One of the greatest American films ever made, an almost perfect poem, and arguably the finest film adaptation of any novel ever. No actor will ever play Lenny better than Lon Chaney Jr. No other actor has even come close to so embodying the unconditional goodness, monstrous strength, and pathos of the character. The influence of his father's acting is evident in his portrayal. Burgess Meredith is also perfect in the role, as is Betty Field. There are several scenes that are unbearably moving or harrowing. I can't even watch the picture any more, I get too emotional.
I should clarify that John Ford's film of The Grapes of Wrath is also a great film, but necessarily more of a condensation of a far longer novel (by the same author). The original novella Of Mice and Men is quite short, which also assisted its Broadway adaptation (with Wallace Ford and Broderick Crawford as George and Lenny) a couple years before Lewis Milestone's film version.
@@pianoredux7516 Well said! When I read it there was an emotional impact. Then I saw a later film and was not impressed. This is by far the best and was very moving. I think it captured Steinbeck's original message.
Good god, leave postmodern-diversity feminism out of it. Nauseating. The classics were classics precisely because they weren't postmodern putridity.@@goldenroux612
Back in the day where actors, directors, writers, and music composers actually possessed talent, and computers didn't make movies. Thanks for this upload.
Lon Chaney Jr. deserved an Oscar Nomination. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The musical score was by American composer Aaron Copland.
An American classic that never grows old or loses its message of a simple life and the bond between two men. Excellent portrayals by both Burgess Meredith and especially Lon Chaney Jr., worthy of an Oscar award for their performances. Worth watching again. Joe S.
Of Mice and Men , Grapes of Wrath , two of John Stienbeck's greatist novels and films . The closeness of George and Lenny at the final moments always brings me to tears . Such a poigant moment , Lenny's innocence and George's conscience . Knowing Lenny couldn't survive any sort of institution and the grimm decision he has to make is so heartbreaking .
Love this movie! I'll never get tired of watching it. The pathos for Candy when his dog is put down and George when he's forced to kill Lenny at climax was so intense.
The parallel between the feelings Candy has his dog and that of George toward Lennie is smart writing. What gets me most is the contrast of hard feelings and callousness with graciousness and love among the characters
Steinbeck books and flims were all outstanding. His books were the only books I liked making a report on in school. He was very worthy of the Noble Prize.
1939 was likely the greatest year for American movies, and this was one of them. It might have done better at the Oscars, had it not been for that. Hal Roach's film was overrun by "Gone With the Wind", "The Wizard of Oz", "Wuthering Heights", "Stagecoach", "Goodbye Mr. Chips" and others.
Simple a flick as this is, it's Lon Chaney Jr.'s best acting! I even loved the cartoon made after, and yet- this is the best version of Steinbeck's novel. Perfect casting!
Lon Chaney, Jr was one of our best actors of the 20th century. He accepted every movie offered him and gave stellar performances up to his last - SPIDER BABIES.
This is a great portrayal of "Of Mice and Men". I've seen it before as well as Gary Sinise's great version, but seeing it again now made me realize how well done it really is. I was struck by the music and looked it up - Aaron Copland scored it! This is a classic that should be preserved!
@@acdragonrider I haven't read the Lord of the Rings, and I haven't seen the movie. The Catch 22 with Alan Arkin was outstanding, but only a shadow of the best American novel of the 20th century. The Cohen brothers did True Grit justice probably as well as it could've been, and that was a fine book, but not one of the greats. The only the movie ive seen that was on par with the book is the 1940s version
_The Godfather_ comes to mind. It's a fantastic novel, and the greatest movie of all time... imho. So does _Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas._ In fact, Johnny Depp pretty much became Hunter S Thompson. I've never seen any other film that so closely nailed the book.
@@donarthiazi2443 I read the first Fear and Loathing when it appeared in Rolling Stone. It wasn't a novel. I don't remember much about it, I remember I liked it. That was over fifty years ago. I saw the Bill Murray movie which was sillliness,probably 1980? Didn't know about Johnny Depp's but he is a fine actor, I'm sure he did well.
The Godfather movie I didn't like, but Godfather 2 was outstanding. Didn't know about the book. If I want to see mobster movies I watch 1930s and 1940s movies.
Well, up north, 10 miles would have been considered nothing to walk in those days; but I guess with the heat in the south, it's another story. Plus, if George hadn't harassed the bus driver, he wouldn't have given them ``a bum steer.'' I mean, George got right in his face, OK, forgive that, but when driver had a question (`don't I know you,'' or something like that,) George was, like, ``aw, never mind! Calm down,'' he said; weird; I always felt George was kind of a heavy, a tough guy, a wise guy, but he had a soft spot for Lenny; that was his only redeeming characteristic, and George kills that when he kills Lenny. So I think George likely goes on to a life of crime and ends up unredeemable himself, in prison. Lenny was like the good side of George, the happy, spiritual side, the side that was pure love. Lenny was, like, too good for this world. He only wanted to love and be loved.
Steinbeck was such a great writer. A simple man who had the ability to see what so few can and who was able to reach deep into the heart of every man and tear it apart one sentence and one scene at a time.
Gary sinise and John malkovich do a wonderful job however I've always enjoyed Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney in these roles and that darn black and white lighting ..
One of the several films made in 1939 that, IMO, are far more interesting & worth viewing than that behemoth that grabbed most of the Oscar’s that year. Superbly performed & quite possibly Chaney‘s greatest performance. A minority opinion regarding GWTW I am certain but OF MICE & MEN is but one of the pictures that made 1939 one of Hollywood‘s best production years ever.
Sou um homem velho hoje. Admiro o talento desses atores excelentes. E como podem comover um homem velho; talvez exatamente pela idade, um aumento na sensibilidade e percepção. Que belo trabalho desses atores e diretor, em fim, de todos os que colaboraram para este filme. Me sinto arrebatado, incontinente grato e solitário pela condição da natureza humana. Ainda que muitas vêzes triste.
One I have not seen in many years is "Wild boys of the road" - This version of Mice and Me is a true masterpiece classic. Acting, script and music all superb.
I thought Gary Sinise and John Malkovich created the difinitive version until I saw Lon Chaney Jr and Burgess Meredith, and it only took me the "rabbit" scene to convince me. Lon Chaney Jr was the stuff!
Need a Criterion of this. Lon Chaney jr. had it all. The looks, the talent, the work ethic, yet he was never paid his dues in his lifetime. Such a shame.
Criterion did the version that's on HBO Max now; I don't know why they don't release it; maybe due to the sound being bad at times? I don't know. Lon Chaney was an excellent actor, yes. This shows it and even his small part in The Defiant Ones is superb.
Ammm strong as a bull!! I can see it George..yes..I see it..look out there lenny..you see it...ah huh..I see it..I see it george!George!! Great acting from the kind of people that they dont make any more..they don't compare to these actors..they are superior!! This timeless classic never gets old!! Thanks for uploading ths!!❤️✌️😎🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦
I cry every time Lenny and George are by the fallen tree. "George, aren't you gonna bawl me out?" George can't really tell Lenny what he knows he has to do. Both Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney, Jr. deserved Oscars for their performances. Darn it. Neither was even nominated, although the movie was nominated for Best Picture of 1939. If GONE WITH THE WIND hasn't been released that same year, maybe Burgess and Lon would have had a chance. In any case, we have this masterpiece.
@@nancyfernandes367I don't think they are comparing the movies. They are just saying IF it hadn't been for GWTW being in the running then Of mice and men would have stood a chance. So many people were fawning over GWTW back then and still are today too and GWTW won. It was an epic movie for sure but not my cup of tea. I am not a fan of GWTW at all. And I tell you, people will take offence if we say that we don't like GWTW. 😂 but there's people like us who would have prefered this movie to have won and the actors win awards too.
Same here. Recently finished Pastures of Heaven. It was excellent. Travels with Charley is one of my faves. The old film version of Wayward Bus is really good as well, but i think this one still tops it. Gotta love Steinbeck.
It captured how each one of us, losers in our way, still have that dream - that dream of the rabbits. That's all we really want. Powerful novel well adapted in this film.
Chaney's iconic performance was memorably spoofed by Loony Tunes: "Which way did he go? Which way did he go? Where's the little bunny rabbit I saw on TV?"
Burgess Meredith was a great actor....the final scene is one of film's most heartbreaking scenes....followed by the perfect music playing the blowing leaves to the ground....is just perfection
It was a heartbreaking story that I read as a child, it comes to life in this movie & it's even more heartbreaking as I am an old man & know young people similar to Lenny. We need to keep people like them safe from themselves, unassuming & naive.
Foarte frumos film o dramă cu un gust amar, despre o prietenie sinceră dar, cu vise imaginare, pentru acel Uriaș cu gândirea de copil, va mulțumesc cu drag, ❤
I am trying to read this at the moment and find it rather difficult emotionally speaking. I just found the film plus audio book on RUclips. When I was a child and watched some of this film on television I retreated to a room to cry - where my father found me. Despite his limited education he liked Steinbeck's novels. My father had his dreams too as had tried to train to be an actor but this was Ireland in the hard '40's. I just recalled my mothers tears at the end of The Grapes of Wrath when Henry Fonda delivered his final speech.
You know I've seen this movie many times. But this was the first time it made my cry. They just don't make em like this anymore. And they dont act like this anymore.
I saw this on TV, I was about 11 years old ... shortly after I was sent home from school with a note for "bringing inappropriate reading material to class" ...yeah, it was Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men"
I want to hug him and squeeze him, hey George why are you turning blue George? Everytime l see those old cartoons lampooning Of Mice And Men, it tickles me to hear that dialogue from such a classic book and film.
This version is so good. Gary sinise did a remake but this version is the best. Before his death, lon Chaney was on a late nite talk show. He admitted that his role of Lenny was one of his favorites. I think it was the best acting he ever did. Such a great cast in this movie......just love Charles bickford and Bob Steele.....great casting.....!!!!!!
I prefer Original 1939 version since it wonderfully captures the victims of unfortunate circumstances with wonderful performances with wonderful score and wonderful direction.
The bunkhouse scene waiting for candy's dog to put down and the aftermath is one of the emotional scenes in film history. I have seen this film at least a half dozen times and I lose it every time.
Finally got to see one of the films my dad watched when he was a kid and stuck with him til now, he was 8 when it was made, I'll have to ask him how old he was when it was shown at the pictures in Bradford, Yorkshire. He'll be 94 this year and my mum 90..
I haven’t watched this film since I was a film student in the late 70’s. Always stuck with me. It seems to get neglected during the era of John Fords, “The Grapes of Wrath “, and “Citizen Kane”.
This movie works even without sound -- I think people all over the world would understand it even if they spoke no English. Steinbeck, well, he should have won a Nobel Prize or something...
I watched this movie in my early teens. Prior to that I first heard the character of Lenny’s voice pattern in a Bugs Bunny cartoon and we used to imitate it whenever we wanted to make fun of one of our friends who paused when they was asked a question. But after watching this movie I remember the different emotions, mostly sad, about how George had to make the decision to put a bullet behind Lenny’s head like they did to the old dog.
Kudos JS! Watched this in B&W, couldn't see ruining a good movie with fake color. Who would ever thought the GREAT Burgess Meredith would become, “The Penguin”. Lon Cheney, well, the GREATEST! I was 4-years old when I watched the Werewolf and pissed my pants...
In the old Warner Brothers cartoon they always mock Lenny. The stupid dog chasing Bugs Bunny. " Which way did he go George, which way did he go"? George is my friend.
Burgess did I think, 4 Twlight Zone episodes. He narrated the movie. He was in Grumpy Old Men with Sophia Loriane and Walter Mathieu. He was funny as hell.
@@gracie1312 I left my comment about never seeing the movie a few days before this video was published, when it was just a notification with a clickable link, but no video to watch. I'm a subscriber to the channel and get notifications of all releases ahead of release. This movie has been on my mental watch list for decades, so I was happy to see it was soon to be released on this channel. I started watching it a few days ago, and liked the first 30 minutes, but could sense it was going to be a heartbreaker and felt I needed to put off finishing it until I was more ready for it. I also felt it was a movie I'd like to watch with someone else, rather than by myself. My dad was 18 years old when this was released, and I assume he originally saw it in a theater, which would have been a few months after graduating from high school.
An outstanding piece of work. Hooray to everyone from Steinbeck onwards. Just compare this to the mostly rubbish Hollywood makes today. This film is a perfect example of the fact that less can indeed be more.
What an IGNORANT comment! Comparing one cherry-picked example to 50+ years of modern cinema! If you can't find good films, that's on you, you fool. There's plenty of garbage old films and plenty of great new cinema
What was truly unique about the film was that the black character was not a cartoonish bufoon like in most movies of that era. Very unusual for the time.
Burgess Meredith is George Milton! I seen the 1992 version and Gary Sinise is George Milton but this version is great beyond expectations! Lon Chaney Jr is great as well
A great, great movie. A classic of Steinbeck's story of dreams and heartbreak during one of the worst eras in the nation's history, tho the era isn't important. The charactors are the stuff of tradgety.
This is one of Steinbeck's best stories, well acted by BM and LC Jr. "The Grapes of Rath, and East of Eden" were also great stories made into movies. Always great actors, in these films. Btw, I did get tired of hearing about, them rabbits, Lol 🙄🐇🐇🐇🐇🥕🥕🥕
Lon Chaney Jr,was wanting to portray Quasimodo in the remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame,the role made famous by his Father,Lon Sr,even auditioning for it. He was promised the role ,if Charles Laughton wasn't Allowed to film in the US due to an IRS problem.The part went to Laughton,who cleared up the problem. Then Lon Jr was offered the role to play Lennie..the rest is movie history!
This comment contains SPOILERS. The film wonderfully shows the victims of unfortunate circumstances especially Lennie, Curly's wife, Candy, Candy's dog, and finally George. We sympathize with Lon Chaney Jr.'s Lennie which also adds depth to the shattered state of George in the end. Burgess Meredith was also excellent as George. The presence of Slim (Charles Bickford) sympathizing George at the end with Aaron Copeland's score makes this film's climax powerful.
@@quickchris10 what do you mean his only redeeming action? George is a nice man. He is just strict on Lennie since Lennie has the tendency to get into trouble although in an unintentional fashion.
@@josephpendleton4927 I said the example of him being rude to the bus driver; you give me an example of his being nice, outside of his kindness to Lenny on taking care of him. I don't begrudge how he has to be strict with Lenny, I mean we are only shown an arrogant person other than how he cares for Lenny. Now that Lenny is gone, he will become a criminal and end up imprisoned. I mean, killing Lenny is as criminal an act as them killing Fredo in "the Godfather." In every scene, George displays his arrogant attitude. He is not nice at all. How is he "nice?"
@@quickchris10 George is a straightforward character. He asked a straight forward question. The driver tries to change the subject with a different response. So George gets a bit rough on him. George gets along well with Slim (Charles Bickford), Candy, and couple of others. It isn't George who gets in trouble with others. It is Lenny who does although it is usually unintentional.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Burgess Meredith, how underrated an actor was he? Gave us many, many hours of great entertainment.
And his performance in Rocky was stellar.
Let's not forget 'The Penguin.'
The story of GI Joe, as Ernie Pyle. In Harms Way, with John Wayne.
a masterpiece. burgess and lon with a magnificent cast. a template for all good classics, film or literary.
You got it.
One of the greatest American films ever made, an almost perfect poem, and arguably the finest film adaptation of any novel ever. No actor will ever play Lenny better than Lon Chaney Jr. No other actor has even come close to so embodying the unconditional goodness, monstrous strength, and pathos of the character. The influence of his father's acting is evident in his portrayal. Burgess Meredith is also perfect in the role, as is Betty Field. There are several scenes that are unbearably moving or harrowing. I can't even watch the picture any more, I get too emotional.
I should clarify that John Ford's film of The Grapes of Wrath is also a great film, but necessarily more of a condensation of a far longer novel (by the same author). The original novella Of Mice and Men is quite short, which also assisted its Broadway adaptation (with Wallace Ford and Broderick Crawford as George and Lenny) a couple years before Lewis Milestone's film version.
@@pianoredux7516 Well said! When I read it there was an emotional impact. Then I saw a later film and was not impressed. This is by far the best and was very moving. I think it captured Steinbeck's original message.
Steinbeck had an understanding of intersectionality way back then.
Put this next to "Grapes of Wrath."
Good god, leave postmodern-diversity feminism out of it. Nauseating. The classics were classics precisely because they weren't postmodern putridity.@@goldenroux612
Back in the day where actors, directors, writers, and music composers actually possessed talent, and computers didn't make movies. Thanks for this upload.
...and great acting.
Lon Chaney Jr. deserved an Oscar Nomination. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The musical score was by American composer Aaron Copland.
Agree.
I have seen a number of versions of this story. This one is the best.
John Malkovitch also played this.
It shoiuld of got best picture? Gone with the wind? Come on. Graphics - big
deal!
Randy Quade did a pretty good Lenny with Robert Blake in 1981
A very enjoyable movie. The story was well told by a good cast of actors. John Steinbeck was a fantastic story teller.
An American classic that never grows old or loses its message of a simple life and the bond between two men. Excellent portrayals by both Burgess Meredith and especially Lon Chaney Jr., worthy of an Oscar award for their performances. Worth watching again. Joe S.
Realy a masterpiece. Lewis Millestone, Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr are the greatest.
Of Mice and Men , Grapes of Wrath , two of John Stienbeck's greatist novels and films . The closeness of George and Lenny at the final moments always brings me to tears . Such a poigant moment , Lenny's innocence and George's conscience . Knowing Lenny couldn't survive any sort of institution and the grimm decision he has to make is so heartbreaking .
Travels With Charlie. I know what is coming and yet I watch.
It's better if you shoot your own dog yourself.
Amazingly heartbreaking. And I also adore East of Eden, the novel.
Grapes of Wrath a great book. Love it, but very depressing.
and east of eden
One of the greatest movies ever made. Thank you for uploading for all to see if they wish.
They don't make movies like that anymore
By far, the greatest movie version of this classic novel.
Love this movie! I'll never get tired of watching it. The pathos for Candy when his dog is put down and George when he's forced to kill Lenny at climax was so intense.
The parallel between the feelings Candy has his dog and that of George toward Lennie is smart writing.
What gets me most is the contrast of hard feelings and callousness
with graciousness and love among the characters
Wow.. what a great piece of literature, heart-wrenching in tears... Such a reflection of America....
Steinbeck books and flims were all outstanding. His books were the only books I liked making a report on in school. He was very worthy of the Noble Prize.
Superior to Hemingway in every way.
I love Steinbeck.
East of Eden was terrific.
Cannery row too
@@LiamGallagher-x9hUnderrated ones but I love Travels with Charley and Russian Journal too
He got a Nobel prize? Pullitzer, yes, 'knew that.
I love Hemingway, too. For Whom the Bell Tolls.@@Mrgop
1939 was likely the greatest year for American movies, and this was one of them. It might have done better at the Oscars, had it not been for that. Hal Roach's film was overrun by "Gone With the Wind", "The Wizard of Oz", "Wuthering Heights", "Stagecoach", "Goodbye Mr. Chips" and others.
It was a good year for film making, agreed.
Need to see them all. Have the books. To bad everyone doesn't go for the classics
@@robertfeeley9738they're called _classic_ because of their popularity across time.
@@andrewfrancis4462not for very long
well-contextualized
Never ever had thought that Burgess Meredith had been such a great actor! God bless his departed soul!
I guess you never saw the Twilight Zone or Rocky
Simple a flick as this is, it's Lon Chaney Jr.'s best acting! I even loved the cartoon made after, and yet- this is the best version of Steinbeck's novel. Perfect casting!
How is it simple? It's a rare movie where evil can triumph over good and we eat it up.
As a kid, I loved Steinbeck, and this one the most. What a gem.
You've read Steinbeck as a kid? You must be a smart cookie.
@@kentuky1233 My thoughts exactly
Lon Chaney, Jr was one of our best actors of the 20th century. He accepted every movie offered him and gave stellar performances up to his last - SPIDER BABIES.
Maybe even the 28th century. And Spider Babies? That turd needed to be cut adrift.
@@martitinkovich4489 I saw that once. I agree, it was awful, but it was toward the end of his life and good roles weren't coming his way.
Accepting every role offered is usually not a good thing. Except maybe at the begining.
@@Mrgop He shoulda stayed home on that one.
Gets a mention in "werewolves of london"
🎼walking with the queen🎵🎶
This is a great portrayal of "Of Mice and Men". I've seen it before as well as Gary Sinise's great version, but seeing it again now made me realize how well done it really is. I was struck by the music and looked it up - Aaron Copland scored it! This is a classic that should be preserved!
I recommend you read the novel before watching the film. Then, you will be able to appreciate the film more. A great novel and a great film. 🙂
I've lost count how many times I've read the book over the years. Arguably Steinbecks greatest novel.
Yes, and Grapes Of Wrath a close second.
I can't think of another movie based on a truly great novel, a film version as good as the book.
I’m watching this for the first time but I always loved the Gary Sinise one.
And how can you not acknowledge how good The Lord of the Rings is.
@@acdragonrider I haven't read the Lord of the Rings, and I haven't seen the movie.
The Catch 22 with Alan Arkin was outstanding, but only a shadow of the best American novel of the 20th century.
The Cohen brothers did True Grit justice probably as well as it could've been, and that was a fine book, but not one of the greats.
The only the movie ive seen that was on par with the book is the 1940s version
_The Godfather_ comes to mind. It's a fantastic novel, and the greatest movie of all time... imho.
So does _Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas._ In fact, Johnny Depp pretty much became Hunter S Thompson. I've never seen any other film that so closely nailed the book.
@@donarthiazi2443 I read the first Fear and Loathing when it appeared in Rolling Stone. It wasn't a novel.
I don't remember much about it, I remember I liked it. That was over fifty years ago. I saw the Bill Murray movie which was sillliness,probably 1980?
Didn't know about Johnny Depp's but he is a fine actor, I'm sure he did well.
The Godfather movie I didn't like, but Godfather 2 was outstanding. Didn't know about the book. If I want to see mobster movies I watch 1930s and 1940s movies.
An incredibly emotive film, brilliantly acted, brilliantly written. They don't make them like this any more sadly.
This film does justice to one of the greatest novels of all time. What an ear for dialogue JS had!
lol..dude dont feel bad you are as ignorant as the rest of the comments,,,,JS did not write this movie
Well, up north, 10 miles would have been considered nothing to walk in those days; but I guess with the heat in the south, it's another story. Plus, if George hadn't harassed the bus driver, he wouldn't have given them ``a bum steer.'' I mean, George got right in his face, OK, forgive that, but when driver had a question (`don't I know you,'' or something like that,) George was, like, ``aw, never mind! Calm down,'' he said; weird; I always felt George was kind of a heavy, a tough guy, a wise guy, but he had a soft spot for Lenny; that was his only redeeming characteristic, and George kills that when he kills Lenny. So I think George likely goes on to a life of crime and ends up unredeemable himself, in prison. Lenny was like the good side of George, the happy, spiritual side, the side that was pure love. Lenny was, like, too good for this world. He only wanted to love and be loved.
The genius of Steinbeck !! Such wisdom and insight at age 35 !!
What a tear jeeker. GREAT ACTORS.
Terrific performance from Burgess Meredith in particular!
Why does he smile so often at the inappropriate time?
First saw this movie when I was a young boy.
God, what a heartbreaking film.
Steinbeck was such a great writer. A simple man who had the ability to see what so few can and who was able to reach deep into the heart of every man and tear it apart one sentence and one scene at a time.
Required reading in school..I absolutely loved Steinbeck.
Gary sinise and John malkovich do a wonderful job however I've always enjoyed Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney in these roles and that darn black and white lighting ..
I like this version better.
B/W makes it better.
@@verasmith4767 always
One of the several films made in 1939 that, IMO, are far more interesting & worth viewing than that behemoth that grabbed most of the Oscar’s that year. Superbly performed & quite possibly Chaney‘s greatest performance. A minority opinion regarding GWTW I am certain but OF MICE & MEN is but one of the pictures that made 1939 one of Hollywood‘s best production years ever.
This film is better than most modern movies
Amazing movie. Book is one of many to be banned and is constantly being challenged. The movie is a must see and the book a must read.
Sou um homem velho hoje.
Admiro o talento desses atores excelentes.
E como podem comover um homem velho; talvez exatamente pela idade, um aumento na sensibilidade e percepção.
Que belo trabalho desses atores e diretor, em fim, de todos os que colaboraram para este filme.
Me sinto arrebatado, incontinente grato e solitário pela condição da natureza humana.
Ainda que muitas vêzes triste.
One I have not seen in many years is "Wild boys of the road" - This version of Mice and Me is a true masterpiece classic. Acting, script and music all superb.
One hell of a movie. I’ve watched it 3 times (this version). No one can play it Burgess and Chaney 😊
I thought Gary Sinise and John Malkovich created the difinitive version until I saw Lon Chaney Jr and Burgess Meredith, and it only took me the "rabbit" scene to convince me. Lon Chaney Jr was the stuff!
Need a Criterion of this. Lon Chaney jr. had it all. The looks, the talent, the work ethic, yet he was never paid his dues in his lifetime. Such a shame.
Criterion did the version that's on HBO Max now; I don't know why they don't release it; maybe due to the sound being bad at times? I don't know.
Lon Chaney was an excellent actor, yes. This shows it and even his small part in The Defiant Ones is superb.
I never thought that The Wolfman and The Penguin got to work on a movie together but I thought they did they did great in this movie
Ammm strong as a bull!! I can see it George..yes..I see it..look out there lenny..you see it...ah huh..I see it..I see it george!George!! Great acting from the kind of people that they dont make any more..they don't compare to these actors..they are superior!! This timeless classic never gets old!! Thanks for uploading ths!!❤️✌️😎🇺🇸🇬🇧🇺🇦
I've read the book 50 years ago but never saw the film...! Thanks for posting this!
Damn 50 years ago
I cry every time Lenny and George are by the fallen tree. "George, aren't you gonna bawl me out?" George can't really tell Lenny what he knows he has to do. Both Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney, Jr. deserved Oscars for their performances. Darn it. Neither was even nominated, although the movie was nominated for Best Picture of 1939. If GONE WITH THE WIND hasn't been released that same year, maybe Burgess and Lon would have had a chance. In any case, we have this masterpiece.
Don't u dare compare Gone with the wind with mice n men. I can honestly say with sincerity mice n men WINS hands down.
@@nancyfernandes367I don't think they are comparing the movies.
They are just saying IF it hadn't been for GWTW being in the running then Of mice and men would have stood a chance. So many people were fawning over GWTW back then and still are today too and GWTW won. It was an epic movie for sure but not my cup of tea.
I am not a fan of GWTW at all. And I tell you, people will take offence if we say that we don't like GWTW. 😂
but there's people like us who would have prefered this movie to have won and the actors win awards too.
I find this story so moving to the extent that I cannot rewatch it.
I have enjoyed reading John Steinbeck novels
Same here. Recently finished Pastures of Heaven. It was excellent. Travels with Charley is one of my faves. The old film version of Wayward Bus is really good as well, but i think this one still tops it. Gotta love Steinbeck.
It captured how each one of us, losers in our way, still have that dream - that dream of the rabbits. That's all we really want. Powerful novel well adapted in this film.
I haven't seen this gem for a few years now. Thanks for posting!
Chaney's iconic performance was memorably spoofed by Loony Tunes: "Which way did he go? Which way did he go? Where's the little bunny rabbit I saw on TV?"
Burgess Meredith was a great actor....the final scene is one of film's most heartbreaking scenes....followed by the perfect music playing the blowing leaves to the ground....is just perfection
Thanks!
Thanks a million for your support!
It was a heartbreaking story that I read as a child, it comes to life in this movie & it's even more heartbreaking as I am an old man & know young people similar to Lenny. We need to keep people like them safe from themselves, unassuming & naive.
Foarte frumos film o dramă cu un gust amar, despre o prietenie sinceră dar, cu vise imaginare, pentru acel Uriaș cu gândirea de copil, va mulțumesc cu drag, ❤
Such a great, moving film.
I am trying to read this at the moment and find it rather difficult emotionally speaking. I just found the film plus audio book on RUclips. When I was a child and watched some of this film on television I retreated to a room to cry - where my father found me. Despite his limited education he liked Steinbeck's novels. My father had his dreams too as had tried to train to be an actor but this was Ireland in the hard '40's. I just recalled my mothers tears at the end of The Grapes of Wrath when Henry Fonda delivered his final speech.
You know I've seen this movie many times. But this was the first time it made my cry. They just don't make em like this anymore. And they dont act like this anymore.
That ending blew me away, just like poor Lennie.
It blew u away. I felt my heart break into pieces.
I saw this on TV, I was about 11 years old ... shortly after I was sent home from school with a note for "bringing inappropriate reading material to class" ...yeah, it was Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men"
У вас запрещали Стейнбека?
Now you can read about how fabulous a sex change would be for you.
@@БорнЗартNot yet.
I want to hug him and squeeze him, hey George why are you turning blue George?
Everytime l see those old cartoons lampooning Of Mice And Men, it tickles me to hear that dialogue from such a classic book and film.
This version is so good. Gary sinise did a remake but this version is the best. Before his death, lon Chaney was on a late nite talk show. He admitted that his role of Lenny was one of his favorites. I think it was the best acting he ever did. Such a great cast in this movie......just love Charles bickford and Bob Steele.....great casting.....!!!!!!
I grew up with the Gary sinise one and might still prefer that one.
I prefer Original 1939 version since it wonderfully captures the victims of unfortunate circumstances with wonderful performances with wonderful score and wonderful direction.
First watching the original . It lived up my expectations and then some . Great film indeed .
Lewis milestone was a great and underrated director. He also directed 'All quiet on the western front' back 1930
WOW, never recognized Burgess until now. So used to seeing him as Mickey with Rocky.
The bunkhouse scene waiting for candy's dog to put down and the aftermath is one of the emotional scenes in film history. I have seen this film at least a half dozen times and I lose it every time.
What a great movie! Bravo. Thank you.
Brilliant! Best made plans of mice and men.. Makes the outlaw Josie Wales look positively optimistic.
An old movie , but fantastic acting by all, very powerful indeed!
Finally got to see one of the films my dad watched when he was a kid and stuck with him til now, he was 8 when it was made, I'll have to ask him how old he was when it was shown at the pictures in Bradford, Yorkshire. He'll be 94 this year and my mum 90..
Legendary actors/actress
Never saw this version before.
Very much like the book.
I haven’t watched this film since I was a film student in the late 70’s. Always stuck with me. It seems to get neglected during the era of John Fords, “The Grapes of Wrath “, and “Citizen Kane”.
This movie works even without sound -- I think people all over the world would understand it even if they spoke no English. Steinbeck, well, he should have won a Nobel Prize or something...
In 1962. 🏅
I watched this movie in my early teens. Prior to that I first heard the character of Lenny’s voice pattern in a Bugs Bunny cartoon and we used to imitate it whenever we wanted to make fun of one of our friends who paused when they was asked a question. But after watching this movie I remember the different emotions, mostly sad, about how George had to make the decision to put a bullet behind Lenny’s head like they did to the old dog.
We used to say ' tell me again 'bout the rabbits , George ' to make fun of one of our friends for being goofy
Steinbeck won both the Pulitzer for Fiction and the Nobel Prize for Literature.
One of my favorite movies
Perfect film in every way.
Great to read that! 😉
Wow! Proper storytelling...
THIS MOVIE WAS A. GEM GOOD STORY, CHARACTERS,. U REALLY CARE FOR THE CHARACTERS...
Kudos JS! Watched this in B&W, couldn't see ruining a good movie with fake color.
Who would ever thought the GREAT Burgess Meredith would become, “The Penguin”.
Lon Cheney, well, the GREATEST! I was 4-years old when I watched the Werewolf and pissed my pants...
In the old Warner Brothers cartoon they always mock Lenny. The stupid dog chasing Bugs Bunny.
" Which way did he go George, which way did he go"? George is my friend.
Lon Chaney jr was a great actor
Burgess did I think, 4 Twlight Zone episodes. He narrated the movie. He was in Grumpy Old Men with Sophia Loriane and Walter Mathieu. He was funny as hell.
Thank you John Steinbeck.
This was one of my dad's favorite movies, but I've never seen it.
Lol did you search out this film just to leave this comment? Or did you actually watch it
@@gracie1312 I left my comment about never seeing the movie a few days before this video was published, when it was just a notification with a clickable link, but no video to watch.
I'm a subscriber to the channel and get notifications of all releases ahead of release.
This movie has been on my mental watch list for decades, so I was happy to see it was soon to be released on this channel.
I started watching it a few days ago, and liked the first 30 minutes, but could sense it was going to be a heartbreaker and felt I needed to put off finishing it until I was more ready for it. I also felt it was a movie I'd like to watch with someone else, rather than by myself.
My dad was 18 years old when this was released, and I assume he originally saw it in a theater, which would have been a few months after graduating from high school.
An outstanding piece of work. Hooray to everyone from Steinbeck onwards. Just compare this to the mostly rubbish Hollywood makes today. This film is a perfect example of the fact that less can indeed be more.
What an IGNORANT comment! Comparing one cherry-picked example to 50+ years of modern cinema! If you can't find good films, that's on you, you fool.
There's plenty of garbage old films and plenty of great new cinema
What was truly unique about the film was that the black character was not a cartoonish bufoon like in most movies of that era. Very unusual for the time.
Well said 👌
Meredith Burgess was a great actor; one of my favorites he starred in was Alfred Hitchcock’s, “The Obsolete Man” , “There is Time Now”
Try Twilight Zone😅
The Penguin and the Wolf Man ,he was born in my hometown okc..
Such a sad, heartbreaking movie about one of the worst times in American history.
We're in worse times now, and with loneliness, loneliness for some people is not of any set time and place
What a great movie.
Burgess Meredith is George Milton! I seen the 1992 version and Gary Sinise is George Milton but this version is great beyond expectations! Lon Chaney Jr is great as well
1939 was a hell of a year for motion pictures!
A great, great movie. A classic of Steinbeck's story of dreams and heartbreak during one of the worst eras in the nation's history, tho the era isn't important. The charactors are the stuff of tradgety.
You couldn't ask for a better cast, and Aaron Copeland did the score.
This is one of Steinbeck's best stories, well acted by BM and LC Jr. "The Grapes of Rath, and East of Eden" were also great stories made into movies. Always great actors, in these films. Btw, I did get tired of hearing about, them rabbits, Lol 🙄🐇🐇🐇🐇🥕🥕🥕
A screen gem based on Steinbeck’s novel of brotherhood and tragedy.
That was a masterful but very sad film ❤.
Lon Chaney Jr,was wanting to portray Quasimodo in the remake of The Hunchback of Notre Dame,the role made famous by his Father,Lon Sr,even auditioning for it. He was promised the role ,if Charles Laughton wasn't Allowed to film in the US due to an IRS problem.The part went to Laughton,who cleared up the problem. Then Lon Jr was offered the role to play Lennie..the rest is movie history!
Lon Chaney was only 27 in this film. Very handsome when young.
He was born in 1906 ...
The story George tells @39:10-39:40 sums up a lot of the relationship between George and Lenny. A very poignant scene
Sir, very well spoken!
This comment contains SPOILERS.
The film wonderfully shows the victims of unfortunate circumstances especially Lennie, Curly's wife, Candy, Candy's dog, and finally George.
We sympathize with Lon Chaney Jr.'s Lennie which also adds depth to the shattered state of George in the end. Burgess Meredith was also excellent as George. The presence of Slim (Charles Bickford) sympathizing George at the end with Aaron Copeland's score makes this film's climax powerful.
Of course we sympathize with Lenny. He is pure-spirited, clean-minded goodness. George is a heavy; caring for Lenny being his only redeeming action.
@@quickchris10 what do you mean his only redeeming action? George is a nice man. He is just strict on Lennie since Lennie has the tendency to get into trouble although in an unintentional fashion.
@@josephpendleton4927 I said the example of him being rude to the bus driver; you give me an example of his being nice, outside of his kindness to Lenny on taking care of him. I don't begrudge how he has to be strict with Lenny, I mean we are only shown an arrogant person other than how he cares for Lenny. Now that Lenny is gone, he will become a criminal and end up imprisoned. I mean, killing Lenny is as criminal an act as them killing Fredo in "the Godfather." In every scene, George displays his arrogant attitude. He is not nice at all. How is he "nice?"
@@quickchris10 George is a straightforward character. He asked a straight forward question. The driver tries to change the subject with a different response. So George gets a bit rough on him.
George gets along well with Slim (Charles Bickford), Candy, and couple of others. It isn't George who gets in trouble with others. It is Lenny who does although it is usually unintentional.
I saw movie manytime nice movie fine wrighter absolutely good actors