Of Mice and Men (1981) (TV)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Reza Badiyi

Writers:

John Steinbeck (novel)
Eugene Solow (1939 screenplay)

Release Date:

29 November 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A TV adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel. George and Lenny travel through the Depression-era west working at odd jobs...

Plot Keywords:

Migrant Worker | Great Depression | Historical | Man Child | Mercy Killing

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Robert Blake	...	George Milton
Randy Quaid	...	Lenny Small
Lew Ayres	...	Candy
Mitch Ryan	...	Slim
Ted Neeley	...	Curley
Cassie Yates	...	Curley's Wife
Pat Hingle	...	Jackson
Whitman Mayo	...	Crooks
Dennis Fimple	...	Whit
Pat Corley	...	Carlson
Sondra Blake	...	Girl

Runtime:

150 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Metromedia Productions

Trivia:

Lou Ferrigno was originally supposed to play Lenny Small, but was forced to back out of the project because he had to return to work on "The Incredible Hulk" (1978) earlier than expected.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: In Crook's place, after Curly's wife leaves, a boom mic is visible at the top of the screen.

Movie Connections:

Version of Of Mice and Men (1939)

Horrible Adaptation

While this movie could well deserve a 1 rating, I know that there are worse films out there. That faint praise, however, is more of a comment on how bad "Plan 9 From Outer Space" actually was compared to this film.

My primary objections to this film aren't the wooden acting, though that would be sufficient to not recommend the film, but the script. Steinbeck wrote a novel that was designed to be staged. Each "act," it's hard to call them chapters, contains everything necessary to set the scene, place the actors on stage, feed them informative and insightful dialog, and interest the observer/reader. It was an admirable piece of writing that should, by design, be easily translated to stage or film.

Yet, in the first 40 minutes of this film, the director chose to add scenes, such as one with Aunt Clara, one where George tries to abandon Lennie, one between Curley and his wife, and the one where Lennie lifts the back of a wagon. None of these scenes are supported by the text of the book. When staged, they succeed only in destroying the meaning of Steinbeck's awesome novel. If abusing a piece of literature were a capital crime, Solow and Badiyi would be the first against the wall.

Now, the acting. At best, Blake is a mediocre actor. In this, which is arguably his worst work, he is wooden, condescending, and emotionally crippled. You are supposed to like George and sympathize with his ability to put up with the ever failing Lennie, but I found myself liking Curley almost as much.

Quaid, on the other hand, tries, but fails, to bring life to the character of Lennie. Had they actually used the words Steinbeck wrote, it is possible he may have been successful. It was a game effort, but it failed miserably, nonetheless.

Granted, this was a television adaptation and suffered from a lack of budget and time. All the more reason for the creators to not delve off into laughable visits with Aunt Clara or create other unnecessary, and unsupported, scenes. Steinbeck wrote a concise and accurate script which he designed to read like a play and, hence, brought to stage or screen. Somehow, those responsible for this train wreck failed to understand this, even though the ability to do this should be in their job description.

Watch any other version of this movie, if you get the chance. While I have issues with all of them, they are all significantly better films and are closer to the original text of the book.

Rick