Of Mice and Men (1992)
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Two farm workers travel together during the Great Depression, dreaming of owning their own land while struggling with the reality of their circumstances.
The story
During the Great Depression, quick-witted George Milton and physically strong but mentally disabled Lennie Small are fleeing their previous employment after Lennie was accused of attempted rape. They travel south to work on Tyler Ranch near Soledad. George shares his dream of owning a piece of land where Lennie can tend rabbits. At the ranch, George lies to the Boss about Lennie's history to secure their jobs. They befriend an old ranch-hand named Candy, but they face harassment from Curley, the Boss's son. George strictly instructs Lennie to stay away from Curley's wife as they attempt to build a life together.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
George Milton and Lennie Small, two farm workers, flee their previous job during the Great Depression after Lennie was accused of attempted rape. They travel to Tyler Ranch near Soledad to work. George tells Lennie of their dream to own a farm and tend rabbits. At the ranch, George lies to the Boss about Lennie's mental disability, claiming he was kicked in the head by a horse. They befriend Candy, an old ranch-hand, but are tormented by Curley, the Boss's son. After Curley attacks Lennie, Lennie crushes his hand; George fears for their jobs, but Slim helps cover it up. Lennie eventually kills his puppy and later accidentally breaks the neck of Curley's wife after she asks him to stroke her hair. Terrified, Lennie flees into the brush. When Candy finds the body and informs everyone, Curley leads a lynch mob. George finds Lennie first and, realizing escape is impossible, calms Lennie by retelling their dream before shooting him in the back of the head to spare him from the mob.
- First release year
- 1992
- Runtime (minutes)
- 111
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Gary Sinise
- Writers
- Horton Foote · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- John Malkovich · Lennie Small; Gary Sinise · George Milton; Ray Walston · Candy; Casey Siemaszko · Curley; Sherilyn Fenn · Curley's wife; Noble Willingham · the Boss; John Terry · Slim; Richard Riehle · Carlson
- Genres
- period drama
- Themes
- discrimination; loneliness; the American Dream; desire for a place to call home
- Tone and mood
- period drama
- Premise and plot tags
- Great Depression; disability; farming; buddy drama
- Source material / true-story basis
- John Steinbeck's 1937 novella of the same name
- Reception
- The film received positive critical acclaim and was released to positive reviews.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 73 · scale: 100 · review count: 20
- Awards and nominations
- Palme d'Or · Best-featured film · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's editor, Robert L. Sinise, was Gary Sinise's father.; Bridget Fonda was originally cast as Curley's wife but was replaced by Sherilyn Fenn.; The film was shot at a ranch in Santa Ynez Valley where a full-scale wheat farm was constructed.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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