Babes in Toyland

[Angus McLaurel]

Stannie Dum & Ollie Dee live in toyland in the old woman`s shoe (from the classic nursery rhyme) Other nursery rhyme characters reside in the toyland district, such as Little Bo Peep, little Jack Horner and even the three litle pigs.

There is one mean person who lives in toyland. That is Silas Barnaby. He owns the mortgage to the shoe house and threatens to evict the residents (Stan & Ollie + others) if they don`t find the payment.

Stan & Ollie try to get the money together for Mother Peep but fail. They then plan to steal the deed from Barnaby`s home (sounds familiar!) but are caught in the act and sent to the ducking stool and exiled to Bogeyland.


This is a strange sort of film to me. Although it sets out to be aimed at children (I think) You watch it and to a child it gets quite scary... (Bogeymen, and Barnaby - How scaryy's he! Even the Mickey Mouse type thing is freaky) Barnaby blackmails Mother Peep into suggesting he would forget the mortgage if he could marry innocent Bo-Peep, who is about thirty years younger than him. The dirty old man!

Then there`s the toymaster. You'd think a chap working making children`s toys would be a pleasant sort of chap. Not this one, oh no Probably the 2nd most miserable person in toyland.

The bogeymen sequence must be really distressing to children, as the `Bogeyman` is the most feared person in any child`s nightmare. It`s a pity they didn`t have Freddy Krueger around in the 1930`s. He`s a lot more fun.

Right, that`s the bad stuff out of the way. In case you`ve got the wrong end of the stick, I don`t mind watching Babes in Toyland as long as it`s a Stan & Ollie scene. This film does contain a good few Stan & Ollie scenes, like the opening sequence with the feather. It`s funny how Stan begins to start laughing after he swallows it and wakes Ollie.

My favourite scene is the Pee Wee game, in which Stan demonstrates his knack of the game, Ollie is confident...


OLLIE: Anything you can do, I can do!
STAN: (shakes his head)


He follows this by showing off a few of his talents, including finger wiggle and Kneesy EarsyNosey...(something I have a knack for myself, but I won`t mention that until I win the World Championship, if I can get round the harsh judges that is. Anyway...)

I like the little scene where Stan sneaks Ollie into Barnaby`s house disguised as a Christmas present (in July) and as Stan is about to leave, with Ollie Still in the box he shouts "Goodnight Ollie". Ollie pops his head up from the box and replies to Stan with a "Goodnight". Ollie realises what he`s done and gracefully taps his fingers on the box all innocent to an onlooking Barnaby.


Stan is horrified when he realises he`s married Barnaby


STAN: I don`t love him


Although you might say I've been a bit picky on this film, you have to understand, despite what I`ve said, it`s not a bad film, some good moments which I enjoyed, but as an early feature, it's not a definate classic. I'm not keen on the operatic side of it either, but that`s just me. As a feature film, it works well and is put together quite nicely, but as a Laurel & Hardy film, there`s too much plot! 6/10

[mgm]

A Christmas panto - set in July - reviewed in March (typical). Another film I wish was made in colour.

Hmm, where have I seen that mouse before?. No I’m not going to do any jokes about Pee-wee’s although I’d like to know how many takes it took Stan to do it.

What does Tom Tom do to Bo Peep in the stocks to make her feet go like that.

Why does Stan need the mask, he announces who he is and it’s on the parcel.

Bogeyland is snot a nice place!.

The soldier who loses his head is disturbing somehow.

Aimed at children of all ages, though it does get rather violent at the end.

I expect to hear Tony Green during the dart sequence (And Bully’s special prize - A motor boat - Bog all use to someone in Wigan)(Unless you know the TV classic (sic) Bullseye the last bracket won’t make much sense)


STAN: Upset?!. I’m housebroken

Rating Fun for all the family 7/10