Of Mice and Men ***** (1939, Lon Chaney Jr, Burgess Meredith, Betty Field, Charles Bickford, Roman Bohnen, Bob Steele, Noah Beery Jr) – Classic Movie Review 9149

Director Lewis Milestone’s 1939 Of Mice and Men is a masterpiece, the best work of the beloved character actor star Lon Chaney Jr. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Score (Aaron Copland).

Chaney Jr and Burgess Meredith are nothing short of superb in unaccustomedly meaty roles bringing the characters of John Steinbeck’s famed novella perfectly to life.

Chaney Jr grabs the chance of a lifetime as sweet, simple, childlike Lennie Small, the over-sized, mentally disabled cousin of Depression-era migrant farm worker George Milton (Meredith), who tries to take care of him. While dream of owning their own ranch, they are working as hands on a Western ranch, owned by boss Jackson (Oscar O’Shea) and run by his son Curley Jackson (Bob Steele), a small-statured, jealous and sadistic man with a flirtatious and conniving wife, Mae (Betty Field), to whom Lennie is instantly attracted.

Of Mice and Men is a searing, brilliant film of rare quality to set alongside John Ford’s 1940 Steinbeck film The Grapes of Wrath, thanks to beautiful, inspired acting, the screenplay by Eugene Solow, Norbert Brodine’s black and white cinematography, Aaron Copland’s music score and Milestone’s direction.

Also in the cast are Charles Bickford as Slim, Roman Bohnen as Candy, Noah Beery Jr as Whit, Oscar O’Shea as Jackson, Granville Bates as Carlson, Leigh Whipper as Crooks and Helen Lynd as Susie.

Of Mice and Men is unexpectedly produced by Hal Roach, producer of Laurel and Hardy and Our Gang comedies. Roach recalled: ‘It could’ve used more laughs.’

It was remade as Of Mice and Men by Reza Badiyi in 1981 and as Of Mice and Men by Gary Sinese in 1992.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 9149

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