Review of Of Mice and Men (film)

I am studying for a degree in Creative Writing. As I progress along the degree program I am reminded about the books and authors I was interested in from years past. One of the authors has sparked my renewed interest in his work. That author is John Steinbeck. I have read The Grapes of Wrath several times. And I've also read Cannery Row and The Winter of Our Discontent which I was totally taken in by. I'm also going to watch East of Eden which was James Dean's big breakthrough.

I have not read the book so I can't speak about how it was adapted into the film. The film is also from 1992 so it's a bit dated. Yet, I think it's central questions and themes are still as poignant as they were when the book was published decades ago. Steinbeck did great things for the labor movement in this country. His writings have created portraits of the Great Depression that will remain primary sources about the difficult times of the 30's. The film lasts about two hours and right about the 100 minute mark Lenny commits murder against Curly's wife. By that time I was thinking about the central conflict of the film. It a general sense it was labor versus bourgeosie or the owners of the ranch. Curly is a rotten figure and his wife is portrayed as vindictive and easy. The large conflict between labor and owners takes life in Lenny and Curly. Lenny comes off as big, strong, and stupid. Curly is controlling and voilently mean.

By the end of the film when Lenny has killed Curly's wife I was thinking about what was going to happen to Lenny? I think Steinbeck wanted us to consider the fate of Lenny in a larger context? Lenny had the deck so stacked against him, what was society to do with him? Lock him up in prison? The nuthouse? In a time when the Nazis were killing off everyone except the Arayan race Of Mice and Men races the question about what to do with Lenny? He also raises questions about the owners of the ranch. How can they be allowed so much freedom to treat their workers with such wantoness?

Such was life in the Great Depression.