I can't even imagine all of the emotions that George was feeling. Love. Sadness. Guilt. And a feeling of a weight being lifted off of his shoulders. Rain that will soon turn into sunshine.
I think the opposite might be true : he killed his friend, almost some kind of his brother or even son ?, George will never again see sunshine… of course, he did it out of pure love and humanity, but he still killed him…
I see a lot of comments saying the 92' version was too quick. However I see it as George wanted to get it over with. Imagine having to shoot your best friend. Someone you have know for ages. For me the 92' version will always be the best
In the 92 version, I feel like George felt that if he hesitated for even a second, he wouldn't be able to shoot him. George knew what needed to be done and had to finish it before he loses the strength to kill him.
when I read the book I pictured George hesitating more to shoot Lennie like in the 1939 movie but in the 92 movie it seems too quick and sudden, the 92 movie is still better none the less
92 version by far. The emotional intensity is far greater. You can feel the both the characters pain within the scene. The 1939 version just didn't have the same feel. Gary Sinise is a brilliant actor and director
I feel like no one really noticed/payed attention to George after he killed Lennie. In the 1992 version, after Lennies body falls to the ground, there is such a heartache you can see and feel in George. At first, he is expressionless and then it hits him that his best friend, the one person that truly gave a damn about him is gone. Then you see the rapid/deep breaths and the eye squints like he's sick. He's sick because Lennie is dead, and he killed him. And for that reason, 1992 version is so much better.
@@octaviusnottage5107 Because Lennie accidentally killed Curley's (the boss's son) wife, so Curley and the other ranch workers were going to find Lennie and kill him. George didn't want that to happen, so he decided to take matters into his own hands, as he thought that it was the best way to go. He basically set him free from the inevitable pain that Lennie would have suffered before his death had Curley and the other guys found him.
@@octaviusnottage5107 He technically did protect him. Lennie would have died a much slower and painful death had they got their hands on him. Yes, Curley's wife may have contributed a little to her own death, but overall, it was Lennie's fault, since he does not know his own strength.
Did anyone make a movie that really captured the final happiness of Lennie AND the intense regret of George that was conveyed in the book? I felt no feels after watching both of these, but reading it in the book broke my heart.
For the '92 one, I didn't cry at this scene, but the one right after where George is remembering their friendship and as they're walking away, Lennie reaches out and grabs George's shirt, as a comfort, because it was soft. I was bawling after that scene.
You have summed it up perfectly. No movie can match Steinbeck's words. I was a freshman in high school when I first read it and I cried. I have read it close to 100 times in the ensuing years. Tears each time.
In books things are quite literally, spelled out for you. Film can't convey the message that way or characters would be literally announcing how they feel. Books are about telling. Films are about showing. However human emotions are expressed differently depending on the person. Not everyone deals with grief the same way. Some people break down and cry, others shut down, some feel numb for awhile before the actual grieving kicks in.
i mean lennie's death was spoiled for me so I didn't really get the full experience (still mad about that) but I read that scene first before watching it and honestly I feel the complete opposite. I mean nowhere in the novel did it say lennie was screaming ab the rabbits at the top of his lungs nor nothing ab george's guilt. He just seemed to not fully comprehend what just happened--like I cried more watching the movie than I did the novel, but either way we all imagine things differently
I always cry at the end of the 1939 movie. The 1992 doesnt make me cry. And for that, I say the 1939 movie was better. Also I really like both actors, Burgess Meredith and Lon Chaney Jr.
I like the 92 version best, because I feel like in 39 they didn't understand mental disabilities in the way that people still have feelings and they aren't clowns, they are still people. The 92 Lennie actor wa amazing a bring across the realistic-ness of his illness!
I like in the 39 version that George struggles more to pull the trigger and he hesitates more and I like the way the death is built up rather that it being instant. Also in the 92 version you can see George trying not to cry and when Lennie dies you can feel how much George cares about him.
+Collin Glover I guess it comes down to taste. See, I really liked the old version because it was a lot more theatrical. There was much more dramatic tension and build up before the shot rang out. George's reaction hit harder for me. I felt like the timing of the shot in the newer version was off.
Michael Morgan Same, it was more 'complete' and 'proper' in 1939 version. If that's what you call theatrical, then so be it. I will use say that now too.
I prefer Burgess Meredith. I felt that Gary asinine didn’t seem that into the role. There are quite a few moment in the film where he talks in a really bored sounding voice, even when the scene didn’t fit it
@@gftyhify You can tell Sinise's George was harsh, even seeming to hate Lennie....Burgess Meredith's George really cares about Lennie and actually likes him. Gary did a vanity project.
@@Me_AV the one part of Gary Sinise’s performance that I didn’t like was when Lennie was drinking from the river and George says ‘Lennie don’t drink so much’ but he says it in a very i ain’t bothered sort of voice and he simply nudges Lennie with his foot. In the original Burgess Meredith shouts to not drink so much and even tries to pull Lennie away like he was generally concerned that Lennie might be sick from drinking unsafe water
I love how everyone has commented on the new version being too quick....they spent years together, you don't think for one second after decades of bonding he wouldn't want to do it as fast as possible? why would he linger on killing his best friend knowing what would happen to him? he had a brief moment and did the deed ... only one of them sufferered after
After all this time, I actually didn’t know about the original movie. Back in high school, we watched the ‘92 version. I never cared in that phase of my teens to analyze it, nor did I know there was discourse about which version was better, but now 15+ years later, I can say I like the fact that the ‘92 version relieved Lenny on the the line: _” and I get to tend the rabbits!”_ because it truly is what he wanted. There was no need to let him think anything else further, just die on the thought that elated him so much.
panicman10 yes I realize this but rape was definitely not his intention, if you’ve read the book or seen the movie you’d notice how it’s said Lennie has a tendency to get carried away with soft things and in the moment he was invested with a soft thing being her hair he was just feeling the hair not tryna rape a girl
I have a preference for the 1992 version, but the shot definitely came too soon. The music of the 39 version almost seems happy. It is Lenny who is supposed to die happy, but those who remain (the audience and George) are supposed to better understand the sadness of that scene while thinking back to Candy's remark about how he should've killed his dog rather than leaving it to a stranger. The music of the 39 version just doesn't fit the mood. The 39 version just seems comical in general, what with the stereotypical appearances of the mob reminding me of Yosemite Sam, and the slightly too emphatically happy Lenny. My only real gripe with the 92 version is that the shot comes too soon. There's just not enough buildup for the shot to convey its full emotional impact on the viewer. Oh, and Lenny didn't really seem happy at the point that he was shot. He seemed more...enthusiastic. I think a better emotion to strive for at the moment of the shot would've been content.
Well the reason for the music is that your supposed to expect a happy getaway, that's what most people expected as it was typical for movies to change the ending like with count of monte cirsto or the most dangerous game, in which they do change the ending to a happy one. Then Bam! he's dead. Basically everybody knew back them what that kind of music meant, a happy ending or the ending of the film, but instead it ends as the audience is supposed to feel shock from what is shown. That was the point that movie going audiences were meant to hope for a better ending or they didn't know what happened in the book. As well the actors do extremely well as George think about the situation, when he first George faced with the idea of what he's about to do, then he smiles because of the memories of the ideas of whats to come, then a face of panic comes to his eyes as he tries to keep it straight around him telling the story ( shown by him talking a little wispy) as he tries to get the gun ready while dealing with him moving about like you'd expect a person like lennie to do. Then he fires as the reality of the action sweeps over him as he thinks of what he's done. The 92 version played it more straight and real as he does face what's he about to do, he's looking around trying to think about how can he fix this, then he faces him as he asks him to change. Then the quick shot was the point, to hit the audience like the bullet as grief comes over him, as he knew he had to do it and the silence of the scene sets.
Vash Stampede Re-watching it with that perspective in mind, I can see what you mean. I like the 39 version a lot better now, but now the travesty music after the shot feels like it came too soon. I think that it would have benefitted with a longer silence at that point and less travesty more sadness. The travesty just starts too high and too loud. I'm just nitpicking now. Thank you for the advice. I'm going to have to disagree with you about the 92 version, though. No matter what perspective I try to watch it from it just doesn't work.
I think some of these comments are completely backwards. The original is terrible, the emotion is just not there and the performances are almost comical. The score completely takes you out of it as well, especially after Lenny gets shot. There is no comparison, the 92' version is far superior.
When the original version inspires things like this: /watch?v=2JlVqfC8-UI And this: /watch?v=OogLnq0tkOI ...It's hard not to agree. It was certainly comical.
+Hannah Scalisi It's a lot more realistic that it was abrupt. He had to do it quick or risk overthinking it and being unable to, which would doom Lenny to an even worse fate. It would be so hard a thing to do that under such circumstance I think a rational person would have to force themselves to do it very quickly and without too much thought, to avoid convincing themselves that they couldn't.
If we could take the best from each film it would be the emotion of the 92 version and the build up of the original. Cut the soundtrack of the original and add the emotion of the 92 version and you have the perfect Of Mice And Men film
You ever see death up close and personal ? Somehow I doubt it. In my time from age 9 and up, I saw much death of Children age 5 to Adults 70 and up regularly enough to have a few sets of funeral suits, and in my time on ambulances 🚑 and Hospital etc.... After a while, you learn to shutdown your emotions in order to keep your mind and sanity.
I agree. Both movies and the book mak me cry. But neither of the movies really totally equal the intensity of the book. At some point there's still room for an even better movie ! Maby someday.
@@carminemurray6624 Thats one take. I to have seen and delt with many deaths. I totally get your reasoning. Thats where the book takes up the theater of the minds ability to leave the reader with their own interpretation. I always felt George would have shown more emotion and sadness leading up to the end and after shooting Lenny
The 1992 version is better. Far better camera direction. The musical score is terrible in the original and as the recent version shows not necessary. Gary Sinuses performance shines throughout.
I vote for the color version because of the camera angles, sound and acting but the story is great! I read it as a kid and when I saw the movie I stopped it before the end because i didn't want my son to see me cry.
I have to say that neither of the two movies totally depicted the intensity of Lennie's death as is portrayed in the book. When I saw the cast of the1992's flix I grew great expectations which were unfulfilled, mainly by the incongruences with the book and the lack of similarity with the characters. I did expect more from Malkovick in Lennie's character. I have to say that the 1939's version grasped better the essence of Steinbeck's view. Even though the acting seemed extremely corny, that was the common style in the 30's movies. For that reason I choose 1939.
@@catintheformalattire4274 plus the 39 movie is literally an insult to people with disabilities lol that's not how lennie's character was described at all
I prefer Original 1939 version. Original version focuses deeply on the victims of unfortunate circumstances especially Lennie, Curly's wife, Candy, Candy's dog, and finally George. We symphathize with Lon Chaney Jr.'s Lennie which also adds depth to the shattered state of George in the end. Burgess Meredith was also excellent as George. The presence of Slim (Charles Bickford) symphathizing George at the end with Aaron Copeland's score makes Original version the best.
the '39 Lennie looks and displays to be like a comedian or just a humorous funny man whereas with the '92 Lennie you can intensely see his weakness and disability, his character stands out more and hence feel more sympathetic towards him
It feels like the Lennie in the book was supposed to be a lumbering idiot; too kind for his own good and too stupid and naive to understand what was happening. It feels more like the '92 Lennie was actually mentally retarded compared to how he felt in the books and with a speech impediment that rivals that of Adam Sandler. The book describes Lennie as a big guy, strong enough to huck 3-4 times more than a normal guy; I can't imagine the '92 Lennie being strong enough to do that.
@@Jakjer Hey, it implied that he has a mental disability, which none of the characters ever stated that he does in the book or in the two adaptations. When I first started reading the book back in my freshman year in high school, I never knew why Lennie was talking like that until I looked it up and saw why.
Neither of them do the ending of the book justice in my opinion. The 1992 version is very good but completely lets itself down in 2 segment: when george shoots Lennie really suddenly when it should be thought provoking and emotional and the scene where Curley and his wife meet in the barn which never happens in the book which symbolises their relationship.
39 version gave the moment more intensity and urgency with the hunters getting closer. Burgess Meredith's small stature and physical demeaner also gave a greater sense of helplessness and pain to George and thus making the scene more tragic. I think the abruptness of the 92 vesion took away from the moment when George shoots.
The '92 version is amazing, instead of hesitating he is guilty and sad as you can tell by his body language through the whole scene, he wanted to get it over and done with instead of trying to savor the death of Lennie like nothing
As much as I love the 92 movie, the 39 one is better. The death of Lennie should be built up so you see George's struggle with having to kill his best friend. The 92 movie did it quick for shock value.
I like both, but I can also see it working in the 92 way since it *is* so hard. Has to just tear that band-aid off. Do it fast so it doesn't hurt as much. I see it working both ways.
@@hotrodjmanofficial448 same. besides why do people not realise in the 39 version he was struggling because lennie turned around, not hesitating ab pulling the trigger like in the novel. like it wasn't accurate either way but personally, i think the emotions displayed in the 92 film just compensates for that
I preferred the 1939 version. The guy seemed much more happier just before he got shot. In the 1992 version the shooter didn't really give the guy a chance to imagine how good things were going to be before he shot him.
1939's ending was so much more powerful. 1992 on the other hand was just way too sudden. Very little to no buildup. But overall the 1992 version is the better film
I prefer the 39' version. While I felt the score was a huge glaring problem within the scene, it was the only big issue. Everyone says that Lennie is portrayed comically in the '39 version, but I find his portrayal is less serious in the recent one. Lennie's 39' actor really portrays a childlike innocence, while I found that the 92' version seemed more basic and dumb (although I did think both were good actors.) George's actor was better in the 92' version as well, but what nailed the 39' scene for me was the dialogue. The scene where George shoots Lennie is agonizing, built up, and heart wrenching. It is more emotional than the recent movie, which does nothing but deliver a shock. In the older movie, we get to hear George describing heaven to Lennie, talking himself into doing the deed in the hope that he's doing right by Lennie. We see Lennie's eyes light up, and we are crushed when George finally brings himself to shoot. In the recent film, it is abrupt and emotionless.
I will agree the score is a bit to much in the 39 version ,but the fact they don't show Lennie's actual death and just show Burgess Meredith's reaction , it just breaks my heart every time and is just more powerful in my mind .92 on the other hand....With how abrupt the killing is,it made me burst out in laughter ,which is the exact wrong reaction I should have.The original hit me like a punch in the stomach.39 wins .
The 1939 version is superior to me because of the powerful emotional buildup. Brings a tear to my eye in a way the 1992 version does not. Burgess Meredith is a masterful actor, and really gives it his all playing George. And I much prefer Lon Chaney's take on Lenny, as he is so much more sympathetic. John Malkovitch's performance left me cold, feeling like Lenny was jut a mindless monster who couldn't control himself and deserved to die, whereas when Chaney played him, I actually felt sad for him.
Yes, Original version is the best. We symphathize with Lon Chaney Jr.'s Lennie which also adds depth to the shattered state of George in the end. Burgess Meredith was also excellent as George. The presence of Slim (Charles Bickford) symphathizing George at the end with Aaron Copeland's score makes Original version the best.
In my opinion I prefers the 1992 version. It does have more emotion and the acting is incredible. The 1939 version just didn't have very good acting and there wasn't much emotion. I do wish that George would have let Lennie think a little more before shooting him in the 1992 version but..I guess this will have to do...IT HURTS 😭
All you pseudo movie buffs and hardly a mention of the great Burgess Meredith as George who was a great actor for many years. He played Penguin in the original Batman TV series and often guested on the Twilight Zone. The equally great John Malkovich brings more dimension to the character of Lenny but his lack of physical stature makes it a stretch of the imagination compared to the hulking Lon Chaney Jr. in the role. For my money, Lenny gets capped way too quickly, likes it's a mafia hit in the final scene. In the 1939 version the viewer is confident that Lenny can see paradise on the other side of the river.
Oh people....Lon Chaney Jr. rocks this role! Burgess Meredith is amazing!! I've seen both movies and 1939 Of Mice and Men...for the win! 👍😎 Did anyone ever see the tv movie version with Robert Blake and Randy Quaid? Yeah, it exists.
Now as someone who’s familiar with the book but never read I do think both films are really well done, fantastic acting from both casts. Although if I was forced to pick. I prefer the 1939 scene, mainly because of the buildup. It is realistic for George to kinda wanna get it over with like the 1992 film, but I prefer the buildup to when Lennie dies.
You kids are in your 20's and don't know real acting if you tripped over it. I'm 67, the new one ( and I only saw the ending )where he blows Lennie's brains out after a 10-second talk. No emotion. No tense buildup. 1939 was the best. These news guys were like hekel and jeckel.
I think the '39 version is better, this is so because it builds up tension, and Lennie actually "saw" it, and Georges reaction really was a gut punch for me and made it so much more upsetting... The '92 version is too abrupt and it doesn't let Lennie think and invision it before he died, leaving me hardly sad at all.
The remake can't even hold a candle to the original. There will never be a better version than the '39 original. Burgess and Lon were the perfect George and Lenny, they truly embodied those characters.
dankster that is what gives the emotion of grief and depression. The entire film is based upon this. It's about dealing with these things so the sudden loss if happiness (Lenny) helps us understand how George feels.
The 1939 version is way better. Lon Chaney Jr does a great job and makes you feel sorry for him. Burgess Meredith's George acts like he really cares about Lennie. Sinise is too harsh and he acts like he hates Lennie and the direction is more focused on himself (like a vanity project). There is just more feeling and emotion and build up in the 1939 version. The way George shoots Lennie in the 1992 version is too harsh and quick. It's like if Scorsese directed it or something. imo
I prefer the 92 version. Gary did a phenomenal job giving emotion to the scene and really made it an emotional moment. While the 39 version wasn't by any means a bad movie the acting lacks in the same emotion and George's actor (idk what his name was) seems to be hold back a smile XD
George and Lennie are better portrayed in the 1992 version. Honestly, they couldn't have hired better actors for the roles. You can see George's hesitancy and his sympathy for his companion, and Lennie's disability and innocence REALLY stands out better.
EXACTLY! Steinbeck really built that suspension during both of the character's death's that movies just can't portray. such an amazing, heartbreaking story
I literally watch this at school today, and I really didn’t expect this to happen. I knew something would happen because George told him to turn around, but I didn’t expect George to shoot him.
It is like comparing apples and oranges in many ways... They were made in completely different eras, and what some might consider "over the top" or "comical" in the older performances, was actually spot on in many ways. Many of the "Lennies" of that time were much like that---loud, uneducated, often abused, and simply passing from one helping hand to another. There is a reason why most critics rate both versions high.
On a totally different note, Steinbeck went out of his way to describe the gun as being a Luger. The 1939 version to my surprise did use a Luger while the 1992 version used a Colt New Service revolver. There’s a moment in the book where George struggles to get himself to snap the safety off, and I think with Gary’s performance, doing a close up of his thumb over the safety, and then to his face with the pain, then back to him snapping off the safety, would have added to the scene.
What really got me before Lennie died was when he said “but I got you George and you got me” stating that who cares if they are lonely and that no one else cares about them, stating that all what matters is that they have each other. But now that Lennie is dead George got no one. I cried so hard during this scene, it hurts me so bad, knowing now that Lennie never got his happy ending, he never made his day dreams come true, they were just dreams. No one really cared for Lennie expect for George, Lennie never deserved this, he deserved better. It’s always the most kindest people that get hurt the most. Time to cry myself to sleep about this 😀🔫🤗
I like the 1939 version more. The closing menace of the lynch mob is mostly absent from the 1992 version, and 1939 Lenny "seeing" the future farm at the moment of his death makes the mercy-killing more poignant, while the 1992 version is comparatively anticlimactic. The weakness of the 1939 version is that the musical score becomes intrusive, almost overpowering the dialog.
92 is the winner for me! It just really captures the emotions and tone of the book and the score is just tear jerking! Not too mention the lighting from the sun really sets the mood.
The first one, the classic was definitely better hands down... More emotional, more realistic, you shed buckets of tears for the real George because having to kill your best friend is never easy.. the one with Gary sinise, he killed Lennie like he was a nuisance. Plus Lennie is supposed to be a monster and brutally strong and powerful. Lon Chaney having an athletic background and huge build easily played the giant brute. I think John Malkovich being a city boy is too skinny to play Lennie. There were scenes in the old of mice and men where lon chaney Jr. shook Burgess Meredith like a rag doll and dish rag. John Malkovich is too skinny to be a convincing Lennie. If I was to cast a Lennie today I would pick former world's strongest man Brian Shaw. He has the brute strength and look to pull of a Lennie today.
The entire story is a study in isolation- from Crooks, Curley's wife, Candy and so forth- all in search of some sort of connection, but never finding it. This is what kept George and Lennie together so long- they always had each other, but ultimately, George had to face isolation like all the rest. On another note- as great as Ray Walston was as Candy, it would have been amazing if they could have gotten Burgess Meredith (the original George) for the role of Candy. He would have been perfect and to have him in the film over 50 years after the original would have been so heart-touching.
Screw John Malkovich for being such a good actor. I hope he never gets work again, he made me feel so sad watching this movie and others. Damn you John.
Fun Fact: Do you remember those old Bugs Bunny cartoons with 'The Abominable Snowman'? That snowman was based on the 1939 version of Lenny, played by Lon Chaney. That's why he talks about 'bunny rabbits' and "I will love him and hug him and name him George."
I love how in the '92 one, Lennie seems to help George through the pain of what he has to do, like this: George: ...not us... Lennie: Because... George *pauses* ...because I got you... L: And I got you, that's what gives a hoot in hell about us! Tell now how it's gonna be, George! G: *pauses again* ...we gonna get a little place... L: Yeah... we gonna get a little place and we gonna... G: ...we gonna... L: Have... G: ...gonna have a cow, and some pigs, and maybe chickens *real pain starts showing in voice* ...down the flat we'll have a little piece of al... L: Alfalfa, for the rabbits! *seemingly relieved George has got that far* G: ...rabbits... L: And I get to tend the rabbi- *gunshot*
