BABE

Australia, 1995, 93 minutes, Colour.
James Cromwell, Magda Szubanski. Voices of: Miriam Margolyes, Danny Mann, Hugo Weaving, Miriam Flynn, Evelyn Krape, Paul Livingston, Roscoe Lee Brown.
Directed by Chris Noonan.

Babe can be recommended for all but the most committed slam-bang action fans. As a matter of fact, Babe has also been very successful at the American box-office and a 1995 award winner.

I thought I would have to suspend disbelief when I heard that the film was about a pig that wanted to be a sheep-dog. But, from the very start, with the story-book credits, I found I had no difficulty in sympathising with Babe and enjoying the happenings and adventures at the Hoggett farm. James Cameron is solid as the farmer who cares for Babe and discovers that his piglet, befriended and mothered by the sympathetic sheep-dog, Fly. Magda Szubanski provides some laughs as the farmer's wife.

But it is the animals (and the fine voices giving them character) that make the film. While the story line is predictable, it has great charm and draws us in. (I also liked the three mice from the Jim Henson studios who read each chapter title and chortle `Blue Moon' and arias from Carmen).

The variety of accents and the somewhat British landscapes (filmed in the NSW southern highlands) seem to indicate that it takes place in an amalgam of English-speaking countries. A delight for all ages.

1.The worldwide popularity of Babe? The appeal, the story, characters? The sympathetic pig? A story of overcoming the odds?

2.A British story, Australian production?

3.The live action, the actors, the animals, the animation, the special effects?

4.The voices: Babe, the other animals, Rex, Maa, Fly? The duck? The horse? The villainous animals? The animals as ‘human’/humane?

5.The music, drawing on French 19th century classics? Saint- Saens – and the words for the song?

6.The chorus of the mice, their songs, their comments, chatter? Complementing the role of the narrator? The narrator’s voice, tone, telling the story?

7.The locations, the farm, the countryside, the sheep show?

8.The pigs, the farming, the fate of the pigs? Babe surviving? Being taken in with the other animals? Adopted by Fly, brought up with the puppies? Rex and his comments, his statements about the order of things? Babe and Maa, the elderly sheep? Friends with Ferdinand, the duck? Farmer Hoggett and his liking Babe? Mrs Hoggett and her plans for Christmas dinner?

9.The pups being sold? Fly taking on Babe? Christmas, Farmer Hoggett and his not killing Babe? The dinner with duck – and Ferdinand’s comments, disappearance? Babe and the sheep rustlers, Babe and the alarm? The impact for Farmer Hoggett? Babe as wise, joining the sheep-herding work? Rex and his comments, criticising? Babe and imitating the dogs, trying to frighten the sheep? But asking them politely? The sheep and their pleasant response?

10.Rex, his disapproval, his attacking Fly, her being wounded? His even attacking Farmer Hoggett, biting him? Rex and his being sedated? The situation with the sheep?

11.The wild dog attack? Babe and his courage, the sadness with Maa being killed? Farmer Hoggett thinking Babe was responsible? The threat to Babe, going to shoot him, the discovery of the truth?

12.Farmer Hoggett as a character, the contrast with his wife, his liking of Babe, taking Babe into the house, singing? The training for the trials?

13.The show, the judges and their criticism, the crowds? The sheep and their not corresponding with the pig? Rex and his change of heart, discussions with the sheep, the secret password? Rex giving the word to Babe?

14.The trials, Babe as the sheep-pig, the sheep and their collaboration? His achievement? One hundred percent?

15.The film inviting adults and children into a fantasy world, delight – but so well made as to appeal to both adults and children?