ABC WEDNESDAY NIGHT SPECIAL, THE: OF MICE AND MEN (TV)
Summary
One in a series of dramatic television productions presented under the umbrella of "The ABC Wednesday Night Special." This program is an adaptation of John Steinbeck's classic 1937 novel about two Depression-era migrant ranch workers. The story begins in California as George Milton and his best friend Lennie Small camp out, planning to head for a ranch nearby to attain work. George is annoyed to notice that Lennie, who is physically powerful but mentally slow, has a dead mouse in his pocket, as he is fond of petting soft things. George complains that he could have a better life if he was not stuck with Lennie, but then softens upon seeing Lennie's distress and promises that they will stay together, knowing that Lennie cannot make it alone. He comforts him by reiterating their idyllic future plans to run their own ranch and own a collection of rabbits, which Lennie himself will tend, and tells Lennie to return to their current hiding place in the brush should anything go amiss at the ranch. The next day, they meet the boss at the ranch, and Lennie obeys George's orders and tries not to speak. George lies to the boss that Lennie is his cousin and was kicked in the head by a horse as a child, but he assures him that Lennie is a good worker and the boss agrees to hire them.
George and Lennie meet Candy, an elderly, one-handed ranch worker, and Lennie immediately takes a liking to his dog. They also encounter Curley, the boss' quarrelsome son, and he and George dislike one another at once. Candy reveals that Curley is a newlywed and that his attractive wife has "got the eye," making him even more apt to pick fights. Curley's wife stops by the bunks, but George firmly tells Lennie to avoid her, and Lennie states that he wants to leave the ranch, as it is "mean here." They soon meet fellow workers Slim and Carlson, and Lennie is thrilled to learn that Slim's dog has recently had several puppies. Over the next few days, Lennie proves himself to be a hard worker, and at George's request, Slim allows him to keep one of the dogs for himself. Slim questions why George sticks with Lennie in such a tough economy, and George explains that he knew Lennie's aunt and watches out for him for her sake, admitting guiltily that he used to play unkind jokes on Lennie, knowing that he would never react or fight back despite his strength. He then reveals that they were recently forced to flee the town of Weed when Lennie was accused of rape after innocently grabbing at a woman's brightly-colored dress.
Later, in the bunks, Carlson complains about the smell of Candy's aged dog, saying that it would be kinder to euthanize him, as the animal "would never know what hit him." The others try to diffuse the tension with conversation and card games, but Carlson persists, offering to shoot the dog himself, and a saddened Candy finally relents. Another man, Whit, invites George to join them for a trip into town to a brothel of sorts, but they are interrupted by Curley, searching for his wife. Whit hints that she is off alone in the barn with Slim and they all run off to observe, though George stays behind with Lennie, again talking about their future and plans to live "off the fat of the land." Candy overhears and asks to go in on it with them, explaining that he has saved up a good deal of money, and the three of them excitedly decide to purchase their property within one month's time. The others soon return, mocking Curley for being cuckolded by his wife, and Curley, angered, picks a fight with Lennie. Lennie at first refuses to hit back but then crushes Curley's hand in his own, and the others order Curley not to reveal the truth about his injury as George assures Lennie that he is not at fault.
While the others hit the town, Lennie visits his puppy in the barn and then finds Crooks alone in his room, not understanding that he is ostracized from the group because he is black. Crooks reluctantly allows Lennie to join him, wondering if he is "nuts" when he begins expounding about the rabbits, and Lennie becomes highly agitated when Crooks suggests that he would be sent to "the booby hatch" if George were to leave him or die. Candy joins them as well, and though Crooks doubts that their ranch plans will come to fruition, he offers to work for them if they are successful. Curley's wife stops by and flirts with the three men, particularly Lennie, knowing that he is the one who injured Curley. Crooks urges her to leave them alone, but she orders him to "keep his place." Later, as the others play horseshoes in the yard, Lennie frets over having accidentally killed his puppy, worrying that George will not allow him to have rabbits after all if he finds out. Curley's wife finds him and talks with him, revealing that she dislikes Curley and once had aspirations of fame and a glamorous life. When he comments that he likes to touch soft things, she urges him to touch her hair but panics when he becomes too rough, and Lennie unintentionally breaks her neck in the struggle.
Lennie flees upon realizing that he has "done another bad thing," and Candy soon finds the body and tells George. He suggests that he and George can still buy their ranch together, but George sadly admits that he never really believed in their dream. Upon learning of his wife's death, Curley immediately guesses that Lennie is at fault and declares that he will find and kill him. George pleads for mercy, but Carlson states that Lennie has stolen his gun and is dangerous, and the others form a lynch mob and head out. George finds Lennie hiding in the brush, per George's early instructions, and he comforts him, repeating his words about their partnership and their plans for the ranch and the rabbits. He tells Lennie to look out across the river as he talks and, struggling mightily with his emotions, forces himself to shoot Lennie in the back of the head with Carlson's gun, wanting to spare him a painful death at Curley's hands. The others soon find the two of them and praise George's deadly actions, and only Slim seems to understand George's true intentions towards his friend. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: January 31, 1968 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T80:0194
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Literature - Adaptations
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1968
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - AC spark plugs
- TV - Commercials - Alberto hair care products
- TV - Commercials - Camel cigarettes
- TV - Commercials - Dippity-Do hair gel
- TV - Commercials - Gillette Foamy shaving cream
- TV - Commercials - Gillette razor blades
- TV - Commercials - L&M cigarettes
- TV - Commercials - Lark cigarettes
- TV - Commercials - Polaroid cameras
- TV - Commercials - Pontiac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Slender dietary powder
- TV - Commercials - State Farm insurance
- TV - Commercials - Sunbeam electrical appliances
- TV - Commercials - White Rain hair spray
- TV - Promos - "Wives and Lovers"
CREDITS
- David Susskind … Producer
- Alan Shayne … Associate Producer
- Richard Swicker … Associate Producer
- Ted Kotcheff … Director
- John Steinbeck … Writer
- John Hopkins … Adapted by
- George Segal … Cast, George
- Nicol Williamson … Cast, Lenny
- Joey Heatherton … Cast, Curley's Wife
- Will Geer … Cast, Candy
- Donald Moffat … Cast, Slim
- Don Gordon … Cast, Curley
- Moses Gunn … Cast, Crooks
- Dana Elcar … Cast, Carlson
- John Randolph … Cast, Whit