6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Mary Contrary is set to marry Tom Piper when he is kidnapped by Roderigo and Gonzorgo, two goons working for the evil Barnaby who wants to marry Mary for her inheritance.
Starring: Ray Bolger, Tommy Sands, Annette Funicello, Ed Wynn, Tommy KirkFamily | 100% |
Comedy | 59% |
Musical | 51% |
Romance | 33% |
Fantasy | 23% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.75:1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0
English SDH, French, Portuguese, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
“Babes in Toyland” represented a bold step forward for Walt Disney in 1961. 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. 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. 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. 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.
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio, though the packaging lists 1.33:1) presentation is quite lovely, with the production's saturated Technicolor look accurately represented on Blu-ray. Working through a boldly colored series of sets and costumes, hues are rich and defined, with an appealing sense of primaries and skintones, finding Bolger's face an interesting study of skin and pancake make-up. A pleasing layer of grain retains a filmic quality. Sharpness is strong, keeping find details in play. The sets alone are extraordinary to study, while fabrics are textured and facial reactions crisp. Shadow detail is stable and expressive, never clouding the frame. Print is in good condition, without any noticeable damage.
Unexpectedly, there's only a Dolby Digital 2.0 sound mix to contend with, keeping the film's energy tightly contained to the front stage. It's a thin track, though lacking any serious issues with shrillness, with music and dialogue passably balanced for a clean listening experience. Voices are easily identified, as are comedic speeds, which keep crisp and level, never exploding in intensity. There's no sign of hiss or distortion, but what's here is extremely basic in design, lacking that extra emphasis that would make the disc appealing for home theater use.
There is no supplementary material offered on this disc.
"Babes in Toyland" is wildly overlong, though the ending does introduce an army of stop-motion animated toy soldiers marching into battle against Barnaby, and there's fun in Grumio's toy-crafting inventions, which lends the picture a semi-sci-fi appeal. However, Donohue doesn't know when to quit, with the final 15 minutes devoted to battle scenes and general chaos that grows tiring just before it turns completely irritating. "Babes in Toyland" is a matinee diversion meant for kids, but it's also excessive, ignoring opportunities to simply further the plot and move along. However, it has numerous highlights along the way, maintaining reminders that beneath the superfluous monkey business and tuneless songs, there's a feisty Disney fantasy that's aching to please, laying the foundation for countless big screen delights to come.
Lenticular Faceplate
2012
2005
50th Anniversary Edition
1964
Diamond Edition
1950
2017
2007
2014
1968
Anniversary Edition | The Signature Collection
1989
40th Anniversary Edition
1974
2018
2008
2004
1937
35th Anniversary Collector's Edition
1983-1987
2021
2005
2006
1967
2013