Of Mice and Men (1939)

My Review

“Of Mice and Men” is a faithful retelling of John Steinbeck’s 1937 novel about two itinerant farm workers struggling to survive in California in the 1930’s. They hope to own their own ranch someday, but their dreams are undermined by one of the men’s intellectual disability. Director Lewis Milestone (“All Quiet on the Western Front” 1930) superbly crafted this film from the screenplay by Eugene Solow.

The cast includes Burgess Meredith as George and Lon Chaney Jr. as Lennie, with Betty Field, Charles Bickford, Noah Berry Jr., Roman Bohnen, Bob Steele, Oscar O’Shea, Granville Bates, Leigh Whipper, and Helen Lynd. The watchable “Of Mice and Men” was popular in theatrical release for Hal Roach Studios and United Artists. It was filmed at such diverse locations as Hearst Ranch at San Simeon, Agoura Ranch, Monterey Peninsula, San Luis Obispo, Santa Monica Mountains, and in Hollywood, California. The film had four Oscar nods for Best Picture, Best Sound, and Best Musical Scoring & Best Original Score, both for Aaron Copland.