Product: Bebe, Un Coninito Va Muy Lejos (Babe -- Spanish edition) [VHS] (1995)
Rating: 4.0
A pig with a gift
Based on Dick King-Smith's bookThe Sheep-Pig (New Windmills), a.k.a.Babe: The Gallant Pig (Next Steps Advanced Set 1), this is the story of a little pig who finds his place in life--and not as bacon. Babe (voiced by Christine Cavanaugh) is the runt of his litter, which may be what saves him from slaughter: he's donated to a country fair as the subject and prize of a guess-its-weight contest and won by Arthur Hoggett (James Cromwell), a laconic fellow who slowly comes to feel that the little porker may be more than he seems. Lonely for his litter-sibs, Babe is taken in by Fly (Miriam Margoyles), the farm's sheepdog bitch (rather against the better judgment of her drill-sergeant mate Rex (Hugo Weaving)), and raised as one of her pups. It's Fly who explains the business of sheepherding to Babe, but it's Babe who makes friends with the old ewe Maa (Miriam Flynn)--dogs think sheep are too stupid to relate to as equals--and raises the alarm when a pair of sheep-rustlers and their dogs attempt to make off with Hoggett's flock. He even saves the sheep from a trio of wild dogs. Meanwhile he's begun to display a herding gift of his own, separating chickens in the farmyard by color, which is what first makes Hoggett wonder if a pig could be trained as a herder. But when he learns the usual fate of pigs, it takes Hoggett, Rex, and Fly to save him before he can die of despair. Then, entered into the sheepdog trials, he finds that the sheep he's supposed to herd refuse to talk to him. How can he win the trial for Farmer Hoggett if he can't persuade them to move?The animatronic work in this movie is delightful, and the animals come across as definite individuals--even some of the sheep (and the dogs are right--domestic sheep are pretty brainless). There's even a trio of mice who sing in falsetto! I'm not sure where in the British Commonwealth the story is set (it was filmed in New Zealand), but even American viewers shouldn't have any trouble getting involved in it and understanding what's going on. A great family film about family, faith, and the importance of following your star.