Animal Farm (1999 film)
| Animal Farm | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster
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| Written by |
Alan Janes Martyn Burke (teleplay) George Orwell (novel) |
| Directed by | John Stephenson |
| Starring |
Kelsey Grammer Ian Holm Julia Louis-Dreyfus Patrick Stewart Julia Ormond Paul Scofield Pete Postlethwaite Peter Ustinov |
| Theme music composer | Richard Harvey |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) |
Greg Smith Robert Halmi |
| Cinematography | Mike Brewster |
| Editor(s) | Colin Green |
| Running time | 91 minutes |
| Distributor | Hallmark Films |
| Budget | $23 million |
| Release | |
| Original release | October 3, 1999 |
Animal Farm is a made-for-TV film released in 1999 by Hallmark Films and broadcast on the American cable channel TNT. It is loosely an adaptation of the 1945 George Orwell novel of the same name. The film tells the story of farm animals successfully revolting against their human owner, only to slide into a more brutal tyranny among themselves. The film received mixed reviews when it was broadcast, with much criticism directed at its ending, in which the animals overthrow their own regime, as opposed to the novel's ending, which shows that the animals had so taken on the traits of their former human oppressors so thoroughly, that it was nearly impossible to tell which was which when both sides confronted each other.
As a bleak, dark scene unfolds, animals are seen struggling through the mud as Jessie (Julia Ormond), a old, nearly blind Border Collie (the narrator) reflects on the events that led them to their current situation. The film flashes back years earlier.
As the alcoholic and abusive farmer, Mr. Jones (Pete Postlethwaite), struggles with debt to neighbor farmer Mr. Pilkington, Old Major (Peter Ustinov), the oldest pig at Manor Farm, holds a meeting with the animals in the barn. Old Major tells the animals that mankind is their enemy, for they serve and provide for mankind without reward. Old Major teaches the animals the song, "Beasts of the World," which proclaims that animals must overthrow man in order to be free and equal. The meeting is interrupted when Jones stumbles outside the barn and accidentally fires his gun, killing Old Major. Jones later then uses Old Major for meat. Jones neglects to feed the animals, and Boxer (Paul Scofield), the work horse, leads the animals to the food shed, and the pigs lead a revolution against Jones, his wife, and the farm workers, forcing them off the property.
Under the rule of animals, Manor Farm is renamed Animal Farm by Snowball (Kelsey Grammer), a pig who has learned to read and write. Snowball paints on the barn doors what he calls the seven commandments of Animalism, which, in accordance with Old Major's views, forbid animals from behaving like humans or killing other animals. The final commandment reads, "All animals are equal." Snowball teaches the animals to chant, "Four legs good, two legs bad" and also reveals the "Hoof and Horn," a flag that represents Animal Farm. Napoleon (Patrick Stewart), another pig, declares that the farmhouse is to be preserved as a museum, and the three pigs (Snowball, Napoleon, and Squealer (Ian Holm) oversee the farm's operation. Napoleon also takes Jessie's puppies from her, claiming that it is best for them to receive an education from him. Snowball, when questioned by the farm animals, confesses that he and the other pigs have taken the farm's milk and apples for themselves. Squealer explains that the pigs' well-being takes priority because they are the brains of the farm. Jessie is the only one unconvinced.
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