Customer Reviews

Babes in Toyland [VHS]

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

DVD REVIEW
This DVD release at the time of my review of this film adds nothing to the VHS. No Widescreen, no re-mastering, and no extras. I will keep my VHS copy for now. Now on to the original film itself:

FILM REVIEW
In this 1961 film, 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 both "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. (animators 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 called "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 Disney Studio. The sets specially built for the film at the studio were so unique, they found a temporary home at Disneyland after the films release in '61 up to 1963, and people could actually see them up close inside the Opera House on Main Street.

The best part of this 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 was deemed dull 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 learn from, as he really wanted to make a good musical. Just 4 years later he released the studios biggest live-action film 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, Annette and the gang, and enjoy the wonderful music.

Granted this was filmed on a Disney Sound stage for very little money, but this movie was the brilliant work of Walt Disney himself. I was a kid when this movie came out and how impressed i was with the colors, music, story and cast. Now i'm in my 50's and this same version still impresses me. This version is timeless and the colors, music, story and especially the cast mean more to me than ever. This is a great movie for the Christmas Holiday and a walk back into yesteryear for us baby boomers. It also would be a great idea to show this to the kids of "now and "me" generation. They might learn something. The special effects were state-of-the art back then and may seem a little campy today, but this movie with it's special effects has heart,,,something that lacks in many of the new Christmas movies. This Disney version is warm, creative, visually beautiful and has a wonderful cast.

The opening sequence alone, a colorful song and dance in Mother Goose Village Square that could only have been designed and choreographed in the early 60's, is enough to bring a huge smile to faces of those of us who fondly remember the pre-digital days of Walt Disney.

The colorful production design is sensational and reminds me of the early days of Disneyland - whimsically artificial but gorgeous to look at. Sure, the story is Squaresville, and many complain that the set is too stagey, but those are main elements of the film's lasting charm. Dated and corny to some is a cool breeze of nostalgia and simpler times for others.

I am sad that this DVD is shamefully bargain bin. Apparently someone at Disney has deemed this delightful slice of early 60's pop culture woefully insignificant, so not only is the film greatly reduced to fit on standard televisions, but there are NO special features whatsoever, a shame considering that many of the original principals in the film are still with us. Also, there was an episode of The Wonderful World of Disney called "Backstage Party", timed to promote the release of the film in 1961, featuring Walt and the cast on the set doing obviously staged but nonetheless delightful songs, dances, testimonials and stand-up routines. What a shame that no one had the foresite to include this terrific extra - or ANYTHING - on this dvd. (I had the good fortune of catching this episode on the Disney Channel late one night - so it at least exists!)

Still, there is a lot to be happy with here, again thanks to the splendiferous production design, tuneful songs and largely charming cast. Maybe someday Disney will serve up a better release of this ignored but important chapter (it's mistakes paved the way for "Mary Poppins") in the Disney story.

I give this product 3 stars because of the quality of the DVD, not the film itself. "Babes in Toyland" may not be "Snow White" or "Mary Poppins," but it was the first-ever live action musical for Disney, and it remains a well-respected classic among Disneyphiles... and deserving of something better than a cheap, poor quality FULL FRAME release with no extras at all (not even a trailer). With a colorful whismsy and imagination nothing short of "Willy Wonka" and aspirations of "Wizard of Oz", "Babes in Toyland" has always been a Disney staple, and it's simply amazing that something like "The Swiss Family Robinson" gets a 2-disc deluxe treatment while this is cast off as a cheapie release. OK, all we need is: anamorphic widescreen, some major remastering (there is grain all over the place!), the original trailer, and the only other necessary extra is the episode of Walt Disney Presents where Walt takes us backstage and behind-the-scenes... there it is, a complete 50-minute documentary already complete, edited, and paid for. Just slap it on the disc with the trailer and a remastered widescreen print, and Disney will do this classic real justice. Alas, these are simply pipe dreams, I suppose. As it stands, buy it if you want the film at all... because I seriously doubt we'll ever see another release of this classic. And that's a real shame.

Although quite corney in places, I cannot forget the thrill I had seeing this movie in the theater as a child. Considering the time it was filmed, Babes In Toyland had wonderful special effects and plenty of Disney charm. If you can stay with it up to the time the children actually enter Toyland (about half way through) you will find that the wait was worth it. I am dissappointed that this movie didn't become more popular, but with an all star cast including Ray Bolger(the scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz) as a villain this time, Tommy Kirk and Annette Funnicello of the early Disney family and timeless Christmas music from the original stage version,Babes and Toyland should be an annual tradition alongside Its a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th St.

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.

When I was young my grandfather owned one of the first video stores in our town. He was repair man and rented video's. The store was filled with childrens movies. This is a movie that every child should watch and every adult can not forget. What a great movie, how fun to be so young and watch the toy soldiers or trees talking, what a sight to see a toy factory!! Even now I can never forget. I can watch this movie over and over again. five stars plus******

When I was a child my mother taped "Babes in Toyland" one evening when it was broadcast on some station or other. Eventually my Aunt Millie had to go out and buy "Babes in Toyland" for me because I watched the movie my mother had taped so many times I wore it out. The day the tape broke I cried. Over the past few years the tape Aunt Millie bought has started to show its age. It would be an understatement to say I love this movie.

When I found out this was on DVD, I told my husband that unless I received it for Christmas I would be miserable. He came through for me as always!

There are no added features to this DVD, but as far as I'm concerned the movie itself (and the durability of DVD) is more than enough reason to buy it. It's a fun musical, with great dance routines, familiar Mother Goose characters, and classic guest appearances. Ray Bolger shines as the wicked Mr. Barnaby, and Annette Funicello (my hero since the age of 5) is golden as Mary Quite Contrary. Add Tommy Sands and you have some duets that make smiles appear out of nowhere.

Whether DVD or VHS, this movie is wonderful. I adore it just as much as I did when I was a kid.

A fun Disney film with a winning cast and clever visuals set to memorable music. Why only 2 stars? A typically dismal Disney DVD release -- altered film ratios (i.e. not presented in its original theatrical ratios) and no extras. This is sad, especially knowing that Walt hosted a behind the scenes "Disneyland" program the year the film was originally released. Considering what Disney Home Video is capable of (see the EXCELLENT "Vault Disney" releases), butchered releases of Disney films are very disappointing.

I have watched this movie as a kid and just loved it, my parnets were always telling me to turn it off. Their have been many re-makes of this movie and they have never been able to capture what I loved about the 1961 Disney movie. When it becomes available again I will buy two, one for me to enjoy and one for my future kids to enjoy. Thank you Disney for making such a wonderful movie for all ages.