Curleyʼs WifeScene 1: They Meet Curleyʼs Wife

Book Movie (1930) Movie (1992)

In the book she is acquainted with the two men a few minutes after meeting Candy and the Ranch owner. She is described as a tart by the men and her manner of being is described as hooker like and of a call girl fashion.“She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters like sausages. She wore a cotton house dress and red mules, on the insteps of which were little bouquets of ostrich feathers...... She leaned against the doorframe and so that her body was thrown forward....” 1937,John Steinbeck, ʻOf Mice and Menʼ, pages 34-35

In the book she has anonymity because she has no name other than Curleyʼs Wife. Her past is frequently hinted at, but not very detailed, and her personality is shown when she has a brief conversation with Lennie before her death.

In this movie she is introduced in a very different way. Her introduction begins when the men (George, Lennie, and Candy) are talking about her and her character. There is a change of scene. This new scene shows Curleyʼs Wife in the barn playing with a puppy. Then Curley and his father are at the door, they begin speaking.C- “Have you seen Mae?” F- “Why do you keep pestering her? She donʼt do no harm!”C- “How do I know that?”F- “Ya know, maybe if Mae had some women to talk to...”C- “It ainʼt women Iʼm worried about...”F- “Awww. Stick to your job and forget your wife for and hour!”After the men say this, it shows Maeʼs face and her look of dismay.She storms out and says.M- “You sure trust me Curley!”C- “As far as I can spit!He asks her if anyone was in the barn with her, and she says no, he checks and sees a young man (who had entered while they talked) and ʻsocksʼ him. Mae gets mad at him. She expresses her want to talk to somebody and her need to do something.He gets mad at her and requests he give back the puppy Slim has given her as a present. She refuses and Curley storms off muttering about giving Slim the ʻOld One Twoʼ

Her physical appearance is quite inaccurate because she has short curley blonde hair and a short dress accented with a thick black belt. She wears mules with rhinestones on them.

I found it interesting that the director decided to give Curleyʼs Wife a name because it moderately changes her character. She no longer has a sense of mystery and is not as interesting as in the book. I do, however, agree with their casting choice, though Betty Field is not physically like Curleyʼs Wife, she did an excellent job of personating her.

In this film Curleyʼs Wife is introduced in a way quite similar to the one in the book. She enters the bunker and asks the men if they have seen Curley, the men answer and she leaves. She is quite accurately portrayed. Her physical appearance and way of being is spot on, but her clothes and nails are not correct. She is indeed wearing a cotton house dress with pink simple floral designs, that is correct. She wears plain black shoes and has plain unpainted nails. “Nobody canʼt blame a person for looking. See ya around.” She says before leaving the bunk house, showing her flirty side. In this movie I think she is portrayed very well. She shows the emotions Steinbeck illustrated in the book through Curleyʼs Wife.

Curleyʼs WifeScene 2: Lennie kills Curleyʼs Wife

Book Movie (1930) Movie (1992)

In the book the scene begins with Lennie and his dead puppy. Curleyʼs Wife comes in and tries to talk to Lennie. Lennie says that he isnʼt allowed to talk to him because George said he shouldnʼt. She says “All the guys got a horse shoe tenement goinʼ on. Itʼs onʼy about four oʼclock. None of them guys is goinʼ to leave that tenement. Why canʼt I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awfully lonely.” In due corse Lennie gives in and talks to her.She consoles him and tells him that the death of his puppy is no big deal. When Lennie goes on about not being allowed to talk to him, she gets mad and rambles on about how she should have a right to speak to anyone she wants, and how ʻshe aint doinʼ no harm to anyoneʼ. She then proceeds to prattle on and on about what she could make of herself and about her past. Soon after, Lennie tells of his potential future with the rabbits and such. In time, the conversation leads to the gratification one feels while touching soft things. Curleyʼs Wife offers to let Lennie touch her hair, and when he gets too enthusiastic, he starts to mess it up. She gets angry. Lennie gets scared and covers her mouth and grabs her. She in turn begins to struggle violently. Lennie tries to keep her quiet, but accidentally breaks her neck while doing so.

Her death in the book is very sudden and unexpected. It occurs in a very quick and swift passage.

This scene is quite interesting because it has certain aspects that are similar to the book and certain that arenʼt.In this scene, Mae has packed her bags and is going to leave, and passes by the barn to get her puppy. She finds Lennie and his dead puppy. At first she consoles him, but when the conversation develops, both the characters find themselves daydreaming about their potential future. Eventually they stray onto the topic of touching soft things and how it is pleasant. Mae offers to let curley touch her hair, but when he gets over exited, she gets mad that heʼs mussing it up. Lennie panics and grabs her, she begins to scream he covers her mouth. She struggles, Lennie shakes her and not knowing his own strength, brakes her neck. Lennie runs away and goes to the brook. Candy comes into the barn to give milk to the puppies and finds the body.

The differences are subtle, but notable. •She has a puppy•She is packed to leave•They both daydreams

This movie is different from the book, but is entirely an attempt to improve it.

The scene here is quite the same as the book.Lennie had just killed his puppy when Curleyʼs Wife comes in. After comforting him, she begins to talk to him. She tells about her past and her aspirations to become an actress and how her mother thwarted her dreams. She proceeds to stress her dislike for Curley and her want for company. Lennie talks very fondly of his rabbits. She asks why he likes them so much and this leads to the subject of touching soft stuff. She offers to let him touch her hair, when he does he gets exited and messes it up. She protests and Lennie panics. While trying to prevent her form screaming, he accidentally breaks her neck.

This movie is closer to what I imagined because of the appearance of both characters and the set it was acted on. I found it to be more interesting and accurate.

Assignment Due the 1st March, 2010

Using ALL the information you have gathered form the novel, the 2 films, and the notes and worksheets, you are to choose 2 scenes from ʻOf Mice and Menʼ and compare the

way these 2 scenes are dealt with in the original writing (the novel) and the two films. Be vary detailed. You must show that you are very knowledgeable about the novel about the novel and both the films. To conclude your assignment, explain in detail which you liked -

either of the films or the novel. Why? It can be in any form. An essay must be at least 1000 words.

Conclusion

In conclusion to all my research and reading I must say that though the acting in both movies was staggering, it, in no way reached the caliber of the book written by John Steinbeck. I particularly enjoyed the book more than the movie because I could come up with my own

image of the characters instead of being presented someone else's image. I also liked her aura of mystery and loneliness the book brought forth that the directors failed to reproduce. All in all, I believe the book was the best out of the three.