Of Mice and Men

Check out at the bottom of this comment for update - Believe it or not, there is a high likelihood that out in my garage on a regular reel to reel audio tape is the sound track recording that I recorded that night in 1968 from the TV show. No video, but the audio was complete with no surrounding room sounds because I recorded it direct. Long ago my reel to reel recorder failed me and I never got a replacement since they seemed to fall out of favor. I'm computer savvy though and sometimes entertain thoughts of finding one to convert it to mp3 or something. If that ever happens I guess I could make it available if legal to do so. Great production.

I found the reel to reel recording but have not managed to digitize it yet - I got ahold of an Akai M7 recorder but am having trouble transferring the play/video/tv production to my laptop and from there to flash drive or DVD etc.

I have now digitized it in RAW form - gotta use some filters on it but it sounds pretty good. Thought of offering it to George Segal and Nicol Williamson's kids and any one else in the production or their kids (wouldn't be kids anymore though, would they?) Any one know how to contact them? WAV file is 1.25 GB so not big.

Just after I did the above, this version of "Of Mice and Men" became available from places like Amazon etc. On DVD!!!!! The full video including the 1968 commercials.

Seeing this teleplay in 1968 began a life-long relationship with author John Steinbeck. I think his book, Of Mice and Men is a key to understanding all of his works. And this TV movie really shows the compassion he had for the weak, and the square peg who doesn't fit into the uniformly round hole. In the fifty years since it aired I cannot think of a more compelling character than Nicol Williamson's Lenny! George Segal's George was edgy, and really shows the repressed frustration that simmered just below his frayed surface, and the difficulty of caring for the disabled then. His roll was to show off the beauty and goodness of Lenny (the real Lead character), which he did brilliantly. He carries me back to the early days when he was a promising serious actor in a sea of them. Looking over the great character actors who rounded out the cast launches me into an era of unique, original, unforgettable characters. Even Joey Heatherton justified her small but important part. I agree with the above reviewers most of whom regard this as one of the best movies ever made. And thus it's loss as one of the worst. How many other lost movies can claim such a strong impression after fifty years?

This was the very first film version I saw of Steinbeck's great novel. Unfortunately it seems go have been totally forgotten. That is a shame as it is incredibly good! The performances are top notch, especially the one of Lenny. I wish this would come out on DVD. This version deserves that and to be known by others who have seen other versions but not this one. I was extremely moved by the ending. Not any film can make me cry like that. I saw this version twice and have been wanting to see it again for a long time. It is not fair that this excellent version if primarily "lost" for so long. Most younger people (and even those my age) are completely unaware of it. It deserves to be well known.

As Clore_2 pointed out here several years ago, this production was done on video tape back in 1968, and it is possible that nothing much remains of it because images on tape degrade so easily. Nevetheless, I have fond memories of it though I saw it only once--it may have aired only once. I have seen two film versions as well, and can say that all three versions of this story are good. Thought Don Gordon was particularly memorable as Curley in this video version. Maybe better than the Curley in the 1939 version. Every version has a terrific cast and this one is no exception, especially with Nicole Williamson as Lennie.

I am now 60 years old, have an incurable and non treatable cancer and have never and probably will never see a production as moving as this. "Tell me about the Rabbits, George" is a quote that I have passed on and of course explained, to generations, yes generations. I don't want to duplicate what has been said above but this must be seen, if at all possible. I have seen Phantom (of the Opera), Les Miserables (over 10 times between those 2) and countless other moving shows but Lenny and George stole my heart a long long time ago. I have always looked at that movie and felt the pain. Pain of the era. Pain of friendship. Pain of what life sometimes demands one to do, even if illegal or unethical. If you're showing young people, explain what they will be watching and feeling before they start. There is no James Bond, Bourne Supremacy here just gut wrenching feelings that will swirl throughout their bodies and the memory WILL last forever. If anyone knows of a way to get a copy of this or how to view it again please reply. If you can ever get a wish, my wish for you is to witness and feel from this and BTW, bring a lot of tissues. Fireman Rob