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MovieMail's Review
George and Lenny, two travelling farm hands, work their way around depression-era America, moving on whenever trouble finds them. It happens frequently - George is a huge simpleton with the strength of a gorilla, the mind of a child and a hankerin’ for stroking soft things...
They happen upon a ranch where trouble's brewing in the shape of the boss's son's new wife (Betty Field). But they bring more than just a couple of pairs of rough hands, they harbour an infectious dream - owning a small place of their own, and working it themselves. Through Candy (Roman Bohnen), their long-standing ambition comes terribly close to being possible but (as in Robert Burn's poem 'To a mouse' which inspired Steinbeck to write the novella) their plan goes askew “And leaves us nothing but grief and pain, For promised joy!”
This classic, Oscar-nominated adaptation tackles the source material confidently and makes great use of both Lon Cheney Jr.'s physical bulk and acting talents, which hold up superbly amongst a strong cast. The deft cinematography (highlighted on this DVD by a crisp print) really comes alive when George gets angry - his towering mass awash with shadows and looming, claustrophobic shots recalling nothing less than the horror films he became most famous for.
Lon Chaney Jr excels in one of his best screen roles as the simple-minded Lennie in this adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel, in which he and his companion George work on a ranch during the Depression and dream of owning their own some day.
