Two drifters, one a gentle but slow giant, try to make money working the fields during the Depression so they can fulfill their dreams.
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Reviews
CinemaSerf
7
By CinemaSerf
Aside from a few relatively minor adjustments to accommodate the censors, this is a pretty faithful screen adaptation of John Steinbeck's really wonderful book. Burgess Meredith is super as "George", who is travelling from job to job with his gentle giant pal "George" (an equally good Lon Chaney Jnr.) with both hoping to eventually raise enough of a stake to buy a small farm where they can settle down and the latter man can grow alfalfa to feed his rabbits. They come to work on a ranch where "Curley" (Bob Steele) - the son of the owner - suffers what might reasonably be called small man syndrome; and he instantly takes agin "Lennie" - indeed, the rather obnoxious man has picked a fight with just about everyone, except, "Slim" (Charles Bickford) who is both big enough and bright enough to keep him in check. Part of the problem for "Curley" is his gorgeous, but extremely bored wife "Mae" (Betty Field) who saunters around the place looking to alleviate her ennui. She isn't looking for an affair, nor is anyone offering her one - but when she encounters Lennie in the barn, a tragedy ensures that leads to certainly one of the most poignant endings to any story you will have ever read or seen. Although this uses plenty of outdoor settings, the photography is still largely framed as if it were on stage. This style works really well. It gives the scenes - especially between the two men - an intimacy and added potency that builds the tension and emotion really well as their relationship, and inter-dependency is demonstrated not just to their colleagues, but to us too. There are also a couple of fairly poignant sub-plots, and the supporting cast especially Bickford and Roman Bohnen's "Candy" deliver those well. It is perfectly paced, the score from Aaron Copland adds much richness and the end product offers a touching and engaging dramatisation that truly is heart-rending and well worth
