Animal Farm

A group of intelligent animals overthrow their corrupt human owner and set up their own self-sustained farm, predicated on an idealistic credo: ‘All Animals are Created Equal’, ‘No Animal Shall Ever Drink Liquor’, ‘Four Legs Good: Two Legs Bad’ etc. But when Snowball the Pig is overthrown by the despotic Napoleon, all idealism goes out the window, and soon the pigs are ruling dictatorially over the other animals. Before long, Animal Farm operates on but one principle: ‘All Animals Are Created Equal, But Some Are More Equal Than Others’. Orwell's ironic ending, in which it becomes impossible to tell the difference between the Pigs and the Humans, is blunted in favor of a grafted-on happy ending. (Hal Erickson)