Of Mice and Men Ending Explained, What is the Movie About?
by Aishwarya R | Updated May 12, 2023
Of Mice and Men
Of Mice and Men is a 1992 period drama film. The movie was directed and produced by Gary Sinise, who also played the role of George Milton. John Malkovich played the character of Lennie Small, and other cast members included Casey Siemaszko, John Terry, Ray Walston, Joe Morton, and Sherilyn Fenn. The story, adapted by Horton Foote, follows the journey of two farm workers, George and Lennie, as they travel together and aspire to own their own land, while facing issues of discrimination, loneliness, and the pursuit of the American Dream.
Of Mice and Men was screened at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival, where it received critical acclaim and Sinise was nominated for the Palme d'Or award. The film was released in the United States on October 2, 1992, and was well-received by critics. Sinise's first encounter with Steinbeck's work was during high school at Highland Park High School. He watched a stage performance of Of Mice and Men at Guthrie Theater and was moved to tears, later crediting the play for introducing him to literature.
The movie Of Mice and Men premiered in the United States on October 2, 1992, and was shown in 398 theaters, earning $5,471,088. The Los Angeles Daily News described its box office performance as poor. However, the film received positive critical acclaim, with a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average score of 8.0/10. The website's consensus praised the movie for honoring the novella's classic source material and focusing on its timeless themes.
Reviews on Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, gave the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 20 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Critic Roger Ebert complimented the attention to detail by the cast. Todd McCarthy of Variety was impressed by the set design and the actors' performances, calling them "sterling." He also gave positive reception to the supporting cast.
Of Mice and Men Ending Explained
The ending of Of Mice and Men is a tragic one. The film follows two migrant workers, George and Lennie, during the Great Depression. Lennie is mentally disabled but physically strong, while George is quick-witted and protective of Lennie. They dream of owning their own farm and living off the land, but their plans are derailed when Lennie accidentally kills the wife of their boss's son, Curley.
After realizing what he has done, Lennie runs away to a spot where George had told him to hide if he ever got into trouble. Meanwhile, Curley leads a lynch mob to find and kill Lennie. George eventually finds Lennie, who is completely unaware of the trouble he is in. To spare Lennie from a painful death at the hands of the mob, George shoots Lennie in the back of the head.
The ending is heartbreaking because it shows the extent of George's love and loyalty towards Lennie, even though he knows that he is doing the right thing by ending Lennie's life. The dream of owning their own farm and living off the land is destroyed, and George is left to live with the guilt of having killed his friend. The ending is a commentary on the harsh realities of life during the Great Depression and the sacrifices that people were forced to make in order to survive.
Of Mice and Men Plot
The film starts with George Milton on a train, lost in thought about where he and his friend Lennie Small are heading. They are migrant workers during the Great Depression, and are seeking new employment after being forced to flee their previous job when Lennie was accused of attempted rape due to his love of touching soft things.
The two friends arrive at Tyler Ranch and George describes their shared dream of owning their own piece of land and living off it. Lennie is excited about taking care of rabbits, but George warns him to stay away from the boss's flirtatious wife. They befriend Candy, an old one-handed ranch hand, but are disliked by the boss's son, Curley, who is jealous of their size and strength. After a hard day's work, George is proud of Lennie's efforts and rewards him with a puppy.
However, trouble brews when Curley accuses Slim of being too friendly with his wife. Curley then picks a fight with Lennie, who crushes Curley's hand underfoot, leading to a tenuous peace between the two parties.
Lennie accidentally kills his puppy, and then Curley's wife enters the barn and talks to him about her own loneliness and shattered dreams. Lennie becomes over-excited while touching her hair, accidentally breaking her neck in the process. Fearing for Lennie's safety, George tells him to hide in the brush and promises to meet him there later.
Candy discovers the dead body and informs George, who knows that a lynch mob led by Curley will be after Lennie. George finds Lennie in the brush, comforts him with their shared dream one last time, and mercifully kills him with a gunshot before the mob can get to him. The film ends with George on the train, heading south, remembering his times with Lennie and mourning his loss.
What is Of Mice and Men About?
Of Mice and Men is based on a novel of the same name. Of Mice and Men is a short novel written by John Steinbeck and published in 1937. The story follows the journey of two migrant ranch workers, George Milton and Lennie Small, during the Great Depression in California. The novella draws from Steinbeck's own experiences working with migrant farm workers as a young man, before the arrival of the Okies that he would later write about in his novel The Grapes of Wrath.
The title comes from a line in Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse," which reads, "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley" (English "The best laid plans of mice and men / Often go awry"). Although Of Mice and Men is a commonly taught book in schools, it has faced criticism and censorship for its use of offensive language and portrayal of racism. As a result, it is included in the American Library Association's list of the Most Challenged Books of the 21st Century.
The novella has been adapted into several films and TV versions over the years. The first film adaptation was released in 1939 and starred Lon Chaney Jr. and Burgess Meredith. Other adaptations include a 1968 TV version produced by David Susskind, a 1981 TV movie starring Randy Quaid and Robert Blake, and a 1992 theatrical film directed by Gary Sinise, who also played George alongside John Malkovich as Lennie. Additionally, the 1992 Malayalam film Soorya Manasam, directed by Viji Thampi, is also based on the novel.
Of Mice and Men Meaning
Of Mice and Men, a novella by John Steinbeck, explores themes of loneliness, friendship, dreams, and the harsh realities of the American society during the Great Depression. The story follows the experiences of two migrant workers, George and Lennie, who struggle to find work and build a life together, while facing various obstacles along the way.
The title of the novella, "Of Mice and Men," is taken from a quote by Robert Burns and reflects the unpredictable nature of life, where even the best-laid plans can go awry. Steinbeck uses the characters of George and Lennie to illustrate this theme, as they dream of owning a piece of land and living off the fat of the land, but their dreams are ultimately shattered due to unforeseeable circumstances.
The novella also explores the harsh realities of the American society during the Great Depression, where the working class struggled to survive and were often mistreated by those in power. Steinbeck highlights the issues of social inequality and discrimination, particularly through the character of Crooks, a black stable hand who faces racism and segregation on the ranch.
Of Mice and Men Cast
Here is a cast and characters of Mice and Men:-
Gary Sinise
George Milton
John Malkovich
Lennie Small
Ray Walston
Candy
Casey Siemaszko
Curley
Sherilyn Fenn
Curley's wife
Noble Willingham
the Boss
John Terry
Slim
Richard Riehle
Carlson
Joe Morton
Crooks
Mark Boone Junior
the Bus Driver
Moira Harris
the Girl in the Red Dress
Robert (later Alexis) Arquette
Whitt
Cast
Character
Of Mice and Men Ending Explained - FAQs
The main theme of Of Mice and Men is the American Dream and the pursuit of it. It also explores the themes of loneliness, isolation, discrimination, and the fragility of human dreams.
John Steinbeck was inspired to write Of Mice and Men based on his own experiences working alongside migrant farm workers as a teenager in the 1910s, before the arrival of the Okies that he would describe in his novel The Grapes of Wrath.
Of Mice and Men has been frequently challenged by censors for its vulgarity and what some consider offensive and racist language. Consequently, it appears on the American Library Association's list of the Most Challenged Books of the 21st Century.
Of Mice and Men has been adapted into several films and a TV movie, including a 1939 adaptation directed by Lewis Milestone, a 1968 TV version produced by David Susskind, a 1981 TV movie version directed by Reza Badiyi, and a 1992 theatrical film directed by Gary Sinise.
The main characters in Of Mice and Men are George Milton and Lennie Small, two displaced migrant ranch workers who move from place to place in California during the Great Depression in search of new job opportunities. Other important characters include Candy, Curley, Curley's wife, Slim, Carlson, Crooks, and the Boss.