"Babes in Toyland" has been a popular story for the stage and film, since the original 1903 operetta by Victor Herbert. This fairy-tale story has many of the characters from the Mother Goose nursery rhymes. One can't help but note similarities in the story with "The Wizard of Oz." That had been based on a 1900 book by L. Frank Baum, and produced as a lavish and highly successful Broadway musical. This was way before the great MGM musical of 1939. The Oz producer, Fred Hamlin, and director Julian Mitchell, then took on Herbert's operatta, and urged him to help with the stage production.
There are some striking similarities in the stories. They each have a villain (a wicked witch in Oz and a ruthless, scheming cad in Babes). And, both have a savior figure (the Wizard in Oz and the Toymaker in Babes).
The staged musical of Babes was a huge success, and other periodic productions were made, as well as a string of films for cinema and TV. Most of these had various revisions in the story. The best known and most popular film is the 1934 version that stars the comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. They are fumbling oafs that provide much of the comedy. The 1934 MGM film was renamed "March of the Wooden Soldiers."
The original movie substantially changed the story. This 1960 Disney film is a very good family edition that more closely follows the original play. The young leads in this film were part of the pool of young people for Walt Disney's modern-day family films. Tommy Sands plays Tom Piper and Annette Funicello plays Mary Quite Contrary. But the top billing and lead part for this film is the villain, Barnaby Barnicle, played very well by Ray Bolger. If one looks closely, the lean, bony face of the Scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz" can be seen through Barrnaby's makeup.
This film combines fairy tale characters and magic with a story that the whole family should enjoy. While the movie contains some of Herbert's more popular songs, the best aspect of the musical nature of the film is in the dancing and choreography of several scenes.
There are some striking similarities in the stories. They each have a villain (a wicked witch in Oz and a ruthless, scheming cad in Babes). And, both have a savior figure (the Wizard in Oz and the Toymaker in Babes).
The staged musical of Babes was a huge success, and other periodic productions were made, as well as a string of films for cinema and TV. Most of these had various revisions in the story. The best known and most popular film is the 1934 version that stars the comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. They are fumbling oafs that provide much of the comedy. The 1934 MGM film was renamed "March of the Wooden Soldiers."
The original movie substantially changed the story. This 1960 Disney film is a very good family edition that more closely follows the original play. The young leads in this film were part of the pool of young people for Walt Disney's modern-day family films. Tommy Sands plays Tom Piper and Annette Funicello plays Mary Quite Contrary. But the top billing and lead part for this film is the villain, Barnaby Barnicle, played very well by Ray Bolger. If one looks closely, the lean, bony face of the Scarecrow from "The Wizard of Oz" can be seen through Barrnaby's makeup.
This film combines fairy tale characters and magic with a story that the whole family should enjoy. While the movie contains some of Herbert's more popular songs, the best aspect of the musical nature of the film is in the dancing and choreography of several scenes.