Why did the CIA change the ending of Animal Farm?

The CIA changed the ending of the 1954 film primarily to transform George Orwell’s “reticent, melancholy satire” into an overt tool of Cold War propaganda.

While Orwell wrote the book as a warning that revolutions can be hijacked by tyrants, the CIA wanted a film that actively encouraged the overthrow of communist regimes. Here is why and how they implemented those changes:

Removing “The Pox on Both Houses”

In Orwell’s original ending, the pigs and the human farmers (representing the Soviet Union and the Capitalist West, respectively) are seen dining together, playing cards, and cheating one another. The animals realize the two groups have become indistinguishable.

The CIA’s Problem — This ending suggested that Western Capitalism was just as corrupt as Soviet Communism.

The Change — The CIA’s Office of Policy Coordination (OPC) ordered the removal of the humans from the final scene. By making the pigs the sole villains, the film shifted the blame entirely onto the “Communist” analogs.

Encouraging Counter-Revolution

Orwell’s ending is famously bleak—the animals remain oppressed and hopeless.

The CIA’s Goal — The Agency wanted to incite “hope” in the populations of Eastern Europe. They viewed the film as a way to show that a second revolution against “Napoleon” (Stalin) was not only possible but necessary.

The Change — They invented a finale where the animals from surrounding farms hear about the pigs’ betrayal, unite, and launch a violent, successful uprising to destroy Napoleon’s regime.

Altering Key Figures (The “Snowball” Problem)

Internal memos reveal that the CIA was worried the character of Snowball (the Leon Trotsky figure) was portrayed too sympathetically in early scripts as an “intelligent and courageous” alternative to Napoleon.

The Logic — If Snowball looked like a “good” communist, the film might inadvertently promote Trotskyism instead of rejecting communism entirely.

The Change — They ordered Snowball to be depicted as more of a “fanatic intellectual” whose plans would have failed anyway, and they chose to have him killed by the dogs rather than just exiled, ending any hope for a “better” version of the original revolution.

The “Mighty Wurlitzer” Strategy

The film was part of a broader CIA operation nicknamed the “Mighty Wurlitzer,” a term used by CIA official Frank Wisner to describe the Agency’s ability to play the “keys” of culture (books, art, and movies) to influence global opinion.

Secret Funding — The CIA secretly purchased the rights from Orwell’s widow, Sonia, through a front company.

The Mission — They wanted to simplify Orwell’s complex political philosophy into a “clear-cut struggle between good and evil” that would be easily understood by international audiences, even children.

Summary of Differences in the Ending

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The 1954 animated film of Animal Farm is famous for being the first British animated feature to receive a wide theatrical release, but it is equally famous for the significant liberties it took with George Orwell’s original text—largely due to secret funding from the CIA, who wanted to use the film as anti-Soviet propaganda during the Cold War.

Here are the primary differences between the 1954 movie and the 1945 book:

The Ending (The Biggest Change)

The most significant departure is the conclusion. Orwell’s book ends on a bleak, cynical note: the animals look through the farmhouse window and realize they can no longer distinguish the pigs from the humans. The revolution has failed, and one form of tyranny has simply replaced another.

In the 1954 film, the ending is pro-revolutionary. The animals from other farms realize Napoleon has betrayed them and launch a second, successful revolution to overthrow the pigs. This “happy ending” was specifically requested by the film’s American backers to suggest that communist regimes could and should be overthrown by the people.

Character Omissions and Shifts

To streamline the story into a 72-minute runtime, several characters were removed or significantly altered:

Mollie the Mare — The vain horse who misses sugar and ribbons (representing the Russian bourgeoisie) is completely absent from the film.

Moses the Raven — The bird who tells the animals about “Sugarcandy Mountain” (representing religious hope) is also removed, which eliminates Orwell’s critique of the Church’s role in the state.

Benjamin the Donkey — In the book, Benjamin is a cynical intellectual who refuses to get involved. In the movie, he is more of a hero and actually leads the final charge against Napoleon.

Snowball’s Fate — In the book, Snowball (Trotsky) is chased away by the dogs and his fate remains unknown, allowing Napoleon to use him as a permanent “invisible enemy.” In the movie, the dogs are shown killing Snowball, making the violence much more explicit and final.

Plot Details and Pacing

Old Major’s Death — In the book, Old Major dies peacefully in his sleep three days after his speech. In the film, he dies of a heart attack mid-song (Beasts of England), adding a more dramatic flair to the opening.

The Commandments — The movie simplifies the “Seven Commandments” down to just five. Additionally, the iconic slogan “Four legs good, two legs bad” is notably absent from the film’s chant.

The Pigs’ Appearance — While the book describes the pigs gradually wearing clothes and walking on two legs, the movie depicts Napoleon wearing clothes and acting like a human much earlier and more overtly.

Comparison Summary