Babe was a film which succeeded on many levels. At first just an enjoyable childrens film it is also one of the best baseball analogy films ever created. It tells the story of Babe Ruth’s fight against oppressive franchise owners to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
The use of animals as an analogy of the plight of baseball stars controlled and herded with few freedoms possible within their contracts at first sight seems crass and overworked. Even the use of a pig to portray the overweight Ruth appears clumsy but such is the strength of the writing that these minor criticisms are soon forgotten.
Babe Ruth is portrayed as using methods within the game which were unconventional but relied on a team ethic and use of communication. To succeed players and coaches needed to work together. When players were persuaded to perform to the best of their ability it was much more successful that if they were barked at or treated as inferior beings.
The farmer is used to portray a view that owners did not have to employ the stereo-typical player and could look outside the usual college player to have someone like Babe Ruth. The sheepdogs apparent dislike of the use of Babe are typical of the actions those who display resistance to change. I was never particularly happy with the goose’s analogous portrayal of Shoeless Joe Jackson as it both lacked sympathy and certainly failed to capture Jackson’s gait. That the bird was eaten does however sum up neatly how Jackson was served up to the congressional committee investigating match fixing later.
The press are shown to be little more than mice providing a commentary from the side lines. There apparent lack of intelligence is captured very well as is their tendency to rely on a herd instinct to follow the story.
In the end of course Babe Ruth triumphs over the adversity and lack of belief and the owners did change their ways. Dick King-Smith is a masterful story teller with a gift not seen since Johnathan Swift and George Orwell. The sequel which showed in more direct terms the effects of baseball within a major city –‘Babe- Pig in The City’ was less successful.
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Production Year: 1956 - Comedy - Director: Joshua Logan - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Don Murray, Betty Field, Hope Lange, Eileen Heckart, Arthur O'Connell, Casey Adams, Hans Conried, Robert Bray
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
this was no help as if u suck there was no basebal in it luv angie
Lizzii 02.04.2001 18:01
Well I never - you really do learn something new everyday, or do you? Of course this op was written on April Fools day. I'll get back to you when I've made a decision on whether you are telling the truth or Porky Pies!!
Whatever way it goes it was a really good op! You could always put me out of my misery by the way!
blurbubble 01.04.2001 12:44
I was confused back there for a minute!! I've seen the movie a couple of times but hadn't thought of this! Well done!
The surprise hit of 1995, this splendidly entertaining family film was nominated for six ... more
Academy Awards, including best picture, director, and screenplay, and deservedly won the Oscar for its subtly ingenious visual effects.Babeis all about the title c...
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Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and winner for Best Visual ... more
Effects, Babe is the timeless tale of a young orphaned piglet. Through his own sheer will and remarkable way with words, he overcomes the odds to become a 'pig of dest...
The surprise hit of 1995, this splendidly entertaining family film was nominated for six ... more
Academy Awards, including best picture, director, and screenplay, and deservedly won the Oscar for its subtly ingenious visual effects.Babeis all about the title c...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Introducing a barnyard full of captivating characters unlike any you've ever met! There's ... more
Farmer Hoggett (James Cromwell); Fly the sheep dog; Rex her shepherding partner; Ferdinanad the quacky duck; Maa the elderly ewe; and the newest addition to ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
![Babe [DVD] [1995]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78540403.jpg "Babe [DVD] [1995]")
Apr 1st, 2001
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