“The best-laid plans of mice and men gang all agley…”
– Robert Burns
Throughout our lifetimes, there will be things we want, events to happen, and people to meet or see again. It is natural for all humans to dream about what may come. Sometimes, the gods and angels surrounding us grant our wishes, but most often, our lives go in another direction that was not imagined or wanted. My mother used to say, “Whoever said life was easy?” That is too true, indeed. My dad would say, “You have only one choice every day to live your life the best you can for as long as you can. Fight for the privilege of being alive.” And he did until he was 99.
Our journeys can throw humongous obstacles along the way. They can be humbling or joyful, depending on your outlook. They can drop a person to their knees, gasping for air and a sense of redirection. It doesn’t matter what you think or what should be. It is now your new reality, and how you react will alter the rest of your path. For me personally, I remember the death of my parents, my daughter, my divorce, and my giving up on New York. Many of my hopes were tightly woven together. Still, I have always been a determined, intentional woman, so I can also remember my children’s childhood, becoming a teacher, working every day to make a difference, and one day meeting my second husband. My old dogs passed, and eventually, I would be guided to another. It was and is how we find the strength to walk through the darker patches. Again, my mom would say, “Wash your face and move on.”
Some are unable to do this. Take away the dream for whatever reason, and poof… lives are irrevocably destroyed. John Steinbeck, the brilliant, prolific author, wrote about people who were stuck and couldn’t see any way out. Steinbeck highlighted their poverty and despair. They lacked the means and often had no choice due to their physical or mental health. These desperate souls were who he conjured up for the world to see and understand. It was important to realize not everyone can easily change their paradigm. It was significant for Steinbeck to entangle and entertain us within the shadowy darkness OF MICE AND MEN.
OF MICE AND MEN premiered in 1939. It has been recreated several times over the decades through Denzel Washington’s and Gary Sinise’s talents. I am looking at the original film from a small studio (Hal Roach Studios) and a low budget. This did not matter because the story resonated with the public, went on to be a success, and received three Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture. It did not win, but it made a point among the powerhouse studios. Hal Roach Studios went to produce ONE MILLION BC and THE LITTLE RASCAL series.
OF MICE AND MEN had the presence of mind to choose Lewis Milestone as director, who in turn selected Lon Chaney Jr. as the gentle, slow-witted giant, Lennie, and the amazing Burgess Meredith as George. Their chemistry as cousins who have each other’s backs as they traverse America’s migrant farming communities was palatable and raw in texture and tone. It was a testament to all those who depend on and rely on each other for their safety and sanity. It is necessary to have someone to talk to who will listen to your words in the middle of the night.
Lennie and George’s enthusiasm was contagious. Everyone dared to believe in their pure love for one another, goodness, and hope for a better tomorrow. Poor, broken Candy (Ronan Bohnen) was briefly uplifted. Slim (Charles Bickford) defended and protected them. And Curly (Bob Steele) along with Mae (Betty Field) destroyed them. It was heartbreaking to watch the final scene. Steinbeck placed audiences in the palm of his hand and then hammered our brains with the sound of a single bullet. There was a brief second of earlier foreshadowing, but most didn’t think he would do it and end the tale there. We were wrong.
Why is OF MICE AND MEN beloved and endured for over eighty years? Why have men tried to make sense and relate to the plight of the poverty-stricken poor? Why does humanity continually set themselves up with optimism for the American dream? It is quite frankly such a conundrum in today’s migratory community. Nothing has changed. We expect better. We hope for better, and still, a new generation is struggling with unimaginable accommodations, petty pay, and possible deportation. The story is as old as time itself. John Steinbeck knew this in his very being.
OF MICE AND MEN is a gloomy, melancholy, timeless classic. It is a difficult watch, but one that we cannot turn away from if humanity will ever rise above and finally learn how to treat each other better while accepting the good and the bad. My dad always said, “What other choices do we have?”
OF MICE AND MEN is available on MAX.
