Year: 1961
Director: Jack Donohue
Country: US
Language: English
Disney is known for adaptations, they've based their entire animation division on it, but usually when adapting they make changes to the source material and/or songs. Babes in Toyland marks the first time Disney didn't make drastic changes. The songs were directly lifted from the 1903 operetta and well. it's a bit messy. Long time Disney animator Ward Kimball being fired as the film’s director may have been the first mistake among many, which resulted in this picture being a financial failure.
There are three movies mashed within the film: the kidnapping of Tom, the saving of Toyland, and the destruction of Barnaby and all three begin and end with little payoff; the script is just done working with them.
Mother Goose’s (Mary McCarty) opening line about “set[ting your imagination free” seems content to banish any questions about the plot. Babes in Toyland looks like a play, the obvious two-dimensional reminds us of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, but the world building is not consistent. We're not sure of the time period either, maybe it's medieval, but in that case why are there trippy 60's songs about income tax and rent? I'm confused.
Immersive this film is not. The tone desperately tries to come off like Wizard of Oz, but fails in almost every aspect. The characters are not at all enticing, even the villain is boring and not given that much to do in this picture. Ray Bolger as Barnaby attempts to act as the lovechild of Wicked Witch of the West and the Scarecrow (*shudders*) but lacks any drop of onscreen charisma and/or presence.
Babes in Toyland is an odd little 60's Disney musical. Perhaps I'm harsh on it because it's dated, but if even the sets look community theatre cheap then it still has a lot to do with the production. Loads of pacing problems, the only redeeming quality of this picture is the sense of humor it sparingly throws out at odd moments.
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