Animal Farm (1954 film)
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| Animal Farm | |
|---|---|
 Contemporary poster for the film |
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| Directed by | John Halas Joy Batchelor |
| Produced by | John Halas Joy Batchelor |
| Written by | George Orwell (novel) Joy Batchelor Joseph Bryan John Halas Borden Mace Philip Stapp Lothar Wolff; |
| Starring | Gordon Heath Maurice Denham |
| Music by | Matyas Seiber |
| Cinematography | S.G. Griffiths J. Gurr W. Taylor R. Turk |
| Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé Limited Louis de Rochement Associates |
| Release date(s) | January 1955 |
| Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Animal Farm is a 1954 British animated feature based on the popular book by George Orwell. It was the first British animated feature released worldwide, but it was by no means the first British animated feature ever made (that honour goes to Handling Ships, an instructional film for the Admiralty made in 1945). It can, however, be said to be the first British animated feature film on general release. It was quietly commissioned, along with the 1954 BBC television production of Nineteen Eighty-Four, by the CIA.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The film generally follows the book closely, with the exception of the ending (see the section headed Epilogue).
Following the return of a drunken Mr. Jones to Manor Farm, the pig Old Major calls a meeting of all the animals. He tells them to revolt against Jones and to take control of the farm for themselves, calling for a life of equality and prosperity. Following his death that night, the two pigs Napoleon and Snowball assume command and the animals force Jones from the farm.
They destroy everything that reminds them of Jones and declare his house off-limits. Taking control, they rename the farm "Animal Farm", painting the commandments on the side of a barn. The animals begin to work the farm for themselves, and the fields yield a successful crop. The pigs decide to spread the news of Animal Farm to other farms, encouraging their downtrodden kin to rise up against their masters. Snowball attempts to educate the animals and draws up plans for a windmill to generate electricity. Napoleon, backed by dogs he's raised from puppies, drives Snowball from the farm. He takes complete control of the farm, with his assistant Squealer, claims the windmills plans for himself, and work on it begins.
There is little food available to the animals, but the pigs have plenty. Boxer the horse works long hours helping to build the windmill, and later discovers the pigs sleeping in beds in Jones' house. The commandment against beds has been changed on the barn accordingly. The farm, under Napoleon's leadership, begins to trade with the outside world, represented by Mr Whymper. Squealer tells the chickens that their eggs will be taken to trade with - this contradicts what they were told by Old Major. They attempt to revolt but are caught by the pigs. In a scene reminiscent of Stalin's purges, the chickens (along with a sheep and a goose) confess their crimes, and are killed by the dogs.
The revolutionary song is forbidden by Napoleon, and trade continues. The other farmers become jealous of Whymper and attempt to seize Animal Farm. A battle ensues during which Boxer is shot in the leg, and the animals emerge triumphant. In the meantime Jones, however, blows up the windmill. During the winter the animals rebuild the windmill whilst the pigs languish in the farmhouse. Boxer's health deteriorates until one night, when during a storm he collapses. A van, apparently an ambulance, arrives to take Boxer away, but it turns out to be from Whymper's glue factory. The pigs receive a case of whisky in payment, and Squealer delivers a phoney eulogy. The animals realise that the pigs have betrayed the revolution and used it for their own ends, but are subdued by the dogs.
Time passes; the farm is now surrounded by checkpoints and barbed wire. The pigs wear suits and clearly demonstrate that they have become as bad as the man they overthrew. The commandments on the barn have been removed and replaced by one: All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others. Word spreads to other farms of this betrayal, and now, ready to take their chances with another revolt, they march on the farmhouse. The dogs, drunk, are ineffectual, and the pigs look on in terror as the animals approach.
[edit] Epilogue
In a stark departure from Orwell's book, the film ends with the animals revolting against the pigs. John Halas, one-half of the directing team, hated the idea but later reflected that the film needed the happier ending of counter-revolution, as it rewarded the audience for their emotional investment. However, in recent years evidence has come to light suggesting that the CIA covertly funded the film [citation needed]. If this is the case, then an ending showing counter-revolutionary forces would have been desirable. The animation historian Brian Sibley[2] doubts that the team responsible were aware of the source of the funding. However as Halas & Batchelor had produced propaganda and information films prior to Animal Farm, it seems reasonable the film could have been commissioned as propaganda against communism.
[edit] Critical response
Much of the pre-release promotion for the film in the UK focussed on it being a British film instead of a product of the Hollywood studios. The film critic C. A. Lejeune wrote at the time: "I salute "Animal Farm" as a fine piece of work ... [the production team] have made a film for the eye, ear, heart and mind." [3] In recent years, Matyas Seiber's score and Maurice Denham's vocal talents have been praised specifically (Denham provided every voice and animal noise in the film). The animation style has been described as "Disney-turned-serious".[4]
Some criticism was levelled at the altered ending, with one paper reporting: "Orwell would not have liked this one change, with its substitution of commonplace propaganda for his own reticent, melancholy satire."[5]
To coincide with the film's release, a comic strip version was serialised in newspapers, drawn by Harold Whitaker, one of the animators.
While British audiences were kinder to the film in terms of box office, American audiences, used to the cute and cuddly animals from Disney, were shocked to find the film more serious than promoted, stating in their reviews that the film is unsuitable for children, despite talking animals. It wasn't the international hit that Halas and Batchelor hoped it would be.
[edit] References
- ^ Stonor Saunders, Francis. Who Paid the Piper?: The CIA and the Cultural Cold War. London: Granta, 2000. ISBN 1862073279.
- ^ Sibley, Brian. Audio commentary on UK 2003 'Special Edition' DVD release of Animal Farm, ASIN B00009MGK2
- ^ Lejeune, C. A. At the films: Pig Business, The Observer, January 1955
- ^ Author unknown. "Animal Farm" on the screen, The Manchester Guardian, 1955
- ^ Ibid.
