BABE (1995)
30TH ANNIVERSARY PRESENTATION
Thirty years ago, young audiences were convinced pigs could talk after seeing this charming Australian fantasy. Farmer James Cromwell, in the film that brought him to prominence after over two decades in the business, wins the piglet Babe at the county fair. He plans to use him to win best ham at a future fair, but Babe has other ideas, soon establishing himself as an exceptional sheep herder. Co-writers (and director and producer, respectively) Chris Noonan and George Miller made Babe a Large White pig, a breed that grows so quickly it took 46 piglets, along with an animatronic model, to play the title role. The other farm animals were also a combination of real creatures and special effects, many of them the work of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The film became a hit, garnering seven Oscar nominations and winning Best Visual Effects. It also inspired a generation of vegetarians, including Cromwell.
d. Chris Noonan, 91m, DCP
Courtesy of Universal Pictures.