field’s lonely, sensitive Mae are finely-tuned, brilliant performances.

Of Mice and Men was nominated for an Academy Award for best picture and despite the depressing theme, was one of the ten top money-makers of 1939. It truly is a masterpiece of fine movie-making.

Don’t miss next week’s posts for more Fabulous Films of 1939!

**Trivia Question for Today: What caused Lennie to kill Mae in Of Mice and Men?
Bonus Trivia Question: In what Bob Hope comedy did Lon Chaney, Jr. spoof his “Lennie” character? The answers will appear in our next post. Check our blog every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for more movie classics.

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: Stagecoach was filmed in Monument Valley of northern Arizona and southern Utah, a favorite location of John Ford and used in many of his Westerns.