Comparing Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men

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Stephen King once said, “Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They are both fruit, but taste completely different.” The superiority of a film adaptation compared to its original novel is a highly contested topic. Although it is stereotypical to say that a book is always better than its movie; that is not always the case. The 1992 MGM film adaptation directed by Gary Sinise of the 1937 novel Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck, is among the few adaptations that can compete against the book. Both the novel and the adaptation tell the lives of Lennie and George’s lives on a ranch during the Great Depression, and their efforts in trying to achieve the American dream of owning their own farm. The adaptation has certain key elements that …show more content…

For example, in the beginning of the film, a scene is added where a girl in a red dress runs across a field, screaming for help, followed by a scene with George and Lennie hiding from ranch workers (Sinise). Beginning the film with this scene, in a way, is a reference for the results later in the film. Whereas the novel’s representation of this is only through dialogue between George and Slim, the film presents the audience with an actual scene, acting as both a reference and a way to get the attention of the audience. By including additional scenes like this, the adaptation makes itself more intriguing, which enhances the audience’s experience. Another example of how the film enhances the experience is with on Lennie’s first day at the ranch. When George and Lennie are at the field working, Lennie is tasked with loading the wagons with bags of wheat. Lennie’s strength enables him to carry the bags faster and more efficiently, making the men in the wagon unable to keep up with him. It takes two ranch workers struggling to lift a wheat bag, where Lennie can easily carry one (Sinise). Seeing the two men struggling, and their facial expressions, lightens the mood, as some find it humorous. With this additional scene, Lennie’s strength is once again further implied, but it also adds a bit of humor into the story, in contrast to its otherwise dark mood. The film better enhances a viewer’s experience by including additional scenes, which conveys the story better, due to the audience having a deeper sense of

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Comparing Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men