Release date: 29th December 1954 (New York City release). 7th of January 1955 (UK release).
Story: On a farm somewhere in England, the animals are living under the horrible treatment of the often drunk Farmer John. But one night, an old boar named Old Major tells the animals that he had a dream where all of the animals overthrow the humans and live in a society where all animals are equal and free (using the motto "Four legs good! Two legs bad!"). The next morning, Farmer John has forgotten to feed the animals. Out of desperation, they break open the feed store and help themselves. But Farmer John finds them and is even more in a temper when he confronts them. But the animals have had enough of his cruelty and managed to stand their ground and finally overthrow him. With John finally gone, the animals celebrate their victory over him and the taking over of the farm. But little do they realise that they will soon regret it as the pigs take over.
My thoughts: This was the very first feature length cartoon that was made in Britain. And this film is based on the book by George Orwell (which reflects the Russian revolution, the Soviet Union, and the Starlin era but with animals). For most of the film, the animals don't speak (only on some occasions). In fact the only characters to speak are the humans and the pigs (who were all done by a single voice actor). The rest of the dialogue is done by the narrator. The film's ending is different from the novel. In the book, the animals witness a party with the humans and the pigs. Where an argument starts and the other animals look from pig to human. And to their horror and shock, they can no longer tell the difference. In the film however, when the animals realise that the pigs are now worse than Farmer John, they band together and manage to overthrow the pigs. This ending was suggested by the C.I.A (who had funded the making of the film and uses it as anti-communist propaganda).
My score: Three stars.
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