"March of the Wooden Soldiers" *** (out of ****) I've never quite figured out why Victor Herbert's opera "Babes in Toyland" is considered to be a Christmas movie, however, who am I to argue with the public?
Herbert's "Babes in Toyland" was written in 1903 and was a smash success. It was seen as capitalizing on the success of "The Wizard of Oz". In Herbert's play, a world of make believe is possible. Toyland is a place where all your favorite fairytale stories come to life. Mother Goose lives there, Santa Claus visits, Little Bo-Peep, the Old Woman who lived in a shoe and threats of the bogeymen haunt children.
Hal Roach, who produced Laurel & Hardy's shorts and featured films, was a man of culture. He loved opera. He bought the rights to several operas and used them as Laurel & Hardy vehicles. However as all fans of Laurel & Hardy, and for that matter, the Marx Brothers, will tell you, sometimes these stories didn't use the comics to their full potential.
These operas are based on previously written material which were not suited for Laurel & Hardy's style of comedy. Parts had to be written specially for them and as a result usually reduced them to supporting characters offering comic relief to a love story. "March of the Wooden Soldiers" is no exception. Other examples include "Bohemian Girl" and "The Devil's Brother".
This 1934 film version of Herbert's play has retained little of the original story. The film revolves around Mother Peep (the little old woman who lived in a shoe, Florence Roberts) who is in debt to Silas Barnaby (Harry Kleinbach), the meanest man in town. Barnaby has a mortgage over her shoe and Mother Peep is unable to pay. But Barnaby has eyes for Little Bo-Peep (Charlotte Henry, who previously appeared in "Alice in Wonderland" in the title role, which feature an on-slaught of cameos including Cary Grant, W.C. Fields, Jack Oakie and Edward Everett Horton). If Bo-Peep will agree to marry Barnaby, he will rip up Mother Peep's mortgage, as a wedding present. But Bo-Peep doesn't love Barnaby. Her affections are for Tom-Tom (Felix Knight), you know, the Piper's son.
Laurel & Hardy play Stannie Dum and Ollie Dee, a variation of Twiddle Dum and Twiddle Dee. They live in Mother Peep's shoe and it is now up to them to help Mother Peep. Their first plan is to ask their boss, the ToyMaster, to give them a loan. When that doesn't work they try to steal the mortgage papers from Barnaby.
For children I can understand why a movie such as this would interest them. The film was made on a pretty good budget and the world of toyland is vivid and colorful. As for adults though I can see why this wouldn't hold their interest. For us luckily there is Laurel & Hardy.
The performances, across the board, are not effective. Felix Knight is not much of a leading man. He never had much of a career in films. He mostly appeared in bit parts. He was in Laurel & Hardy's "Bohemian Girl" and "Caravan" with Charles Boyer. My guess is he was chosen for his singing instead of his acting.
The best performances in the film belong to Laurel & Hardy. If people think they were not good actors, they are sadly mistaken. The boys (as they were sometimes called) were nothing like the characters they played on-screen. They played their characters to perfection. They were brilliant comedians and effective actors. Don't think otherwise.
As for as judging this film as either a Christmas movie or a Laurel & Hardy film it is a little weak. As far as Christmas movies goes, this movie is not really about the holiday spirit, although Santa Claus does make an appearance. But there is no moral about the importance of family, showing good will towards your fellow man, learning to share..ect.
Compared to other Laurel & Hardy movies "March of the Wooden Soldiers" doesn't show the team at their best. They are too restricted by the plot. So much of it doesn't involve them. Still they manage to get in some funny bits including Stanley's favorite past-time and their plan to sneak into Barnaby's house, via the battle of Troy, with Oliver hiding in a gift which is sent to Barnaby's warehouse.
If you really want to see Laurel & Hardy at their best watch "Way Out West", "The Devil's Brother", "Sons of the Desert" or "Bonnie Scotland". In those movies they are given a little more freedom to insert their style of comedy and show you why they are, in my opinion, the greatest comedy team in history.
The movie was co-directed by Gus Meins, who worked for the Roach studios directing the Little Rascals and Thelma Todd, Patsy Kelly shorts. And Charley Rogers, who had worked with "the boys" often. He directed "Bohemian Girl" and "The Devil's Brother" and wrote "Swiss Miss", "Way Out West" and "Bonnie Scotland".
Though the story has been altered for the film, five of the songs remain. They are "Toyland", "Never Mind, Bo-Peep", "Castle in Spain", "Go To Sleep" and "March of the Toys".
"March of the Wooden Soldiers" is a good family movie. It is sweet and entertaining. While not my ideal choice for a perfect holiday film, it is funny and well worth watching if for no better reason than to see Laurel and Hardy.
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