Book Review: OF MICE AND MEN--Mental Enfeeblement, Racism, and Mercy-Killing In 1939 Hollywood

 

This is Greg Mank's third book released this year--and it's just as great as the other two. OF MICE AND MEN--Mental Enfeeblement, Racism, and Mercy-Killing In 1939 Hollywood--thoroughly examines the classic film directed by Lewis Milestone and produced by the Hal Roach studios. It also covers the famed John Steinbeck novel upon which it was based. 

Steinbeck's tragic story was truly a trending topic in 1930s America, and the controversies surrounding the dark elements involved in the tale made it an enticing but difficult subject for Hollywood filmmakers. Mank goes into detail on how OF MICE AND MEN got to the screen, and the complicated steps that were involved. 

Particularly intriguing are the various actors that Mank reveals were considered for the lead roles, such as James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart as George. The eventual stars of the 1939 OF MICE AND MEN--Burgess Meredith, Lon Chaney Jr., and Betty Field--seem perfect for their parts now, but there was much discussion and haggling before the final cast list was set. The author also gives a day-by-day report on the actual shooting and post-production of the film, with a look at scenes that didn't make the final cut. 

Mank's book will be of great interest to Lon Chaney Jr. fans. Lon Jr. is now best known for his classic horror film roles, but Mank shows that the making of OF MICE AND MEN was a pivotal and important moment in Chaney's life. As detailed by Mank, the positive critical and audience response to Chaney's striking performance as Lennie gave the actor, for a brief moment, mainstream respect and acceptability. 

The author also goes into how the year of 1939 affected OF MICE AND MEN's chances for awards and citations. 1939 is now known as classic Hollywood's greatest year, and the competition OF MICE AND MEN was up against was staggering. There's also a look at how another Steinbeck adaptation, THE GRAPES OF WRATH, wound up overshadowing OF MICE AND MEN. 

The book, published by Bear Manor Media, is a fast-paced read illustrated by several behind-the-scenes photos. In his usual style, Mank interweaves the real-life personal issues of the people involved in the making of the film with the dramatics shown on screen. Other stage, TV, and screen adaptations of the novel are briefly touched upon as well. 

I was assigned to read OF MICE AND MEN while in high school, and my English class was shown the 1981 TV version of the story (which I barely remember). Back then I just thought of it as another book to read. I have a much better appreciation of it now, and Greg Mank's fine book inspired me to watch the 1939 version again. I do believe it is the best adaptation of the story, mainly due to Lon Chaney Jr's performance and the fact that it is a 1930s story filmed in the 1930s, after all. Lewis Milestone, the main driving force behind the production, created a haunting, authentic, and hard-hitting story that was faithful to the source material and still within the confines of classic Hollywood--a feat many thought impossible. Greg Mank's work here is a tribute to the film and a fascinating report and analysis of it.