stienbeck classic be give it first big screen adaption and lon chaney jr give the best performance of his career . of mouse and men be a great novel to begin with and the problem with it be that it would be a hard novel to adapt in depression era 30 . the movie be more up beat than the 1992 version but it benefit because this version be more real than the sinise film . this version have the benefit of be make in the middle of the depression and because of this it have great power to it . chaney deserve all the praise in the world for his portrayal of the tragic lenny . this lenny be easily the most tragic on film . we believe george when he say lenny be like a big child . chaney lenny be a character who doesn not understand the world around him and malkovich lenny be more corrupt by his surroundings . it a shame he do not receive an oscar nomination for this role . i think that if he have not go into horror and he could have work well a a dramatic player . the set design and cinematography be impressive a well . the film have very simple surroundings but simple isn not bad here . we forget of mouse and men because we be also introduce to the land of oz or the plantation of go with the wind or the congress in mr. smith go to washington and but unlike those picture the movie rely more so on it outstanding cast which give this picture more emotional weight . this be the definitive adaptation of of mouse and men . the sinise film be outstanding but it doesn not hold a candle to this masterpiece .