Babe (1995)

Babe, a pig raised by sheepdogs, learns to herd sheep with a little help from Farmer Hoggett.

Director:

Chris Noonan

Writers:

Dick King-Smith (novel), George Miller (screenplay),

Stars:

Christine Cavanaugh, Miriam Margolyes, James Cromwell

Won 1 Oscar. Another 17 wins & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christine Cavanaugh	...	Babe (voice)
Miriam Margolyes	...	Fly (voice)
Danny Mann	...	Ferdinand (voice)
Hugo Weaving	...	Rex (voice)
Miriam Flynn	...	Maa (voice)
Russi Taylor	...	Duchess the Cat (voice) (as Russie Taylor)
Evelyn Krape	...	Old Ewe (voice)
Michael Edward-Stevens	...	Horse (voice)
Charles Bartlett	...	Cow (voice)
Paul Livingston	...	Rooster (voice)
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	Narrator (voice)
James Cromwell	...	Farmer Arthur H. Hoggett
Magda Szubanski	...	Esme Hoggett
Zoe Burton	...	The Hoggetts' Daughter
Paul Goddard	...	The Hoggetts' Son-in-Law

Storyline

Farmer Hoggett wins a runt piglet at a local fair and young Babe, as the piglet decides to call himself, befriends and learns about all the other creatures on the farm. He becomes special friends with one of the sheepdogs, Fly. With Fly's help, and Farmer Hoggett's intuition, Babe embarks on a career in sheepherding with some surprising and spectacular results.

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Plot Keywords:

farmer | pig | sheep | sheepdog | dog | 

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Taglines:

A little pig goes a long way.

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Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Universal

Country:

Australia USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 August 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Babe, the Gallant Pig

Filming Locations:

Illawarra Highway, Albion Park, New South Wales, Australia

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,300,243 (UK) (15 December 1995)

Gross:

£18,634,395 (UK) (15 March 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Kennedy Miller Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SR DTS-Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

James Cromwell had only 171 words of spoken dialogue, and 61 words that were sung.

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Goofs

As the camera moves over the crowd near the end, you can see people at the bottom of the screen ducking to get out of the way of the crane.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Farmer Hoggett: That'll do, pig.

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Crazy Credits

Jonah Michaud and Karen Bruner are listed as being "Internet Bandits".

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Connections

Referenced in Space Jam (1996)

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Soundtracks

"Cantique de Jean Racine"
Music by Gabriel Fauré

User Reviews

Disarmingly charming and wonderful

Babe is separated from his family and becomes friends with some of the animals on his new farm. He learns that each animal has a role to play and that both he and Ferdinand the duck are fated to be lunch! Both take new roles to escape their fate and Babe tries to become a sheepdog. As Farmer Hoggett begins to notice the unusual way Babe can work with the sheep he begins to groom him for that role – much to the worry of his wife and the other farm animals.

Written by the guy who wrote the Mad Max films – that's what kills me. I know it's adapted but how can the Mad Max writer manage to deliver such a sweet film that is unassuming and comic and heart warming. The plot is great as it is adapted from `The Sheeppig' but Miller's script adds so many comic touches that it's funny throughout. The characters are all well written so that we care about them and get easily drawn in.

It's directed well and again feels fresh and different – whether it's the chapter set up or the use of the narrator or the way that the singing mice make the links it all works well. Because it is gentle and unassuming I found myself involved in it so easily and the themes of finding your own path and friendship are not rammed down your throat but just sit there if you want to get them. I've seen this several times and the silent, wonderful climax to the sheepdog trials makes me choke everytime (even if it is predictable).

All the voices are good and the use of animals is faultless. The use of animatronics is a little ropey at times but the sense of goodwill the film gave me extended to overlooking these minor complaints. James Cromwell is just superb as the human face in this drama – everytime I see him now I can only hear him say `that'll do pig'. Babe is a great hero and you feel for him from the start to the end – when he gives a little satisfied sigh it's difficult not to feel warm inside.

Overall this is one of the best children's films I've seen – it's light and unassuming and not a classic but it is comic, gentle and ultimately heart warming – what more do you want?