Of Mice and Men

Starring:Burgess Meredith, Betty Field, Lon Chaney Jr., Charles Bickford, Roman Bohnen, Bob Steele, Noah Beery Jr., Oscar O'Shea, Granville Bates, Leigh Whipper, Helen Lynd, John Beach, Leona Roberts, Henriette Kay, Howard M. Mitchell, Whitney De Rahm, Baldwin Cooke, Silver Tip Baker, Carl Pitti, Eddie Dunn
Director: Lewis Milestone
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

A strong argument favors Gary Sinise's 1992 Of Mice and Men over the classic 1939 version that critics have historically preferred. As adapted by the great playwright-screenwriter Horton Foote, John Steinbeck's Depression-era masterpiece comes alive with timeless simplicity, more candid in language and behavior, and therefore more honest in its embrace of Steinbeck's beloved pair of lowly dreamers George (Sinise) and his retarded cousin Lennie (John Malkovich). On the lam, they find work as farmhands, joining a close-knit crew and trying to avoid trouble stirred by the dangerously seductive wife (Sherilyn Fenn) of the boss's sadistic son (Casey Siemaszko). There's not a false note or bad performance in the entire film; as veterans of Chicago's acclaimed Steppenwolf Theater, Malkovich and Sinise possess the compassionate chemistry that makes George and Lennie inseparable until the tragic, inevitable final scene. As director, Sinise serves the material with no-frills fidelity; it's easy to believe that Steinbeck would have approved. --Jeff Shannon

Description

John Steinbeck's classic comes magnificently to life in this beautiful and stirring film starring Oscar® nominees* John Malkovich and Gary Sinise. Directed by Sinise from an adaptation by Oscar® winner** Horton Foote, this "flawless miracle of movie-making" (Susan Granger, "American Movie Classics") is a must-see for all audiences. Best friends Lennie (Malkovich) and George (Sinise) find themselves unemployed in Depression-era California, unable to keep jobs because of Lennie's childlike mentality. But once they get hired at the Tyler Ranch, they enjoy a brief period of stability - until their supervisor's wife (Sherilyn Fenn) becomes the victim of Lennie's compassion, forcing George to make a compassionate decision of his own.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant adaptation of a classic story.......2007-05-12

It's risky business whenever a classic piece of American literature is adapted to film (especially when it already was years before to boot), but somehow everyone involved here managed to pull it off. John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is brilliantly adapted here and directed by Gary Sinise. Sinise also stars as George, and John Malkovich is sublimely cast as George's retarded, hulkish cousin Lennie. The two drifters appear to finally find a home to call their own, and a dreamish future that is closer to ever than happening, only to have everything tragically fall apart. What makes this 1992 adaptation of Steinbeck's classic so great is Sinise's sensitive direction as well as his strong and understated performance, but it's John Malkovich who steals the show in one of his career best performances as the sympathetic Lennie who is trying to survive in a world he was never meant for. The DVD itself has some nice extras as well, including an insightful commentary from Sinise and screen tests for some of the actors. All in all, films adapted from classic literature rarely get better than this.

Cursing!!.......2007-03-25

I gave this DVD one star for the cursing! I was shocked to see that the book has a good amount of cursing which explained the cursing in the movie! The ONLY reason that I purchased this movie so my teen could understand the book better and I did not have to read the entire book. The acting was good! At the end of the movie, what happened to Lenny made me sick!

Finest treatment yet of Steinbeck's classic novel.......2007-01-29

John Steinbeck's classic novel, "Of Mice and Men," is given its finest treatment yet in this version starring Gary Sinise as George and John Malkovich as his mentally retarded pal, Lennie.

First filmed by Lewis Milestone in a 1939 version produced by Hal Roach with Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney, Jr. in the leads, this depression era saga of two migrant workers who dream of owning a piece of land on which the feeble-minded Lennie will "tend the rabbits," continues to endure, having been remade earlier in TV versions with George Segal and Nicol Williamson in the late `60s, then again with Robert Blake and Randy Quaid in 1981.

The tragic tale is well-told in this rendition scripted by Horton Foote and directed by star Sinise. The performances are exceptional, although Malkovich does, at times, appear to be "acting." Perhaps he's too bright to be completely convincing as an imbecile. Regardless, if he isn't quite perfect, he's still very good. Ditto Sinise, Ray Walston, and the rest of the cast.

Brian W. Fairbanks

Excellent Touching Rendition of the Novel.......2007-01-10

This is an excellent movie to show to students who have read the novel. Gary Sinise was simply amazing as George.

A Great Film..........2006-11-25

I've been reading "Of Mice and Men" for a class I'm in and even though I've liked what I've read of the book (I haven't even reached Chapter 3), I didn't have an overwhelming desire to see the movie. That was until I found out one of my favorite actors John Malkovich is in it. I went out and got it the day I heard that information. As I said, I've only read 1 1/2 chapters; So I don't know how faithful it is to the book, but the first few minutes were pretty faithful. Having said that, this review is for the movie and is based on the movie and nothing more. The movie is directed by Gary Sinise, with a script by two-time Oscar winning screenwriter Horton Foote; A screenwriter who had already penned a screenplay based on a great American novel "To Kill a Mockingbird." Since "Of Mice and Men" is considered one of the great American novels and it's author (John Steinbeck) one of the great American novelists, it's no doubt a daunting task to write the script. The film, however, is a complete cinematic triumph. The casting here is absolutely perfect. Sinise (an actor I pictured while reading the book) plays George and Malkovich plays Lennie. One of the things I love about Malkovich is his voice and I tend to hate it when he changes it to fit a character or an accent (i.e., Shadow of the Vampire). Here, I didn't mind it. In fact, I think it's one of Malkovich's best performances. George is a short, rough-around-the-edges kind of guy that is smart and hardworking, while Lennie is a hulking giant of a man with a good heart and the personality and wit of a baby. Both men are Depression-era workers, who are unable to hold a job because of Lennie's misgivings. They had a job in Weed, but were forced to flee when Lennie scared a woman by grabbing a hold of her dress (he liked the color). They arrive at the Tyler Ranch, with dreams of one day buying a house with a couple of acres and room for animals. Lennie will be able to tend to rabbits. Whenever George tells this story to Lennie, we see him happy. In fact, the only time George seems happy is when he's telling this story. At the farm, things go both ways for the fellas. They make some friends, like Candy (Ray Walston, in a great performance far away from Mr. Hand) and Slim (John Terry); But they also have to put up with the sadistic son-of-the-boss Curley (Casey Siemaszko). Worse yet, they have to put up with his unhappy and lonely wife (Sherilyn Fenn, 'Boxing Helena') who longs to talk to someone, but doesn't realize that by talking to the men she starts problems with Curley. A lot of people can put characters on paper that the audience really cares for, but it takes a really good actor to make you care for them onscreen. Malkovich and Sinise do just that. You like these characters. You get happy when something good happens to them and instantly depressed when it doesn't. Both give Oscar worthy work here and it amazes me that neither one scored an Oscar nomination (I'm not even sure if this film got nominated for ANY Oscar). Sinise is a great actor, with fantastic range...He captures the character of George so clearly and vividly, there's times where you forget he's acting at all. Malkovich is an absolute wonder to watch. What a complete actor this man is. He immerses himself into the role of Lennie; He has the voice and the movement and everything else down. This performance is just as good as Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump and Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. The ending of the film is incredibly well written. I think the ending of the movie works better than the ending of the book (I skipped ahead a little bit). The last words are more poignant in the movie than in the book. Being as how I hadn't read that far when I saw the movie, the ending hit me even harder since I didn't know what was coming. It seems that people on Amazon like this film, which I'm quite happy to see. Because this is a great film on any level. Even if it bared no similarity to the book at all, this is a true masterpiece. If you have any appreciation for cinema, vivid characters, a great story, and amazing acting. See this movie. It's not necessarily a joyful, happy journey...But it's definitely one you want to take.

GRADE: A+

Average customer rating:

Great Film Adaptation Of A Great Novel
THE BEST "Novel adaption" film I have ever seen!
STEINBECK+MILESTONE+COPLAND+GREAT CAST=OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE
Near Perfection
A Classic

Of Mice and Men
Starring: Burgess Meredith , Betty Field , Lon Chaney Jr. , Charles Bickford , and Roman Bohnen
Director: Lewis Milestone
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Of Mice & Men (1992)
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ASIN: 6305081832
Release Date: 1998-08-26

Amazon.com essential video

Truly one of the unsung triumphs of 1939, this heartfelt adaptation of John Steinbeck's morality tale of two itinerant migrant workers seems just as fresh and powerful decades after its release. Lon Chaney Jr. gives the performance of a lifetime as the sweet yet feeble-minded Lennie, who is befriended by the weary Burgess Meredith. They both would be lost without each other in a rather mixed-up world. Sensitively directed by Lewis Milestone (All Quiet on the Western Front), the film features the first pre-credit sequence in American film history. There's also a nice score by Aaron Copland. --Bill Desowitz

Customer Reviews:

Great Film Adaptation Of A Great Novel.......2007-06-14

Of all the television and theatrical releases that have followed, none have reached the perfect cast of this 1939 classic. Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr. in their finest roles. Where were the Academy Award nominations for these two outstanding performances? Lon Chaney Jr's final scene was worth more than what's his name's entire bore in "Goodbye Mr. Chips". ZZZZZZZZZ! Portrayals just as imagined from Steinbeck's novel.

THE BEST "Novel adaption" film I have ever seen!.......2006-06-28

I have watched over 600 classic films in my study and enjoyment of classic film. I have watched many films made from a novel--Anna Karenina, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, A Farewell to Arms, etc. It seems there is always something missing in movies adapted from a novel...a film cannot always grasp the depth and "mind thoughts" of a book, for a book is more for the mind and the reader's own inner vision and imagination, and a film must deal with the outwardly visual, and so being, much can be lost in the film story. However, was I surprised when I found this DVD at the library and brought it home to watch. It was amazing! I read "Of Mice and Men" as a required novel in high school back in the late 70's. I remember liking the story, and I bought my own copy of the book (just as I did with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn) and I read it over and over as the years went by. I haven't read it in several years, but when watching this film, I remembered everything that happened. I wasn't sure I was going to like Burgess Meredith as George, but he was very good. And the same with Lon Chaney Jr. as Lennie, and Betty Field as Curley's wife. Once the movie began, I felt these actors did a very good job portraying the characters as Steinbeck had them in his book. I was surprised with the realism of the film...quite gritty for 1939. Usually films really watered down issues and emotions back then, but this one was surprisingly quite open about them. I rarely cry watching a film, and this film had me crying...you felt so sorry for Lennie, for Candy losing his dog, for the 3 of them losing their "dream", and the ending...that was just an incredible ending for a 30's film. At our house we do not have TV and we carefully screen movies the children watch, and we stick to the classic years (1950's and prior) 98% of the time. I know some precodes, etc. are not for children, but I didn't think this film would be too strong for a child. Yes, because of the code, nothing was shown outright, but my 8 yr. old son really cried and was very sad when the gunshot sounded and Candy rolls over in his bunk. My son knew his dog was shot, and it was a strongly emotional scene without seeing anything! And my son cried when Lennie was in the barn with his little puppy who was dead from him being a bit too rough with him. Again, we don't see the dead puppy, but the implied idea is so strong, again my son burst into tears. I felt really bad for not being more careful for my son and his feelings; had I known this film was going to be so strongly emotional, I would have watched it when my son was in bed. I then knew I could not let him see the end; I figured if these 2 scenes of the dogs dying were so hard for him because of the implied realism and strong emotions, then the ending was going to be too. I was right, it was. And the final scene with George and Lennie is so well done, you felt what they were feeling. I was really crying...like I said, not many movies do this to me! I think the direction and filming was well done; some interesting camera work caught my eye. I can't believe this movie is so "forgotten"; it is just as great or even better than some of the other 1939 films- Gone With the Wind, Goodbye Mr. Chips, and MUCH better than The Wizard of Oz! I found I understand the story much better as an adult than I did in my youth. It is funny that schools make teens read these novels; because teens have not experienced life fully enough, they cannot fully grasp the truths of life such novels are presenting. Maybe some can, but I never did! Always, it was when I was older, got married, had children, experienced the routine and sorrows of life, that I could relate to such books; for I now have "been there" too. As an adult I could see the parallel of Candy's dog and Lennie. I never understood that when I was a teen in school. Anyway, this is an excellent film that no person who appreciates classic film should miss. I am glad I discovered it, and will definitely watch it again. I hear there are "film as literature" classes in schools now, and I would highly recommend this 1939 version of "Of Mice and Men" for such a class. Do please heed my warning though: if you watch this at home and have young children do not let them watch it with you; children are not ready to handle the strong emotions presented in this film. I would say wait until your child is at least 12 yrs. old.

STEINBECK+MILESTONE+COPLAND+GREAT CAST=OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE.......2006-06-04

John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" was brought to the motion picture screen in 1939 by director Lewis Milestone(All Quiet on the Western Front)and in doing so director Milestone produced one of the GREATEST American films of all time.It is certainly Milestone's GREATEST achievment.Aided by a great cast,Burgess Meredith,Lon Chaney,jr.(his greatest and the films best role)Charles Bickford,Roman Bohnen(outstanding as "Candy"),and Leigh Whipper(here outstanding as "Crooks",also great as "Sparks" in "The Ox-Bow Incident"),and a GREAT Aaron Copland score, this is a film that should be seen by All Americans,and be seen AGAIN and AGAIN.I've seen it at least 50 times over the 38(or so) years,and it has NEVER failed to bring tears to my eyes during certain scences,especially the ending sequence.
I won't go much into the plot,of this little morality play,but it deals with the friendship of George(Meridith),and Lennie(Chaney) who are wondering field hands and their desire to "have their own little place".Depite their desire to own their own home and farm land(private property) this film was labeled "LEFTIST",and "COMMUNIST"!Oh well!
Cowboy actor Bob Steele(as "Curly"),Noah Berry,Jr.,and Betty Field(as Steele's lonely wife) also contribute to the film's success.Betty Field, I did think she could have been better,but overall ,I guess she was OK.
In 1949 Steinbeck,Milestone,and Copland picturized Steinbeck's "The Red Pony",it was NOT a success and I didn't care for it,the Copland score for Pony was outstanding.
I have a question for film buffs out there.Did Roman Bohnen,uder the name of "Rudy Bowman",appear(as trooper Smith) in John Ford's "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon"?It sure sounds and looks like him.Bohnen died in 1949 while on stage,for a production prouduced by the controversial Actors Lab(ultra-left politically) after having been grilled by the House Committee on Un-American Activities.MANY contributors to this excellent production had problems with the U.S. Congress and the Hollywood Studios arising from their political outlook and associations
My only complaint concerning the DVD-no commetary-BAD-BAD-BAD.

Near Perfection.......2006-04-05

John Steinbeck's classic novella OF MICE AND MEN has also been a 1939 movie, a stage play, and an opera; it was remade as a movie in 1992, with Gary Sinise and John Malkovich. I haven't seen the remake, but I can say that the 1939 version, under review here, is a near-perfect movie. Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney, Jr. are George and Lennie, the eternal, wandering pair whose only sense of home, of security, is found in each other. The tiny Meredith (later of TWILIGHT ZONE and ROCKY fame) is perfect as quick-witted George. I might add that while the novella's dialogue contains much swearing, this movie has none - yet one still gets a sense of George's acerbity from Meredith's exceptional performance. The hulking Chaney is also ideal as slow-witted Lennie; as much as I admire Malkovich, I find it hard to imagine the role of Lennie played with more conviction, wonder, and unaffected pathos than it is here. The film, with its Depression-era California setting, is beautifully photographed. Like the novella, it is brief; no scene is longer than it needs to be, yet each scene makes an impact. The musical score by Aaron Copland is not mentioned enough: the composer's jagged, western-inspired style could not be more apt for Steinbeck; like Steinbeck's writing, its true genius is in its brevity. The one and only "wrong note" in the movie is Betty Field as "Curly's wife," Mae, who brings about her own and Lennie and George's destruction. Lennie is supposed to be fascinated by Mae's soft hair, but there is nothing soft about Field's performance, and this lonely, victimized woman comes across as a none-too-bright tramp. I can't help thinking that the role must certainly be played with more sympathy in the remake, but I still give five stars to the original OF MICE AND MEN.

A Classic.......2006-03-19

This is the best performance by Lon Chaney Jr. as a dramatic actor. Much more than anything else he has stared in. In fact it is one of the only times he rivaled his father (may be with the exception of his supporting role in High Noon). Burgess Meredith is exceptional. This movie is very close to the original story. While redone with later versions (on TV and in movies), this one should have a place in the film buff's library.

Average customer rating:

Brilliant adaptation of a classic story
Cursing!!
Finest treatment yet of Steinbeck's classic novel
Excellent Touching Rendition of the Novel
A Great Film...

Of Mice And Men (Cliffs Notes Version)
Starring: Alexis Arquette , Jr. Mark Boone , Sherilyn Fenn , Moira Harris , and John Malkovich
Director: Gary Sinise
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000PMFS5A
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Amazon.com

Description

John SteinbeckÃ"â??s classic comes magnificently to life in this beautiful and stirring film starring OscarÂ(r) nominees* John Malkovich and Gary Sinise. Directed by Sinise from an adaptation by OscarÂ(r) winner* Horton Foote, this flawless miracle of movie-makingâ? (Susan Granger, â??American Movie Classicsâ?) is a must-see for all audiences. Best friends Lennie (Malkovich) and George (Sinise) find themselves unemployed in Depression-era California, unable to keep jobs because of Lennieâ??s childlike mentality. But once they get hired at the Tyler Ranch, they enjoy a brief period of stabilityâ?" until their supervisor's wife (Sherilyn Fenn) becomes the victim of Lennieâ??s compassion, forcing George to make a compassionate decision of his own.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant adaptation of a classic story.......2007-05-12

Cursing!!.......2007-03-25

Finest treatment yet of Steinbeck's classic novel.......2007-01-29

Excellent Touching Rendition of the Novel.......2007-01-10

This is an excellent movie to show to students who have read the novel. Gary Sinise was simply amazing as George.

A Great Film..........2006-11-25

Average customer rating:

Brilliant adaptation of a classic story
Cursing!!
Finest treatment yet of Steinbeck's classic novel
Excellent Touching Rendition of the Novel
A Great Film...

Of Mice and Men
Starring: Alexis Arquette , Mark Boone Junior , Joe D'Angerio , Sherilyn Fenn , and Moira Harris
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( O ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Crucible
The Great Gatsby
To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series)
Lord of the Flies
The Grapes of Wrath

ASIN: B00005O06H
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant adaptation of a classic story.......2007-05-12

Cursing!!.......2007-03-25

Finest treatment yet of Steinbeck's classic novel.......2007-01-29

Excellent Touching Rendition of the Novel.......2007-01-10

This is an excellent movie to show to students who have read the novel. Gary Sinise was simply amazing as George.

A Great Film..........2006-11-25

Average customer rating:

An extremely rare find worth owning if you can find it :-)

Of Mice And Men

Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Of Mice and Men
Of Mice & Men (1992)
Julius Caesar
The Grapes of Wrath
To Kill a Mockingbird (Universal Legacy Series)

ASIN: B0001GZ6X4

Customer Reviews:

An extremely rare find worth owning if you can find it :-).......2006-06-17

This is definitely a worthwhile investment. If you like the 2 box office versions from 1939 and 1992, you will enjoy this version of the tale of 2 migrant workers in depression era California. In this version George (the smart one) is played by Robert (Baretta) Blake, and Lennie by Randy (brother of Dennis) Quaid best known for movies like "The Last Picture Show". It also includes talent like Mitch Ryan (Dark Shadows, Star Trek: The Next Generation) as Slim, Ted Neeley (Jesus Christ Superstar) as Curley and veterans Lew Ayres as Candy and Whitman Mayo (Grady, Sanford and Son) as Crooks. It basically plays like a remake of the 39 version with an extra scene not in the book at the beginning (in the book Lennie's aunt dies before the story takes place), but it is still enjoyable. By the way the running time on the disc like the tape says 150 minutes which is not true. It's closer to 125. Apparantly this copy was imported from Canada so that's why it's a rare find, but I bought it at a used store in New Jersey and it plays great. So if you have 2 hours and 5 minutes to kill, get a copy while it lasts. In fact take about 6 hours and watch all 3, and compare and contrast them. You will find differences, yes, but trust me you will enjoy all 3 interpretations of this wonderful work of John Steinbeck.