Thursday, January 8, 1998 By BOB THOMPSON --

HOLLYWOOD -- Stretch Cunningham has now become Farmer Hoggett.

If that typecasting transition is yet another annoying identity crisis for the actor who played them both, you'd never know it by his attitude.

The gentle giant James Cromwell is happy to discuss his All In The Family TV character Stretch, and pleased to make light of his Oscar-nominated farmer role in the movie Babe.

Although these days he does admit that Hoggett has superseded Cunningham in fan referrals.

"And every pig that passes me seems to know who I am," says the lanky 6-foot-7 actor, joking about his film friendship with Babe the pig.

Cromwell will be in the Babe sequel, too.

But for a few moments the 57-year-old would rather talk about his mountain man part in The Education Of Little Tree.

In the movie, opening in Toronto tomorrow, Cromwell plays a 1930s Tennessee hillbilly who adopts Little Tree, his orphaned 11-year-old Cherokee grandson (Joseph Ashton).

The Richard Friedenberg film, based on Forrest Carter's best-selling novel, also features Tantoo Cardinal and Graham Greene.

Through conversation and observation, the boy and the audience learn about the Depression, the sad history of the Cherokee Nation and how important it is to live for the future by not dwelling on the past.

"It sure was a hoot to do," says Cromwell of the film shot in the fall of 1996 just outside of Montreal -- the Laurentians passing for the Tennessee mountains.

Two years later, the picture is getting a limited release, which frustrates Cromwell, but he says that he is proud of the The Education Of Little Tree's intent to inform and entertain, without compromising either.

"The movie is a life lesson for the whole family, and not just popcorn for the mind."

Not that Cromwell has anything against mainstream.

His jobs, don't forget, have included stints on the TV soap Dallas and a role in the feature Revenge Of The Nerds.

He also received acclaim for his gritty cop portrayal in last fall's L.A. Confidential, and is about to co-star in a remake of Anna And The King Of Siam.

That's fine, and there were notable moments for him in The People vs. Larry Flynt, and Star Trek: First Contact.

But who can resist asking him about the sequel to Babe?

"Well," he says teasingly, "Babe In the Woods we already did."

So the next Babe is something completely different?

"Let's put it this way," he says smiling, "I don't have much to do. I fall down a well, and maybe I get saved."

He chuckles.

"Yes," he adds, "it's an action movie."


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