The Farm (1938) User Reviews

Britain at Peace

[richardchatten · 6/10 · 20 February 2020]

Shot in ravishing colour during the spring and summer of 1938 - between the Anschluss and the Munich Agreement - Humphrey Jennings quite possibly thought he was preserving for posterity the final summer of Britain at peace.

The idyllic images are undercut by remarks by the narrator of the toil involved and the eventual fate of the cute animals being reared. Even the fear of coming war is mentioned; although soon after this film hit cinemas it proved slightly less imminent than when it was being shot.

Very eye-catching Dufaycolour

[malcolmgsw · 6/10 · 18 April 2020]

This film was made in the British additive colour film called Dufaycolour.It was used in a few shorts such as this one and in two feature films.Not as garish as three strip technicolor,it just was unable to compete.The film is directed by the famed Humphrey Jennings whose name would be made by his classic war documentaries.

Fascinating end of an era, and in colour

[chrischapman-47545 · 8/10 · 1 August 2019]

A fascinating view of mixed and arable farm life just before the Second World War - indeed the prospect of war in 1938 is mentioned. No sign of tractors - all horse drawn and low intensity. It shows how much labour was needed and how inefficient it was, including a very unergonomic milking process. The script is a bit cringeworthy in places but it is of its era. What brings it more to life is that it is in colour with pretty good rendition.