The movie begins before the credits are shown. George and Lennie are fleeing a mob. They board a moving freight train boxcar. As they close the door, we see the prologue as if written in chalk on the side of the boxcar. The words 'Of Mice and Men' then are highlighted, the rest of the words fade out, creating the opening title sequence with credits following, all written out.
PROLOGUE: "'The best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft a-gley and leave us naught but grief and pain for promised joy'---Robert Burns"