at another studio perhaps there would have be a happier end and with all the little people get together and buy that farm . capra maybe for that or over at twentieth century fox shirley temple could have sing some happy tune while bill robinson dance with lenny and george in the background lenny and george be her caretaker until they find her rich relative ranch in the san joaquin valley . over at warner perhaps a shootout end with george kill curley before collapse dead with lenny and mae free to fall in love . lewis milestone direct a realistic drama about the force that drive u to be either humane or inhuman and whether inside of ourselves or beyond our control . the character of george could have treat the retarded lenny a a beast of burden to bolster his own image but it the ranch owner son curley who do that to most of the worker except for charles bickford who he envy and fear . the character of mae be mean to be see a both shrill and pathetic trap in a loveless marriage in a setting where she think she would be elevate consider one of good people of the community while have come to realize too late her true role a a breeder of more curley . lenny represent the trusting mass who follow whatever voice be loud or give the most reward and by not be able to discern his own innate strength mot destroy or ruthlessly control . the example of nazism and communism alive and baring fang in europe give add weight to the role of lenny . both have take over stricken society with vision of a new day with reward for the faithful brutal remorseless doom for those who challenge them . film be not escapist fare no bright tomorrow over the horizon a in ford version of the grape of wrath and only one little man permanently cripple and alone in a society that barely know he exist .