March of the Wooden Soldiers [1934] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Customer Reviews:

"March of the Wooden Soldiers (1934) ... Laurel & Hardy ... Legend Films (2006)".......2007-09-09

Legend Films presents "MARCH OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS" (Released 14 December 1934) (77 mins) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) --- now in COLOR and Glorious Black and White --- Babes in Toyland (re-released in 1948 as March of the Wooden Soldiers, alternative titles Laurel and Hardy in Toyland, Revenge Is Sweet, Wooden Soldiers) is a 1934 musical comedy film starring Laurel and Hardy. Based on Victor Herbert's popular 1903 operetta Babes in Toyland, the film was produced by Hal Roach, directed by Charley Rogers and Gus Meins, and released to theatres on November 12, 1934 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Under Gus Meins (Director), Charles Rogers (Director), Hal Roach (Producer), Frank R. Butler (Screenwriter), Nick Grinde (Screenwriter), Francis Corby (Cinematographer), Art Lloyd (Cinematographer), Victor Herbert (From Musical by), Harry Jackson (Musical Direction/Supervision), Howard Jackson (Musical Direction/Supervision), Glen MacDonough (Songwriter), Bert Jordan (Editor), William Terhune (Editor) - - - - The 1934 version likewise features most of the characters in the stage version, but, again, an entirely new plot --- The film featured only five musical numbers from the enormous stage score, though that was plenty for a musical with only a 78-minute running time. Included in the film, in the order in which they were performed, were "Toyland", "Never Mind Bo-Peep", "Castle in Spain", "Go To Sleep (Slumber Deep)", and "March of the Toys", an instrumental piece and perhaps the most famous number in the score --- Almost all of the songs were performed by Bo Peep and Tom-Tom and none of them were performed by Laurel and/or Hardy (though they briefly danced/marched to "March of the Toys") --- the performances still hold up well in this day and age.

the cast includes:
Stan Laurel ... Stannie Dum
Oliver Hardy ... Ollie Dee
Charlotte Henry ... Little Bo-Peep
Felix Knight ... Tom-Tom Piper
Henry Brandon ... Silas Barnaby (as Harry Kleinbach)
Florence Roberts ... Mother Widow Peep
Virginia Karns ... Mother Goose
Marie Wilson ... Mary Quite Contrary
Johnny Downs ... Little Boy Blue
Richard Alexander ... King's Guard

BIOS
1. Stan Laurel (aka: Arthur Stanley Jefferson)
Date of Birth: 16 June 1890 - Ulverston, Cumbria, England, UK
Date of Death: 23 February 1965 - Santa Monica, California

2. Oliver Hardy (aka: Oliver Norvell Hardy)
Date of Birth: 18 January 1892 - Harlem, Georgia
Date of Death: 7 August 1957 - North Hollywood, California

In 2006, the complete print was restored and colorized by Legend Films, using the latest technology --- Although the Legend Films release was advertised under its reissue title, both the color and black and white prints featured the original title and opening credits --- Both colorized versions correctly depict Stan's hair as being auburn, not medium brown as it appears in other colorized Laurel and Hardy movies.

Laurel and Hardy were an American-based comedy duo who became famous during the early half of the 20th century for their work in motion pictures --- The members of the duo were the thin British-born-and-reared Stan Laurel and his heavier American partner from the state of Georgia, Oliver Hardy --- The pair are considered among the most famous and finest double acts in cinema history --- Each brought talents from his solo career to the team.

The two comedians worked together briefly in 1919 on The Lucky Dog released in 1921 --- After a period appearing separately in several short films for the Hal Roach studio during the 1920s, they began appearing in movie shorts together in 1926, and Laurel and Hardy officially became a team in 1927 --- They became Hal Roach's most famous and lucrative stars --- Among their most popular and successful films were the features Sons of the Desert (1933), Way Out West (1937), and Block-Heads (1938); and the shorts Big Business (1929), Helpmates (1932), and their Academy Award-winning short, The Music Box (1932).

The pair left the Roach studio in 1940, then appeared in eight low-budget comedies for 20th Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer --- From 1945 to 1950, they did not appear on film and concentrated on their stage show --- They made their last film, Atoll K, in France in 1950 and 1951 before retiring from the screen --- In total, they appeared together in 106 films --- They starred in 40 short sound films, 32 short silent films and 23 feature films, and in the remaining 11 films, had a guest or cameo appearance. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Legend Films can restore, colorize and release many of the classic earliest black and white films --- a patented coloring and remastering process makes each film picture perfect plus more vivd than ever --- no one can resist collecting every title that Legend Films releases.

Hats off and thanks to Barry B. Sandrew Ph.D. (Founder, COO & CTO) and his Legend Films Staff --- looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage era of the '20s, '30s & '40s --- order your copy now from Amazon where there are plenty of copies available on DVD --- if you enjoyed this title, why not check out Legend Films where they are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector.

Total Time: 77 mins on DVD ~ Legend Films. ~ (11/07/2006)

another fine mess (but this time in glorious colour!).......2007-06-20

laurel and hardys best work-in my view,has always been their short films made between 1929-1935.However,of all their full length films,this is one of their best-so if you like laurel and hardy,or if you enjoy old classic comedies-here are a few reasons why this would be a good purchase:

1:the colour version is very good indeed (top marks to legend films)
2:for those that do not like the colourisation process,the original b&w version is also included (fully restored)
3:this film is very rarely shown on british tv-cant remember the last time it was shown!

This is a great holiday movie.......2007-05-26

Some like it colored and some don't. Ether way this based on a 1903 Victor Herbert operetta, film released in 1934 as "Babes in Toyland," and is still fun to watch.

Now the basic plot is to keep Mother Peep's (Florence Roberts) shoe from being foreclosed on by the evil landlord Silas Barnaby (Henry Brandon) when this fails Bo Peep has to marry Barnaby to keep the shoe. Now to keep Little Bo Peep from having to marry Barnaby, it involves Barnaby being tricked into marrying Stanley Dum dressed up as Bo in Bo Peep's place. Naturally Barnaby can not be fooled long and must have his revenge by letting lose the bogeymen from their caverns to destroy Toyland.

Does he succeed in his evil ways?
Who can stop him and how?

All in all it is a must to complete the holiday collection.

March of the Wooden Soldiers [1934] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Average customer rating:

March of the Wooden Soldiers [1934] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Laurel & Hardy
Manufacturer: Passport Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: 6308081477
Release Date: 2003-12-09

Average customer rating:

March of the Wooden Soldiers [1934] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Manufacturer: Genius Products
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

All Comedy | Comedy | Categories | DVD | Video

Comedy | Classics | Categories | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: 6310537199
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Average customer rating:

March of the Wooden Soldiers [1934] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Laurel & Hardy
Manufacturer: Good Times Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: 6305559724
Release Date: 1999-10-26

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