This is a scene from the 1999 Motion Picture "Animal Farm" starring Patrick Stewart, Paul Schofield, Pete Postlethwaite, Iam Holm and Kelsey Grammer. The scene is the penultimate scene of the film; the pigs have already established a totalitarian regieme on Animal Farm, resulting in their over-working of the animals, starving them, and executing any who question the rule of Napoleon. The original leader, Snoball, has been expelled from the farm, Napoleon and Squealerhave become alchoholics, and Boxer, the carthorse, has been cruelly slaughtered. This scene extends on the ending of the novel; the novel ends with the farm animals being unable to distinguish the pigs from the humans. However, I consider this scene to be a masterpiece as well as one of the most powerful scenes in cinematic history, and it is my favorite scene from the film.
This piece of footage is presented as a piece of Soviet Propaganda, created by Squealer (the propoganda machine and allegory for Molotov) in honour of Napoleon (the dictator and allegory for Stalin).
The opening part of the video depicts Jessie, the border collie, witnessing Napoleon sharing a bowl of whiskey (bought with Boxer's life) with the human farmer Pilkington and the anthropomorphic blurring between them. This foreshadows Napoleon's donning a suit towards the end of the Propoganda film.
The next section, showing the animals reading the commandments of animalism (which have been systematically altered by Squealer throughout the story) and noticing the latest alteration: All animals are equal BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS. This re-iterates the superiority of the pigs and the power they have over the other animal's lives. It also refreshes our memory of Boxer's pitiful demise at the Glue Factory.
The propaganda film is introduced to us by Squealer (whom we have come to despise) as a method of de-sensitising the animals to Napoleon's cruelty. The film itself is remeniscient of both Soviet and Nazi propaganda videos, particularly when the huge green banners depicting Napoleon's flag fall from the walls of the barn. The almost brain-washed manner in which the ducks march on the spot throughout the song adds to the chilling nature of the film, as do the sheep sporting sashes of "the hoof and horn".
The lyrics to the song are as follows:
Praise to him, the font of all our wisdom;
Long to live, the ruler of our farm.
Napoleon, mighty leader! Mighty leader watching over us!
SHOUT SHOUT, SHOUT OUT LOUD! SNOUT SNOUT, PINK AND PROUD!
Friend on high, you guide us with your smile;
Teach us how to be as kind as you.
Napoleon, mighty leader! Mighty leader watching over us!
SHOUT SHOUT, SHOUT OUT LOUD! SNOUT SNOUT, PINK AND PROUD!
Perfect Pig, you bless us with your beauty!
Hallowed Hog, how wonderous is your glow!
Napoleon, mighty leader! Mighty leader watching over us!
SHOUT SHOUT, SHOUT OUT LOUD! SNOUT SNOUT, PINK AND PROUD!
FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BETTER! FOUR LEGS GOOD, TWO LEGS BETTER!
The animal's chanting of "Four legs good, two legs better" is a reversal of one of their first principals of animalism: "Four legs good, two legs BAD". Again, this reflects the pig's desire to become more human. The slow, upward-tilting establishing shot of Napoleon wearing a suit is the climax of the piece; Napoleon is now practically completely human, happy with the power which he craved.
The transition of the film from black and white to colour depicts the transition from the film to present day. Napoleon's final speech displays the twisted and juxtaposed nature of his reign; in particular, his desire to devote the farm to building walls, while reassuring the farm that all animals are free. The geese flying over Napoleon's head are representatives of the Russian fighter planes.
In conclusion, I love the dramatic nature of this scene and the music it is composed with - the scene is powerful, dramatic, shocking, disturbing and chilling, just like Orwell's original novel! However, I do feel that the producers and directors should have decided to terminate the film at the end of Napoleon's speech rather than attempt to give the story a happy ending. This would have given the film a more unsettling and unnerving ending, whilst remaining loyal to the book, which I feel would have been more appropriate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m1VsFOUePw
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