john steinbeck publish his nobel win book in 1937. this film adaptation of say book follow two year later . lewis milestone select two virtually unknown actor to play the lead character and struck pay dirt . the film tell the story of two itinerant laborer travel through california in the depression of 1930. burgess meredith and play george a sensitive and fast think individual who have take and befriend lennie and ( lon chaney jr. ) a huge retarded man who be gentle and kind and well mean but hamper with a dangerous and prodigious strength . secure employment and they begin work on a large farm ranch and be greet by slim ( charles bickford ) the ranch foreman and whit ( noah berry jr. ) a ranch hand . however they be also meet by curley ( bob steele ) and his flirtatious wife mae ( betty field ) . life on the ranch be pepper with both opportunity of future dream and but also with hazardous personal situation which seem innocuous enough and but be fraught with misunderstand . nevertheless and the movie itself be fill with both compassion for life and but also in heartrending acceptation of natural tragedy . the wonderful performance by meredith and chaney mark this great film with the unmistakable characteristic of a true classic . a great movie stem from an equally great book . a must see for all movie lover . .