Book Vs Movie
Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck’s Classic Story Vs the 1992 Adaptation
The last week in September is “Banned Books Week” and the Margos want to celebrate by talking about one of the most controversial of John Steinbeck’s work-- 1937’s Of Mice and Men. Censors have attacked the story for its use of vulgarities (including racist language) and it is listed by the American Library Association’s list of “Most Controversial Books of the 20th Century.”
Steinbeck grew up in the Salinas Valley area of California where he based many of his novels & short stories. Some of his best work includes Cannery Row, East of Eden & The Grapes of Wrath. He was known as a ‘giant among American letters” and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962.
Of Mice and Men is a story about migrant farmworkers during the Great Depression George Milton & Lennie Small. George is intelligent and thoughtful while Lennie is very large and has some type of mental disability. Different from most migrants, they stick together on their journey with George being the caretaker of his friend who has a habit of crushing small animals by accident and violent outbursts.
The men travel to Soledad, CA to work at the farm of Curley and his father. Curly is a short brutish man who hates Lennie on sight. Candy is an older worker who wants to join them in their scheme to one day own their own farm & land. The story has a tragic yet predictable ending that has haunted readers for over 80 years.
The 1992 adaptation was written by Horton Foote (who changes a few things from the original material) and is directed by & stars Gary Sinise. John Malkovich plays Lennie with Sherilyn Fenn playing the part of Curly’s lonely wife who is never given a name. The film made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival.
So which did we prefer between the book and the movie? Have a listen and find out.
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The messy/intriguing life of John Steinbeck
- The history of migrant farmers in the 1930s
- Changes in this adaptation
- The “Looney Tunes” version of Lennie
- The cast including Gary Sinise (George,) John Malkovich (Lennie,) Sherilyn Fenn (Curly’s wife,) Ray Walston (Candy,) Casey Siezmaszko (Curly,) John Terry (Slim,) Joe Morton (Crooks,) Alexis Arquette (Whitt,) and Noble Winningham (The Boss.)
Clips Featured:
- Of Mice and Men trailer
- “George & Lennie at the beginning of the movie”
- “Curly’s wife & Lennie in the barn”
- “Lennie at the end”
- Music: by Mark Isham
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Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/
Book Vs Movie
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
The Muriel Spark Novel Vs the 1969 Maggie Smith Film
The Margos are celebrating September with a series of “Back to School” episodes starting with 1961 classic The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark. Brodie is a popular teacher at a girls' school in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1931. Each year she picks a group of students to be an elite part of the “Brodie set”--under her tutelage learning mostly about the arts & beauty (and not science!)
Brodie is single and considers herself at her “prime” with two gentlemen vying for her affection. Mr. Lloyd who is a painter, father of six, and a bit of a letch. Mr. Lowther is a kind person but a bit wishy-washy. The competition for her attention and affection marks their relationships and is a game the girls enjoy watching.
Turns out Brodie is a Fascist which is her ultimate undoing. The complicated story about education and mentorship is an indictment on giving one person too much power over a young mind.
The 1969 movie was not a huge hit at the time but when Dame Maggie Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1970, it went back into the theaters and became a classic.
There are many changes between the book & the film. Which did the Margos like more?
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The interesting life story of Muriel Spark
- The central characters and how they differ in the adaptation
- The moral quandary of liking Maggie Smith and despising Brodie
- The cast including Maggie Smith (Brodie,) Robert Stephens (Teddy Llloyd,) Pamela Franklin (Sandy,) Gordon Jackson (Gordon Lowther,) Celia Johnson (Miss Mackay,) Diane Grayson (Jenny,) Jane Carr (Mary McGregor,) and Shirley Steedman (Monica.)
Clips Featured:
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie trailer
- Miss Brodie confronts Miss Mackay
- Sandy confront Miss Brodie
- Miss Brodie shows her vacation slides
- Music: “Jean” by Rod McKuen
Join our Patreon page to help support the show! https://www.patreon.com/bookversusmovie
Book Vs. Movie podcast https://www.facebook.com/bookversusmovie/
Twitter @bookversusmovie www.bookversusmovie.com
Email us at bookversusmoviepodcast@gmail.com
Brought to you by Audible.com You can sign up for a FREE 30-day trial here http://www.audible.com/?source_code=PDTGBPD060314004R
Margo D. @BrooklynFitChik www.brooklynfitchick.com brooklynfitchick@gmail.com
Margo P. @ShesNachoMama https://coloniabook.weebly.com/