Speaking of visible and invisible mountain backdrops, I saw _Wonderful Life_ the other evening in a mothballed Art Deco theatre not a hundred yards from where Jimbo (Stewart) grew up, and it’s *way* different on the big gray screen than the dozens of times I’ve seen it on TV. In the scene where they go out to “Bailey Acres” to see the new affordable housing start-up that Mr. Potter wants to landfill, in the background you can see mountainsides that have to be the San Gabriels. Did they film that thing at the Huntington Library, and only pretend it was Back East?

I first read it while growing up on a farm where I tended two calves and numerous chickens (and a few hogs in the immediate vicinity I had no responsibility for).

I was bored out of my skull and far too young to appreciate much of the politics. But the story was good enough to entertain me at least twice. It might be time to read it again. I think at least one High School or College Course made it required reading, so I understand the political context now.

Animal Farm begins by introducing Mr. Jones, the master of the farm, who is too drunk to shut the popholes in the henhouse. The owner of Manor Farm also forgets to milk the cows, a biologically-serious omission, and is irresponsible toward the rest of his animals. (Later yet, the pigs will also forget the milking, an ironic parallel that reveals the subsequent corruption of the revolution.) One of the cows breaks into the store shed and Mr. Jones and his helpers try to fight off the hungry animals. “A minute later all five of them were in full flight down the cart track that led to the main road, with the animals pursuing them in triumph.” Then, “almost before they knew what was happening, the Rebellion had been successfully carried through – Jones was expelled, and the Manor Farm was theirs.” Yet with the revolution secured, there are graver dangers than the threat of invasion and counter-revolution. The ultimate corruption of the revolution is presaged immediately:

“They raced back to the farm building to wipe out the last traces of Jones’ hated reign… the reins, the halters, the degrading nosebags, were thrown onto the rubbish fire which was burning in the yard. So were the whips.”

Their reaction is understandable, but the desciption of the inevitable and immediate violence foreshadows the fate of the rebellion: reactionary cruelty, the search for the scapegoat, and the perversion of the ideals of the revolution.

History Maven: do you know cattle? They’re about the last species you’d expect to plot revolution. (After sheep perhaps, which are even dumber, and a lot meaner, IMHO.)

Obviously, Historiann doesn’t tolerate trolling here, it’s more for the benefit of anyone who has to deal with them on other forums beside this one.