![]() Trying to double their fortunes, Gonzorgo and Roderigo secretly sell Tom to a pack of Gypsies, returning to Barnaby without proof of death. Hiring goons Gonzorgo (Henry Calvin) and Roderigo (Gene Sheldon) to stalk and kill Tom by throwing him into the sea and steal her beloved multicolored sheep, Barnaby sets his devious plan in motion, hoping Mary will have no choice but to marry him and live unhappily ever after. ![]() ![]() ![]() Less approving is the villainous Barnaby (Ray Bolger, perhaps best known as the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz"), who wants to take Mary for himself, thus claiming a hazily defined inheritance. Perhaps 105 minutes of this sugary concoction borders on punishment, but when the movie hits a creative groove the results are highly amusing, generating a heightened sense of theatrical entertainment with a definite Disney twist.Ī glorious wedding day approaches for couple Mary Contrary (Annette Funicello) and Tom Piper (Tommy Sands), with their community of nursery rhyme characters overwhelmed with joy, toasting the happy couple with celebratory lemonade and demonstrations of ability. While it's rarely daring, "Babes in Toyland" does enjoy moments of sparkle, while supplying enough requisite shenanigans to fuel an unfussy tale of heroes, villains, and shrinking rays. Experimental in nature but familiar in design, the picture is a mixed bag of delights, with the majority of its success tied to the designers and animators, who bring a surprising amount of invention to the screen, working to open up the limited stage setting Disney requested. His first live-action musical, the mogul proceeded carefully with the work, updated from the operetta by Victor Herbert, casting fan-favorite and loyal Mouseketeer Annette Funicello (the girl who launched an entire generation of boys into puberty) in the lead role, while filling the frame with all kinds of advanced Disney wizardry to keep audiences amazed and, at times, distracted. "Babes in Toyland" represented a bold step forward for Walt Disney in 1961. ![]() Reviewed by Brian Orndorf, December 15, 2012 ![]()
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