Babes in Toyland ** (1961, Roy Bolger, Tommy Sands, Annette Funicello, Tommy Kirk, Ed Wynn, Kevin Corcoran, Ann Jillian, Gene Sheldon, Henry Calvin) – Classic Movie Review 5222

Director Jack Donohue’s 1961 Walt Disney Productions family fantasy comedy movie is quite cute, sweet and pleasant enough, and has its moments. But, certainly by comparison, it is a largely ineffectual remake of the 1934 Stan Laurel and Laurel Hardy classic version Babes in Toyland of the 1903 Victor Herbert comic operetta.

Gene Sheldon (as Roderigo) and Henry Calvin (as Gonzorgo) even have the cheek to imitate the inimitable Stan and Ollie, while loveable Roy Bolger is miscast as the evil villain Barnaby who tries to take over Toyland. Tommy Sands as Tom Piper, Annette Funicello as Mary Contrary, Tommy Kirk as Grumio, Ed Wynn as Toymaker, Kevin Corcoran as Boy Blue, Brian Corcoran as Willie Winkie, Mary McCarty as Mother Goose and Ann Jillian as Bo Peep, also star.

On the eve of the wedding of Tom Piper to Mary Contrary, Barnaby hires two henchmen to drown Tom and steal Mary’s sheep, being cared for by Bo Peep, thus making her marry Barnaby.

Even the good cast, Edward Colman’s lovely Technicolor cinematography and all the financial and technical resources of the Disney studio, which provide a fine special effects climax, cannot quite rescue it.

It is perhaps best to avoid and seek out the Laurel and Hardy version instead.

The film’s musical director George Bruns was Oscar nominated for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture and Bill Thomas was Oscar nominated for Best Costume Design, Colour. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical.

It is followed by director Clive Donner’s 1986 TV movie version (with Drew Barrymore, Richard Mulligan, Eileen Brennan, Keanu Reeves and Pat Morita).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5222

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