Favorite Flicks: Babe

© 1995 Universal City Studios, Inc.
Running time: 92 min. Rated G
James Cromwell, Magda Szubanski

Based on the book Babe the Gallant Pig, by Dick King-Smith

 

PLOT

Won by Farmer Hoggett at a county fair, Babe the pig struggles to find his niche on the Hoggett farm. His kindly ways and inquisitive nature quickly endear him to almost every animal there, from the hyper duck Ferdinand to the wise sheep Maa. A sheepdog named Fly even "adopts" the lovable pig as her son. Determined not to be another pig destined for the dinner table, Babe decides to prove he’s more useful alive than dead. Putting his polite manners and sweet personality to work, he becomes Farmer Hoggett’s best sheepherder! Risking the ridicule of his wife and peers, Hoggett takes a chance on the "sheep pig" and enters Babe in the National Sheepdog Championships.

HUMANE MESSAGES & OTHER GOOD POINTS

• Fosters empathy by showing the animal characters’ emotions and reactions to various situations. For example, Fly is heartbroken over the sale of her pups, Ferdinand is distraught over the possibility of being killed for dinner, and Babe becomes depressed when he learns of a pig’s fate on a farm.

• Demonstrates responsible stewardship of animals at Farmer Hoggett’s rural farmyard, where animals are allowed, for the most part, to roam freely over green hills and throughout the barnyard. (On most modern farms, animals are crowded into large buildings with little or no space to run, play, forage, or move freely.)

• Shows a pet owner handling an animal’s behavior problem responsibly. When Rex suddenly attacks Fly, Hoggett realizes that something is seriously wrong and refuses to give up on the dog. He seeks veterinary help for the problem and is committed to doing whatever it takes to help Rex.

• Depicts farm animals as intelligent, sensitive, and worthy of a comfortable, happy life.

• Provides a springboard for discussion about prejudice; animals on the farm have negative, preconceived notions about one another. By becoming friends with everyone, Babe finds that there is little truth to these prejudices and learns that every animal is an individual with unique qualities.

• Features animal characters who overcome their prejudices to cooperate with one another. Perhaps the best example is Rex, who states, "Every animal has its proper place." When he realizes that Babe is neither stupid nor inferior, Rex abandons his old ways of thinking and helps him win the sheepdog trial.

• Shows the value of kindness and courtesy. Babe excels as a shepherd because he asks sheep nicely for their help and offers praise and thanks when they cooperate.

POINTS TO PONDER

From a humane perspective, few movies are perfect. Following are potential problems with the film that you may wish to address with your children or students.

• When a veterinarian suggests neutering Rex to control his aggression, Farmer Hoggett refuses on the grounds that Rex is a breeding dog. Take this opportunity to remind students that cats and dogs should be spayed or neutered to help control pet overpopulation. By preventing certain diseases, spaying and neutering can also help animals live longer, healthier lives.

• This movie raises the issues of materialism and lack of respect among children. The Hoggetts’ granddaughter complains when Farmer Hoggett makes her a dollhouse instead of giving her the one "that’s on TV," and both grandchildren are rude to adults.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

From the page to the screen. Before students watch the movie, have them read Babe the Gallant Pig, by Dick King-Smith (New York: Random House, 1983). After they’ve watched Babe, ask them to compare characteristics of the book and film. For more recommended reading, click here.

Who's smarter? In the film, Fly claims that pigs are stupid. Yet many animal experts believe that pigs are more intelligent than dogs. Have students use the Internet and the library to research the intelligence of pigs and dogs. In a short essay, have them defend their opinion on the topic with the information they’ve gathered. Some questions they might want to address include: What traits make an animal intelligent? Are there different kinds of intelligence? Should animals be treated differently based on their intelligence? Should people?

A pig without prejudice. Babe can be viewed as a fable about prejudice. Share with students this definition of prejudice from Webster’s College Dictionary: "an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason." Then ask: What prejudices do Fly and Rex hold? What prejudices do the sheep hold? How does Babe handle their biased attitudes? From this movie’s example, what are some ways we can overcome prejudice?

To read James Cromwell's KIND News interview click here.