Apollo 13 (1995 #3 Box Office and Oscar Nominee)

 Bechdel-Wallace Test

1. Does the movie have at least two named female characters?
   • Yes.  There’s Marilyn, Barbara, Blanch, and Susan Lovell as well as Mary Haise.
2. Do the female characters talk to each other on-screen?
   • Yes.  There are several conversations between the Lovell women as well as between Marilyn and Mary.
3. Does their conversation revolve around something other than a man?
   • Yes.  Marilyn and Mary discuss the launch, Mary’s pregnancy, and dealing with the media.  On two different occasions, Mary, Barabara, and Susan argue about Barbara’s appearance.

Please leave your comments below on whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.

Sense and Sensibility (1995 Oscar Nominee)

Bechdel-Wallace Test

1. Does the movie have at least two named female characters?
   • Yes.  Most of the female characters are members of the Dashwood family, including Elior, Marianne, Margaret, Fanny, and Mrs. Dashwood.  Other named characters include Lucy Steele and Mrs. Jennings, to name a few.
2. Do the female characters talk to each other on-screen?
   • Yes.  There are several conversations, particularly between Elinor and Marianne.
3. Does their conversation revolve around something other than a man?
   • Yes, though again there are several to chose from.  Early on in the movie, Elinor and Marianne discuss Fanny and presents for the servants.

Please leave your comments below on whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.

Il Postino: The Postman (1995 Oscar Nominee)

Bechdel-Wallace Test

1. Does the movie have at least two named female characters?
   • Yes.  There’s Beatrice Russo, Donna Rosa, and Matilde.
2. Do the female characters talk to each other on-screen?
   • Yes.  Beatrice and Donna Rosa talk to each other a few times.
3. Does their conversation revolve around something other than a man?
   • No.  Their conversations always revolve around Mario or the sexual intentions of men.

Please leave your comments below on whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.

Braveheart (1995 Oscar Winner)

 Bechdel-Wallace Test

1. Does the movie have at least two named female characters?
   • Yes.  There’s Isabelle, Murron, and Nicolette.
2. Do the female characters talk to each other on-screen?
   • Yes.  Isabelle and Nicolette talk to each other.
3. Does their conversation revolve around something other than a man?
   • No.  Isabelle and Nicolette only talk about William Wallace, King Edward Longshanks, and Prince Edward.

Please leave your comments below on whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.

Babe (1995 Oscar Nominee)

Bechdel-Wallace Test

1. Does the movie have at least two named female characters?
   • Yes.  The characters are split into two categories: humans (Esme Hoggett, Valda, Daughter) and animals (Fly, Maa, Duchess).
2. Do the female characters talk to each other on-screen?
   • Yes, Mrs. Hoggett talks to Valda and her daughter on numerous occasions.  Fly also talks to the sheep, all of whom are female but unnamed.
3. Does their conversation revolve around something other than a man?
   • Yes. Very early in the movie, Mrs. Hoggett and Valda talk about the fair prizes Mrs. Hoggett won.  Later on, there’s also a conversation between Mrs. Hoggett and Daughter about the fax machine, but this one depends on if you count “Daughter” as a character name.

Please leave your comments below on whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995 Box Office #5)

 To see my analysis of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, click here.

Bechdel-Wallace Test

1. Does the movie have at least two named female characters?
   • Yes (sort of).  Aside from the title character and a few (mostly Caucasian) sidekicks, most of the characters are identified by their position or some other stereotype.  As such, while they don’t have personal names, there are at least two female characters identified as The Wachati Princess and Pompous Woman.
2. Do the female characters talk to each other on-screen?
   • No.  Neither of the aforementioned women even share a scene together.
3. Does their conversation revolve around something other than a man?
   • N/A

Please leave your comments below on whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.

Batman Forever (1995 #2 Box Office)

To see my analysis of Batman, click here.

To see my analysis of Batman Returns, click here.

Bechdel-Wallace Test

1. Does the movie have at least two named female characters?
   • Yes.  There’s Dr. Chase Meridian, Sugar, Spice, and Gossip Gerty.
2. Do the female characters talk to each other on-screen?
   • No.  Many of the aforementioned women share several scenes together, but they only ever talk to the male characters, if they talk at all.
3. Does their conversation revolve around something other than a man?
   • N/A

Please leave your comments below on whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.

Toy Story (1995 #1 Box Office)

 Bechdel-Wallace Test

1. Does the movie have at least two named female characters?
   • Yes.  The characters are split into two categories: humans (Andy’s Mom, Molly, and Hannah) and toys (Bo Peep, Janie).  Andy’s Mom is a dubious name, however, but it counts since it makes the most sense for the toys to call her that.
2. Do the female characters talk to each other on-screen?
   • No.  Hannah talks to her dolls when they are having tea, but (obviously) none of them talk back.
3. Does their conversation revolve around something other than a man?
   • N/A

Please leave your comments below on whether you agree or disagree with my assessment.