Cheap Babes in Toyland (DVD) (Ray Bolger, Tommy Sands, Annette Funicello) (Jack Donohue) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of Babes in Toyland

In this 1961 film was the first true live-action musical from the Walt Disney Studio, Tommy Sands is paired up with America's girl next door who got her start with Walt Disney, Annette Funicello. Also the famous Ray Bolger and Ed Wynn are featured, and Ann Jillian was a child actor in this movie. There is more great talent from the Disney in-house stable of stars, Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran, who played brothers in "Old Yeller", and "Swiss Family Robinson".

The story is simple enough, we are in Mother Goose land and the villain shrinks our heroes to toy size. They must enlist help from the toys in the Toymaker's shop to fight back. The effects were eye-popping at the time, and to see a toy army coming to life and fight the bad guys is a great treat for kids. The movie has some real fun stop motion style animation, where the toys are made to look like they are alive (30 years before computer animation did it for "Toy Story"). The Christmas parade at Disneyland has featured replicas of the marching soldiers from this film for over 40 years. The beautiful wooden toys that are seen in the film were all designed by veteran animator Ward Kimball. (X. Atencio and Bill Justice joined Ward on the stop-animation to bring the custom made toys to life).

The movie was promoted in advance on the Walt Disney television show, in a 1961 episode that also promoted "The Parent Trap", (the episode is "The Title Makers"). The film was promoted again that year in an episode called "Backstage Party", which celebrated the completion of the film and gave the viewers a tour of the studio. The sets specially built at the studio were so unique, they found a temporary home at Disneyland from the films release to 1963, and people could actually visit them inside the Opera House on Main Street.

The best part of the film is the music, which is the true star of any musical. The musical score features 11 songs from the in-house team of George Bruns (music) and Mel Leven (lyrics), and their score was nominated for an Academy Award.

But even with the music, great stars, incredible sets, special effects, nice costumes, the script and dialogue left a lot to be desired so the film is a dud for adults. Uncle Walt hated the end product, but gamely tried to promote it as best he could and use it as an exercise for the studio to lean from. Just 4 years later he released the studios biggest live-action fim ever, a musical to beat all musicals, "Mary Poppins". The lesson had worked.

Watch Babes in Toyland with light expectations, see it for the toys, and enjoy the music.

Not quite a classic but still an exceptional holiday movie
While it can't quite compare to the exemplary Laurel & Hardy 'March Of The Wooden Soldiers' this 1961 Disney version of the classic Victor Herbert operetta remains perfect holiday entertainment for young children. As always you can rely on any Walt Disney film from this era, their golden age, to have a terrific music score replete with memorable songs, the requisite slapstick routines, a nasty villain you love to hate and of course a happy ending. Ed Wynn as the Toymaker, Ray Bolger as the heavy, Mr. Barnaby, and especially Henry Calvin and Gene Sheldon as the hapless duo who assist Barnaby in his evil scheme are all fine; the climax of the film featuring the now legendary attack of the toy soldiers is handled quite well also. The set design is well conceived and the photography is excellent making great use of the brilliant and splashy colors scattered throughout. While it is thoroughly entertaining for the young audience at which it is squarely aimed to please it could be heavy going for adults who don't favor Disney films. My advice is to relax, take off your thinking cap temporarily and enjoy the onscreen shenanigans and exuberant musical numbers presented here.

What Was the Original Aspect Ratio for This Movie?
Babes in Toyland, Disneys remake of the old black and white Laurel and Hardy classic March of the Wooden Soldiers is a good movie and has bright colors that reminds me of movies like Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the Wizard of Oz and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and like those movies Babes in Toyland has cute catchy songs and delightful acting. Annette Funicello, Tommy Sands, Tommy Kirk and the rest of the cast are a delight and it's nice that this movie is now on DVD but I have heard that the movie on this DVD is only presented in fullscreen and not widescreen. Was this movie filmed in widescreen or fullframe? I see the movie was made in the 1960's and by then widescreen was how the majority of theatrical movies were filmed so I wouldn't want to buy this DVD if it was edited.