The film is, of course, a ★★★★★ film. One of my all-time favorites.

But here, I feel compelled to rate the product in its entirety, hence the missing star. The print is A-1 top-notch. It's a pristine transfer from the original 35mm.

Okay, so what's the problem then? Umm... Well... I can't help but wonder... Uh... No one at Richard Farner and Company, nor Corinth Films, nor Image Entertainment... likes this movie enough to transcribe its dialogue to text and include it as an optional language track on the disc for those who may wish to see (or require)... um... captions???

I consider that omission a sizable enough blemish on the overall product. For shame on the aforementioned.

The acting will never will be surpassed in any of the major or minor rolls (Burgess Meredith, Lon Chaney Jr., Betty Field, Charles Bickford and Roman Bohnen - who turns in the performance of a lifetime as "Candy"} nor would it be possible to even begin to match Aaron Copland's incredible musical score. This is absolutely definitive. All remakes are a waste of time.

On the other hand if you are watching it with someone who is not familiar with the story (we had to read it in Junior High School) be prepared for the worst.

My girlfriend locked herself in my bathroom weeping uncontrollably for at least an hour after the devastating final scene.

And it is devastating whether you are 14 or 41. If you care at all about great film this is a "must-purchase."

Long before he became "Lon Chaney" and cemented his horror legacy as the Wolf Man and various other monsters, Creighton Tull Chaney was a struggling actor trying to find his way in Hollywood in the wake of his legendary father's death.

Under studio pressure, Creighton changed his named to Lon Chaney Jr. and struggled in various B-Movie roles before landing the stage part that would open the door--however so slightly--to bigger and better things.

Lennie Small, a mentally challenged person who does bad things that are often out of his control. After getting the stage role, Lon Jr. would eventually win the screen role that would become one of his favorites.

Lennie travels with his buddy and caretaker, George Milton. George has dreams of one day owning his own ranch and letting Lennie tend to all the animals they will have. Lennie especially likes the idea of tending to all the rabbits.

Meanwhile, George and Lennie find work on a ranch, where Lennie encounters a girl who will lead to nothing but trouble--the same kind of trouble that lead to Lennie and George leaving another town.

There are a couple of moving scenes in "Of Mice and Men"--one being the scene where Candy--a worker who befriends Lennie and George--has his old, sickly dog taken out and shot. And of course, there's the closing reel where George has to get Lennie out of the trouble he's gotten himself into--the only way he knows how.

"Of Mice and Men" is a moving triumph--very well acted and very memorable.
5 stars

First, this review is not about the movie itself- What a great film! This is about this particular DVD. It is adequate. The film is digitized at 720 x 480, so it wasn't very clear on today's really large screens- Having said that, this is the highest resolution currently available. Another big disappointment was that the DVD comes with no subtitles. Today, this really ought to be a requirement for all DVD releases. Finally, it would have been nice if there was at least some DVD extras, since you're paying a not insignificant amount for a movie made in 1939. So, it was disappointing, but the movie was adequate for small screen viewing, and only if you don't need subtitles. Here's hoping that there will be a 1080p version some day!

This 1939 version of Steinbeck's classic is simply wonderful. It is full of great performances (especially Lon Chaney, Jr. and Burgess Meredith) and the score goes along with the film perfectly. There are many great moments to treasure in this film; for me, the most moving scene involved Candy and his dog--moved me to tears! This is a classic film that was marvelously done. The picture quality is clear and I heard no major issues with the sound quality. Image Entertainment did a fine job with this. If I remember correctly, there are English subtitles for those who need or want them. Don't miss this excellent version of "Of Mice and Men."

This film faithfully captures the mood of John Steinbeck's classic novel. I believe one reason is that director Lewis Milestone allowed John Steinbeck himself to contribute heavily to the production. The tale is a superbly crafted slice of humanity that elicits sympathy, empathy and interest for the entire cast of characters involved. Lon Chaney, Jr.'s finest performance! But there is not one single sour or dishonest note from the entire cast. An entertaining as well as thought provoking experience. Would still prompt many discussions about the quality of life today.
The picture quality could have been a little cleaner but this film IS more than 70 years old. The sound quality is adequate. These points led me to give the overall of 4 stars. But the film itself remains a 5 star gem!