March of the Wooden Soldiers

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Summary: Why do they persist in ruining classics in color
Review: This film is perhaps an all time classic, i have watched this film endlessly over the years. My only complaint with this version is that it is in colour. This film despite it's fantasical elements is actually in black and white. What a dissapointment.

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Summary: March of the Wooden Soldiers
Review: I was overjoyed to find that this wonderful movie was available on DVD. As a child I remember we watched this movie every year on Thanksgiving. Sadly enough television no longer plays classic movies as often as they did. I purchased this movie to return to my children a tradition that gave me joy.

I like the fact it is colorized and I like even more so the fact that this is the complete unedited movie.

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Summary: MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS (DVD)
Review: March of the Wooden Soldiers (Babes in Toyland) is one of a few Laurel and Hardy features in which Hal Roach lost ownership. Over the years it has been reissued and mostly cut in the process on the grounds of the Bogeymen sequences being too grim or to remove some or all of the songs in a misguided attempt to concentrate Stan and Ollie`s scenes. It is only fairly recently that a complete pristine master has been produced and superbly computer colourised now looking better than it has for decades.

In its original form it is the best of the Laurel and Hardy operettas and, with its detailed studio created fantasy sets, is the most elaborate of all of their features.

The colour version is so carefully effected that it gives the appearance of an early Technicolour film providing an extra dimension and depth reinforcing a more credible Mickey Mouse and the Three Pigs which was not quite achieved in black and white.

Stan Laurel once said that his only regret about this film was that it had not been made in colour. This is probably the only Laurel and Hardy film to really benefit and be enhanced by an accurate colorisation.

The film is a successful attempt to appeal to all ages. It is interesting to note that Disney granted permission to use Mickey Mouse and the Three Pigs together with their theme song. Perhaps `Toyland` may just have given Walt some inspiration for his first Disneyland. In fact Disney studied this film quite closely and remade it under the original title `Babes in Toyland` with obvious mimics of Stan and Ollie, but it was a poor, jazzed-up, shadow of the original.

This version produced by Goodtimes Video, NY is very good. The picture quality and definition are excellent with superb colour rendering for a colourised movie. The sound is unfortunately the original mono track and somewhat flat. Nevertheless, it is good to see a high quality complete version including the original opening MGM titles which, oddly, is missing from the UK version of the film released by Eureka Video.

There are some interesting and unusual extras such as the original theatrical trailer a short (1.5 mins) probably 16mm silent home movie of Stan and a 3.5 min sound interview of Ollie. The extras are of varying quality due to the source material.

Overall this DVD presents a good quality, excellent value, version of a delightful, enduring minor classic.

ROBERT C GRAHAM (UK)

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Summary: Laurel & Hardy's classic "Babes in Toyland" restored at last
Review: Originally released in 1934 as "Babes in Toyland," this film is far and away the best of the Laurel & Hardy operettas. The evil Barnaby (Henry Brandon), wants to force the lovely Bo-Beep (Charlotte Henry) to marry him. Towards this end Barnaby banishes Bo-Beep's beloved Tom-Tom (Felix Knight) and attempts to take over Toyland with his demon army. Fortunately, Stannie Dum and Ollie Dee, the assistants of the Toymaker (William Burgess), save the day with the help of the marvelous giant-sized Wooden Soldiers. Based on the operetta by Victor Herbert (several songs are omitted), this film was directed by Gus Meins and Charles Rogers, and is much superior to the Disney version that ended up replacing it on television. You will find less slapstick than usual in a Laurel & Hardy film, but the boys are better integrated into this musical than any of there others and Brandon's Barnaby is deliciously wicked. Fortunately "March of the Wooden Soldiers" has been restored and is now available so it can become the classic it deserves to be.

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Summary: Laurel & Hardy Updated
Review: This dvd shows what can be done with sensitive and controlled colorization. It is a shame many of the other computer coloured L & H films are not up to this standard. A real pleasure to watch with the colour giving the feel of a modern movie - and it was made over 60 years ago! It would make a great introduction to Laurel and Hardy for today's young children.

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Summary: This Isn't the Wizard of Oz....
Review: ...But it may be something more genuinely childlike. Comparing the films is interesting, as they were both children's musicals of the same era. While "Oz" gives its source a high-budget mounting that stresses reassurance and a suburban outlook, "March..." seems to plunge wildly into the very soul of childhood. True, the 1903 operetta borrowed from Norse mythology and Victorian melodrama, but this filming is astute and timeless--full of the true glee, horror, pain, chaos, and eeriness of childhood. I loved "Oz" as a child, but this movie was unforgettable: the wistful, melancholic score, cruel humor, stark terror, bursts of frenzied joy, and aura of creepiness struck deep in me. No matter what benign illusions we eventually form about childhood, this is how the world truly looks at a certain age. I watched it with a jolt of recognition, and, finally, liberation.

"March..."'s modest budget is more than made up for by its emotional genuineness. Listen for the latent sadness in the melodies, watch for the decidedly sinister cast to the sets and even the most whimsical Mother Goose characters, marvel at the berserk energy of the finale. If "Oz" were a Disney feature cartoon, this film would be a Hieronymous Bosch painting adapted for children by the Fleischer Brothers. It has a similar sense of turmoil, unease, primal beauty, and hilarity. Children growing up on the perky, bland kids' movies of today will be exhilarated. And Lewis Carroll, Roald Dahl, and other true geographers of the childhood soul would have approved.

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Summary: a great holiday movie
Review: Some like it colored and some don't. Ether way this based on a 1903 Victor Herbert operetta, film and is still fun to watch.

Now the basic plot is to keep Mother Peep's (Florence Roberts) shoe from being closed on by Silas Barnaby (Henry Brandon) when this fails Bo Peep has to marry Barnaby to keep the shoe. Now to keep Little Bo Peep from Barnaby. It involves Barnaby being tricked into marrying Stanley Dum in Bo Peep's place. Naturally Barnaby can not be fooled long and must have his revenge by letting lose the bogeymen from their caverns to destroy Toyland.

Now where have we heard this story before? Can you say? The Poetic Edda ISBN: 0292764995

All in all it is a must to complete the holiday collection.

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Summary: A Great Holliday Classic
Review: This is one of the teams best.This is a great comedy to watch with the family around the holidays

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Summary: Standard Format?
Review: Such a great movie. But what is the point if you can't get widescreen!

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Summary: A great story from the Boys!
Review: Laurel and Hardy have enchanted me since I was 5. This film is one of there best because it takes there innocents another level. It touches everyone by the great setting. It is in Toyland, a place every child knew about when they were young. It reminds the viewers of the innocents and loving that you get as a child. The comedy is great. From Bogey men, to Santa Claus, this film has everything to offer. I highly recommend it to everyone. A holiday treat.