Merry Christmas all. Now that Thanksgiving is over it is officially the Christmas season and as such I am glad to spend some time writing about some Christmas movies I love. Enjoy.
Because of the success of the duo's first comic operetta The Devil’s Brother (1934), Laurel and Hardy appeared in more comic operettas. The best was probably Babes in Toyland based off of Victor Herbert’s operetta of the same name.
The story centers on Stanley Dum (Stan Laurel) and Ollie Dee (Oliver Hardy), who live with the woman in the shoe (Florence Roberts) and her daughter Little Bopeep (Charlotte Henry). The woman in the shoe can't pay her rent and if she doesn't get the money soon Bopeep will have to marry the evil Barnaby (Henry Brandon), despite Bopeep being in love with Tom-Tom (Felix Night). Stan and Ollie try to do everything they can to help Bopeep, the woman in the shoe and Tom-Tom.
Henry Brandon would later revive his role as Barnaby in the Our Gang short, The Our Gang Follies of 1938. The script even refers to the character as Barnaby.
Hal Roach had much different plans for this film in the beginning. He wanted it to feature all the studio's stars, including the Our Gang kids, Thelma Todd and Charley Chase. However no one but Hal Roach seemed to be pleased with the original outline for the film, and it was put on hold. When the idea was picked up again, all the other stars of the Hal Roach studios except Laurel and Hardy would not be in the film anymore. Everyone but Hal Roach became happy with this new film. Hal Roach would still like the original idea better.
Hal Roach and Walt Disney were friends and because of this Walt allowed him to use the song, Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, from the Disney Silly Symphony short cartoon, The Three Little Pigs. Also this film featured Mickey Mouse as one of the characters in Toyland. Since this was a live action movie Mickey was achieved by using a monkey in a mouse suit.
Babes in Toyland was directed by Charles Rodgers and Gus Meins. Nearly all of Charles Rodgers’ directorial credits are Laurel and Hardy films. Gus Meins was one of the main directors of Our Gang films.
Babes in Toyland is very charming on all levels it is very funny, it has a good story, nice musical numbers, and a great atmosphere. The Bogey Land sequence is very atmospheric. The Stan and Ollie characters are just as likable as ever. What makes this film so great is that all the different elements work together perfectly. None of them distract from the others, and they all are done well individually as well. Though the look of this film may be dated (though not much) it is very charming and is a delight to see. Everything comes together perfectly here. The story, music, and humor all come together to create something very special and what is probably the best of the duo’s operettas and one of their greatest feature films.
The following are two exhibitor’s reviews from the Motion Picture Herald (dated February 2, 1935).
“Babes in Toyland: Laurel and Hardy – Played to fair business and all liked it. Good for both children and adults. Played January 11 – Warner McLaughlin, Empire Theatre, Port Henry, N. Y. Small town patronage.”
“Babes in Toyland: Laurel and Hardy – Wonderful. Laurel and Hardy do some fine work and the story is good. Production, cast, story, sound, sets and in fact everything is all that one could ask or except. – S.H. Rich, Rich Theater, Montpeiler, Idaho.”
Because of the success of the duo's first comic operetta The Devil’s Brother (1934), Laurel and Hardy appeared in more comic operettas. The best was probably Babes in Toyland based off of Victor Herbert’s operetta of the same name.
The story centers on Stanley Dum (Stan Laurel) and Ollie Dee (Oliver Hardy), who live with the woman in the shoe (Florence Roberts) and her daughter Little Bopeep (Charlotte Henry). The woman in the shoe can't pay her rent and if she doesn't get the money soon Bopeep will have to marry the evil Barnaby (Henry Brandon), despite Bopeep being in love with Tom-Tom (Felix Night). Stan and Ollie try to do everything they can to help Bopeep, the woman in the shoe and Tom-Tom.
Henry Brandon would later revive his role as Barnaby in the Our Gang short, The Our Gang Follies of 1938. The script even refers to the character as Barnaby.
Hal Roach had much different plans for this film in the beginning. He wanted it to feature all the studio's stars, including the Our Gang kids, Thelma Todd and Charley Chase. However no one but Hal Roach seemed to be pleased with the original outline for the film, and it was put on hold. When the idea was picked up again, all the other stars of the Hal Roach studios except Laurel and Hardy would not be in the film anymore. Everyone but Hal Roach became happy with this new film. Hal Roach would still like the original idea better.
Hal Roach and Walt Disney were friends and because of this Walt allowed him to use the song, Whose Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, from the Disney Silly Symphony short cartoon, The Three Little Pigs. Also this film featured Mickey Mouse as one of the characters in Toyland. Since this was a live action movie Mickey was achieved by using a monkey in a mouse suit.
Babes in Toyland was directed by Charles Rodgers and Gus Meins. Nearly all of Charles Rodgers’ directorial credits are Laurel and Hardy films. Gus Meins was one of the main directors of Our Gang films.
Babes in Toyland is very charming on all levels it is very funny, it has a good story, nice musical numbers, and a great atmosphere. The Bogey Land sequence is very atmospheric. The Stan and Ollie characters are just as likable as ever. What makes this film so great is that all the different elements work together perfectly. None of them distract from the others, and they all are done well individually as well. Though the look of this film may be dated (though not much) it is very charming and is a delight to see. Everything comes together perfectly here. The story, music, and humor all come together to create something very special and what is probably the best of the duo’s operettas and one of their greatest feature films.
The following are two exhibitor’s reviews from the Motion Picture Herald (dated February 2, 1935).
“Babes in Toyland: Laurel and Hardy – Played to fair business and all liked it. Good for both children and adults. Played January 11 – Warner McLaughlin, Empire Theatre, Port Henry, N. Y. Small town patronage.”
“Babes in Toyland: Laurel and Hardy – Wonderful. Laurel and Hardy do some fine work and the story is good. Production, cast, story, sound, sets and in fact everything is all that one could ask or except. – S.H. Rich, Rich Theater, Montpeiler, Idaho.”
No comments:
Post a Comment