Is It Worth the Watch?

Looking for an engaging, classic Christmas movie?

How about the delightful, if eccentric, 1934 musical comedy Babes in Toyland (aka March of the Wooden Soldiers). It stars the iconic comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy as toy makers who muck up an order for Santa Claus, only to end up saving both Christmas and their fairytale world from a despicable villain.

Very loosely based on Victor Herbert’s smash-hit 1903 operetta, the production design and overall tone of the movie is unique and visually spectacular. The fairytale characters are vividly rendered, although some of them may be a little frightening for little ones, particularly the Cat and the Fiddle, with a person in a cat costume playing a cello, and a mouse (who looks suspiciously like the early Mickey) played by … wait for it … a live monkey in a mask. Weird and maybe even a little unnerving.

A few bits of comedy may come off as a little creaky to a modern audience, but much remains hilarious, mostly due to Laurel and Hardy, who can make almost anything fun.

Is It Worth The Watch? This is a perfect children’s Christmas movie, as well as a delightful nostalgic fling for adults.

1934

78 minutes

Starring – Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Charlotte Henry, Felix Knight, Henry Kleinbach, Virginia Karns

Director – Gus Meins, Charles Rogers

Writer – Frank Butler, Nick Grinde

Source – Babes in Toyland (operetta) by Victor Herbert, Glen MacDonough