Up this week form BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial is an hour long adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice And Men. Having viewed a couple movie adaptations of this and now listened to the radio play, I came away wondering what more there is in the original novel. I find my self excited to consume the latest adaptation, but afterwards feeling a little disappointed in how stark and melodramatic the story is. There must be something more n the novel.
Don't get me wrong, this version written by Donna Franceschild is just fine, but if you know the story you kind of know the story. And the story is a dark one bathed in California 1930s migrant worker sunlight. Listening to this version, I found myself wondering what to make of the plot, what is the point of the story. Is it a monster story? (Pre-monster Lon Chaney Jr. played him in the excellent 1939 Hal Roach production.) It is a story of innocent , dumb sensuality, and lust in the form of the mostly gentle Lennie, who is lethal to none but the soft things he loves to touch. It is true that you only hurt the one you love?
Of Mice and Men is available to stream through March 19, 2010. It's a good little production, especially suited to those who have not heard the story before.
