Babe (1995)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Chris Noonan

Writers:

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

Release Date:

4 August 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

A little pig goes a long way.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Pig | Farmer | Sheep | Sheepdog | Dog

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 17 wins & 17 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Thur. July 9	4:30 PM	HBO
Tue. July 14	9:30 AM	HBO

Cast

Christine Cavanaugh	...	Babe the Gallant Pig (voice)
Miriam Margolyes	...	Fly the Female Sheepdog (voice)
Danny Mann	...	Ferdinand the Duck (voice)
Hugo Weaving	...	Rex the Male Sheepdog (voice)
Miriam Flynn	...	Maa the Very Old Ewe (voice)
Russi Taylor	...	Dutchess the Cat (voice) (as Russie Taylor)
Evelyn Krape	...	Old Ewe (voice)
Michael Edward-Stevens	...	Horse (voice)
Charles Bartlett	...	Cow (voice)
Paul Livingston	...	Rooster in Stall (voice)
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	Narrator (voice)
James Cromwell	...	Farmer Arthur Hoggett
Magda Szubanski	...	Mrs. Esme Hoggett
Zoe Burton	...	Daughter
Paul Goddard	...	Son-in-Law

Also Known As:

Babe, the Gallant Pig
Babe (Slovenia) [sl]
Babe - Den modiga lilla grisen (Sweden) [sv]
Babe - Een buitengewone big (Netherlands) [nl]
Babe - O Porquinho Atrapalhado (Brazil) [pt]
Babe - Swinka z klasa (Poland) [pl]
Babe - urhea possu (Finland) [fi]
Babe, el cerdito valiente (Spain) [es]
Babe, el chanchito valiente (Argentina) [es]
Babe, el puerquito valiente (Mexico) [es]
Babe, le cochon devenu berger (France) [fr]
Babe, maialino coraggioso (Italy) [it]
Babe, to zoiro gourounaki (Greece) [el]
Babe: Galantní prasátko (Czech Republic) [cs]
Bebe (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Ein Schweinchen namens Babe (Germany) [de]
Um Porquinho Chamado Babe (Portugal) [pt]

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

Australia | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Canada:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Belgium:KT | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:o.Al. (bw) | Hong Kong:I | Iceland:L | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/6 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:U | USA:G (certificate #33880) | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Country, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Kennedy Miller Productions

Trivia:

James Cromwell, a longtime vegetarian, decided to become a vegan after starring in the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: Babe's feet are muddy when he runs over to the wagon, but clean soon after.

Quotes:

Fly: [solemnly] Rex? I know it was hard for you today, watching all that happening. But surely it's not worth all this misery. Please, dear, not on such a beautiful night.
Rex the Male Sheepdog: [furiously] You put these ideas into his head, two-faced traitorous *wretch*!!
[Rex attacks Fly]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Alec Baldwin (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

If I Had Words

An astounding film

I was dragged to this film by my girlfriend (now wife) when it first came out in fall of 1995. I had zero interest in what seemed to me nothing more than a kids movie. I recall sitting in the theater before the movie commenced, looking at my watch and estimating the time it would end, when my life could begin again after this rude 90 minute interruption.

Then the film began. The moment Babe said a tearful goodbye to his mother as she was being led off to the slaughter house ("Pig Paradise", the narrator says), I was hooked. What stood out to me was not the tearful "Goodbye Mom", but the fact that after we see Babe's mom loaded into the truck, the camera goes back to Babe, siting in the corner of his industrial pen, sobbing profusely. This moment, maybe 90 seconds into the movie, is filmed so well, so perfect, that instead of coming off as melodramatic, it is heartrending. I know that word is used often to describe this film, but I do not know how else to describe it. This is one of many "heartrending" moments in this beautiful film.

This is by far the best childrens film I have ever seen, but it really is a mistake to even call it a childrens film. It is simply a great film. A film that shows how wondrous things can happen as a result of common decency; how any individual can triumph if they believe in themselves; how vital is the help of family and friends in life's arduous journey.

This a film not to be missed. It should have beaten Braveheart.