Rating: 
Summary: Magnificent Slice-of-Life Tale
Review: 1939's Of Mice And Men is a beautiful film. I enjoyed it from frame 1 through its heartbreaking finish. For those who remember Burgess Meredith as only a villain in the Batman TV series of the 1960s, they should take a good look at this moving, splendid motion picture (with a fine performance by Mr. Meredith). It's hard to envision a more engaging movie. 1939 sure produced some great ones, and this just might be the cream of the crop.
Rating:
Summary: Lost in 1939
Review: Amidst the turbulent sea of box office smashes on 1939 like Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, not to mention the start of WWII, this black and white masterpiece seemed to have past beneath the waves into obscurity. It is such a classic that the acting remains believable even today, 65 years later. Don't believe me? Just try to sit through with dry eyes, the scene wherein all in the bunkhouse awaits the 'end' of poor ol Candy's dog who is put to sleep by the gun of a cagey ranch hand. Alot of films this old lose their believibilty and lustre, as acting techniques and directing gets more sophisticated, however Burgess Merideth and Lon Chaney Jr prove two hard acts to follow. This VHS perhaps is one of the best in my library.
Rating:
Summary: Lost in 1939
Review: Amidst the turbulent sea of box office smashes on 1939 like Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz, not to mention the start of WWII, this black and white masterpiece seemed to have past beneath the waves into obscurity. It is such a classic that the acting remains believable even today, 65 years later. Don't believe me? Just try to sit through with dry eyes, the scene wherein all in the bunkhouse awaits the 'end' of poor ol Candy's dog who is put to sleep by the gun of a cagey ranch hand. Alot of films this old lose their believibilty and lustre, as acting techniques and directing gets more sophisticated, however Burgess Merideth and Lon Chaney Jr prove two hard acts to follow. This VHS perhaps is one of the best in my library.
Rating:
Summary: Lost in 1939
Review: Amidst the turbulent sea of box office smashes on 1939 like Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, not to mention the start of WWII, this black and white masterpiece seemed to have been past beneath the waves. It is such a classic that the acting remains believable even today, 65 years later. Don't believe me, just try to sit through the scene wherein all in the bunkhouse await the 'end' of poor ol Candy's dog who is put to sleep with the gun of a cagey ranchhand. Alot of films this old lose their believibilty and lustre, but Burgess Merideth and Lon Chaney Jr prove two hard acts to follow. This VHS perhaps is one of the best in my library.
Rating:
Summary: Chaney & Meredith shine in Steinbeck classic !!
Review: From 1939, arguably the most oustanding year for films in Hollywood history, this eloquent, moving and touching film is almost a forgotten piece of masterful moviemaking. Lewis Milestone faithfully brought to the screen John Steinbecks time honored novel about two nomadic workers sharing a simple dream of one day owning their own farm. Lon Chaney gives his most memorable performance (apart from his portrayal's as tormented wolf man, Lawrence Talbot) as the immensely strong, but simple-minded Lennie. Burgess Meredith, in a fine performance too, plays his jaded travelling companion, George Milton. The two men seek work on a farm bucking barley, but their situation quickly darkens due to the aggressive, bullying attitudes of the owners son, Curley (well acted by serial cowboy, Bob Steele) and his bored and lonely wife, Mae (Betty Field) In addition to this masterly casting, there is marvellous support lent by Charles Bickford as the straightforward head ranch hand, Slim.....Noah Beery Jr. as the kind hearted and easy going cowpoke, Whit....and noted stage actor Roman Bohen is simply unforgettable as the crippled old timer, Candy. Bohen solidly contributes to many key scenes throughout the film, and his on screen relationship with his faithful, old dog is exceptionally moving (aided by a poignant score from Aaron Copeland) "Of Mice and Men" rightfully deserves it's place as one of the finest American films of the twentieth century. An inspiring piece of film making that will illict a wide range of emotions from fans of strong, story driven films. Simply, a must see !
Rating:
Summary: The Best Movie Ever Made
Review: I don't own the DVD, just a video, but this is the greatest movie ever made, without exception. It is perfectly done. The cast, the score (by Aaron Copland), and Lewis Milestone's direction are all done beautifully. I know I may rankle some literary minds here, but being a huge Steinbeck fan myself, I have to say that this is the only time a film has done Steinbeck better than Steinbeck himself. Lennie's death scene is the most moving and beautifully created ever in moviedom, and the film has little extras that apparently were in the stage version of the story that were not in Steinbeck's novel. While other movies from this period often seem dated, this movie is still as real and believable as it ever was. If you watch this film and are unmoved, then your heart must be made of granite. Buy this DVD; I know I am going to, because no movie (especially not the dreck that is the 1992 John Malkovich-Gary Sinise version)has ever been made that can touch this one. So I say this without irony - this is the best film made, ever!
Rating:
Summary: Still the best version of this classic story
Review: In an earlier life I was an actor and I was in "of Mice and Men" in a stage production a number of years ago. Since then I have made the show somnething of a hobby. This is the best version I have seen. The acting is wonderful, the movie is at once alarming and touching, warming and frightening. If you love Steinbeck and want to see his works the way they should be presented, this is the "Of Mice and Men" to own.
Rating:
Summary: Still the best version of this classic story
Review: In an earlier life I was an actor and I was in "of Mice and Men" in a stage production a number of years ago. Since then I have made the show somnething of a hobby. This is the best version I have seen. The acting is wonderful, the movie is at once alarming and touching, warming and frightening. If you love Steinbeck and want to see his works the way they should be presented, this is the "Of Mice and Men" to own.
Rating:
Summary: Bleak Classic
Review: It is a shame that this classic film of the famed Steinbeck novel has had to wait the industry's marketing of two vastly inferior remakes before being made available on VHS. Lon Chaney Jr.'s portrayal of the retarded Lennie ("Which way did he go, George?) is definitive. The bleak black and white cinematography perfectly capture the atmosphere of the depression era countryside. The scenes depicting Lennie's death and dispatch of Candy's dog are unbearably heartbreaking. This movie has the power to engage you straight through from the opening scene.
Rating:
Summary: Live off the fat of the land
Review: John Steinbeck's masterful story of friendship is definitively brought to screen in Lewis Milestone's 1939 OF MICE AND MEN. This is a terrific movie, essential viewing for anyone with a tolerance for black and white. The story is so universal and cleanly told this one is hard not to become deeply engrossed in.
Lon Chaney Jr., rightfully, is the chief reason we remember this movie. He nails the role of the feeble-minded Lennie, who wants nothing more than to tend his rabbits. I've never seen this movie before, and I was surprised at how effective Burgess Meredith was as Lennie's friend and protector, George. If Chaney steals most of the scenes he's in, Meredith is the reliable engine, grounded in humanity, that draws us in.
OF MICE AND MEN has been remade once, in 1992, in a production starring John Malkovich and Gary Sinise. For all of Malkovich's talents, I still prefer Chaney's performance. More importantly, the 1939 production was contemporaneous with Steinbeck's novel. If the latter movie is a period piece, the 1939 version is current events, and that does make a difference.
Get out the hankies and get ready to be deeply moved. An essential movie.
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