Movie

Reflecting on Of Mice and Men: Notes on the Book and Movies

1939 movie of Of Mice and Men https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST5eRRweNHo

Chapter 1 – 0 minutes à 14:00 minutes (14 minutes)

Escaping from Weed; Lennie and George traveling to the ranch.

What was emphasized, added or omitted in Chapter 1 that was different compared with the book or the other movie? Focus on situations or characterization that you found interesting.

Chapter 2 – 14 minutes à 37 minutes (23 minutes)

Lennie and George meet the boss, Candy, Curley, his wife, Slim, and Carlson.

How do Lennie and George feel about their first day at the farm? What was emphasized, added or omitted in Chapter 2 that was different compared with the book or the other movie? Focus on situations or characterization that you found interesting.

• Curley’s Wife is presented more dramatically as having marital problems with Curley. She is already bored of his focus on fighting. She doesn’t want to give her puppy back to Slim. Curley doesn’t want ranch hands giving his wife Mae or May (she has a name here!) presents. But by doing this, Curley is effectively curbing a natural (and safe) outlet for her affections.

• When Curley socks a young man (Whit) in the barn who is interested in her, she comforts Whit as he lays out on the ground. She then expresses her dissatisfaction and anger with Curley’s obsession with fighting and talking about his conquests.

• Her marital frustration is in full view right away, not reserved for Lennie’s ears in the barn in Chapter 5. We see her predicament and feel for her situation. Even the Boss sympathizes with her and the lack of other women on the ranch. Curley is not concerned; he just wants to control her.

• Slim is immediately characterized as not being scared of Curley. He is bold, defiant (he cracks the whip, scaring Curley’s horse and then laughs at him) and not scared to fistfight him. Slim is presented as someone indispensable to the ranch. Curley can’t “can” him, even though he can “tangle” or fight with him.

• Curley’s Wife is uncontrollably present, almost omnipresent around the men. Her nosiness and unwillingness to stay indoors is immediately evident.

• Lennie performs a feat of strength (like a horse or mule) by lifting up a wagon with two men. It probably weighs a total of 400 pounds.

Chapter 3 – 37 minutes à 1 hour, 7 minutes (30 minutes) Green

Slim and Lennie talk. Candy gets involved. Lennie and Curley fight.

Consider how the relationship between Curley and his wife is presented, and how Candy and the men respond to Carlson’s suggestion? What was emphasized, added or omitted in Chapter 3 that was different compared with the book or the other movie

• Family life at the dinner table for Curley’s Wife, the Boss, and Curley presented. Not in book. The Boss is distant. Curley’s Wife smiles at Curley, hopes to be taken to the movies with him. He has other plans; she is disappointed and disgruntled

• Candy backs up when Carlson wants to shoot his old dog. Whit objects to Carlson’s efficiency and says it matter how a guy feels about his dog. Whit’s presentation of the letter to the editor from a former ranch hand is almost a diversion from Carlson’s demands.

• When George talks about the imaginary farm, Candy is transfixed and rises from his bunk.

• George seems more skeptical about including Candy; he jumps up onto his bunk.

• When Curley is angry at the men and Candy says that Curley couldn’t throw a scare into Slim, Lennie speaks up and agrees. He isn’t just smiling at the vision of the farm, or even laughing along. He’s more outspoken and Curley jumps on this.

Chapter 4 – 1 hour, 7 minutes à 1 hour, 24 minutes (17 minutes) Blue

The guys go downtown. Lennie talks with Crooks, Candy and Curley’s Wife

What was emphasized in Chapter 4 that was different compared with the book or the other movie.

• Chapter 4 begins with Whit, the Boss, and Curley downtown, living it up at a noisy bar, a night spot, co-ed style with “floosies” like Susie entertaining them.

• The women pretend to be famous actresses, Greta Garbo, and Marlene Dietrich.

• Curley appears, anxious about people laughing at him.

• His father says he didn’t do well last night in a fight.

• George mentions he’s worried about Lennie being alone back at the ranch.

• Crooks has less resistance when Lennie stays at his door.

• Crooks has less speech, quickly realizes how it’s “just being with another guy.”

• Crooks quickly gets to torturing Lennie, Crooks clearly enjoys it. Lennie responds angrily, but Crooks keeps his condition in the picture, saying if Lennie was collared up like a dog, he’d be like Crooks, in a kennel. When Lennie gets physical, Crooks retreats quickly but keeps his composure. Crooks keeps his sense of humor.

• Great contrast with Crooks’ piercing point that “nobody gets their land or heaven…a blackjack game or dame takes it away from them.” And then juxtaposed with the scene of the Boss and George downtown spending money.

• George mails his letter excitedly; Slim witnesses it.

• George criticizes Curley’s Wife about “gumming up the works.” She figures out it was Lennie, and George raises a hand against her, when the Boss appears and stops him. She confronts Curley about his hand and gives him “the horse laugh.” He says they are “through” and goes to “pack her stuff.”

• George tells Candy that he’s starting to save money and think about carrot seeds. Candy tells him about times long ago when he went to a brothel.

Chapter 5 – 1 hour, 24 minutes à 1 hour, 38 min (14 minutes) Red

Lennie in the barn with Curley’s Wife

Consider the errors in judgment that Curley’s Wife makes. What was emphasized, added or omitted in Chapter 5 that was different compared with the book or the other movie.

• Curley’s Wife, with her suitcase packed, goes into the barn to get her dog. She finds Lennie there, crying about his dead puppy.

• Lennie realizes he shouldn’t talk to her – you can see him react.

• She tells him she is already leaving, “confidentially.”

• They really dream side-by-side – Lennie about going away, Curley’s Wife about hitching a ride to Hollywood. We hear about her parent’s breaking up, her father’s drinking.

• When he talks about velvet…she calls him goofy.

• Breaking her necks happens very fast – much faster than in the book, and indirectly off camera.

• Candy goes into the barn to check on the puppies. Wants to ask Slim if he can have a puppy.

• Sees George who inquires about Lennie. George runs into the barn and finds Curley’s Wife.

• Candy realizes it is “off” before George says anything.

• It’s clear that George will kill Lennie before Curley does.

• 1:35 Candy laments and snivels about the lost dream.

• When George is informed that someone has murdered Curley’s Wife, he acts shocked and runs.

• George shows Slim the Lugar when Slim says there is only one way out of this for Lennie. Slim nods his head to affirm.

Chapter 6 – 1 hour, 38 min à end of movie (8 minutes) Yellow

Men search for Lennie, George meets with him by the brush.

What was emphasized, added or omitted in Chapter 6 that was different compared with the book or the other movie

• Slim and George run toward Lennie together, but then Slim holds back so George can talk with Lennie alone.

• Lennie asks what the guys are doing in the woods – and George says the guys are hunting.

• Lennie looks back and almost sees the gun.

• When Lennie gets excited about “seeing the vision,” George shoots. Lennie is off camera.

• The other men quickly come and see his body in the water. He doesn’t throw the gun off.

• Slim is nearby and stops the sheriff as he passes. George hands the gun to the sheriff. The sheriff doesn’t arrest George. He seems to understand and wraps up the gun.

• The movie ends with wind in the sycamores and leaves blowing around.