March of the Wooden Soldiers [DVD] [1934] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

I bought the B&W "Eureka Video" version to compliment my other boxset ( Laurel & Hardy - The Collection (21-disc Box Set) [DVD ]) as this was missing from that. The picture/audio quality is average and there are a of couple extras - biographies of Laurel and Hardy and a Stan Laurel short "Hustling for Health". There is no subtitles. In Babes in Toyland (March Of The Wooden Soldiers) Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy are at the top of their form, in this lavish rendition of Victor Herbert operetta. They are workers in a toy factory who need to help out the old lady who lives in the shoe with the mortgage. The man who owns the deed for the property, will give it to her if he can marry her unwilling daughter.

Good DVD to have to complete a film set of the boys. The picture quality for me is good and the film is in its entirety. Nothing much to say other than it does the boys justice but not as much as their earlier Roach shorts which will go down in history as the best comic performances ever. Worth the buy for the budget price.

Most Laurel & Hardy films do not require colour. Their humour is such that no enhancement is needed, and it could even be a distraction. This film is the exception. By its very nature it cries out for colour, having as its base tales from the nursery. The colour process is excellent, being natural and bright. It almost looks as if that was the way it was originally filmed. The sound in this release is also much better than I have heard on other releases, although the musical numbers are still a little scratchy. It is an ideal introduction to Laurel and Hardy for children as they fit seamlessly into the Toy Town setting; however some smaller children may find the Bogey Land scenes somewhat frightening, although they are only a short part near the end, and obviously the bogey men are routed by the finish.

I was intrigued to buy this as it was not in the Laurel & Harby box set I bought a few years ago even though it was in the Hal Roach era. This was a film I remembered seeing under the title of Babes in Toyland when I was a child. This is a black & white "talkie" version (no colourised version included) - it is a good copy and plays well. The film is worth buying as it is at the time Stan and Ollie were at their peak. It is interesting to watch and has that brother grimm style to it with the bogey men being a little scary (I believe this is the uncut version; apparently there are other versions that were tamed down as the bogey men were perceived to be too scary for young audiences). Some nice comic routines from two of the best comics ever. The extra silent movie on the disc is an early one with just Stan in it - personally I am not a big fan of the silents so can't get too excited about this, but interesting for one watch to see how Stan developed his comic technique. However the main feature is well worth any L & H fan purchasing.

This DVD 'March Of The Wooden Soldiers In Colour' contains the colour version of the film only with no extras. The film is by Legend and the colour is the best colourised film I've ever seen. As if it was originally filmed in colour. The picture is excellent and the colour brilliant. Well worth purchasing especially to any Laurel and Hardy fans

Bought this as it was one of the 3 L&H Hal Roach full length feature films not included in the 21 disc Universal box set. Picture quality is excellent & so far as I can see is the full uncut version of this film (some other dvd releases have been edited). Highly recommended to all avid L&H fans.

Who would have thought that L & H would make it on to blu-ray, great transfer and great price, this is the version to get as you can see it in colour and b & w. Get this on import from US as it can be played in the UK.

Hal Roach said that Laurel and Hardy 'made a lousy movie' with this one, and that's not far from the truth. I wouldn't even go as far as calling it a Laurel and Hardy film; they have such little screentime that it's hardly justified. There are a few laughs, but this is among the poorer of L&H's work. It tries to focus on story and the other characters, which is unfortunate because the story is dreadful and the viewer simply does not care about the characters. However, Stan and Ollie are on form as usual, and the sets are impressive for the time. Picture quality is okay, and there are some funny moments, even if they're spread rather thinly. I'd recommend this to collectors only, and I doubt you'd end up watching it more than once.

This film was excellent in every way and the delivery 1st class. The seller can be 100% recommended for excellent service..

Der Film aus dem Jahre 1934 erstrahlt in sehr guten Farben und überzeugender 3D-Plastizität. So machner aktuelle 3D-Film kann sich technisch dahinter verstecken. Bis in die kleinsten Details (sich bewegende Federn in der Kopfbedeckung einer Schauspielerin) sind alle Objekte des Film liebevoll bearbeitet worden. Zugegeben ist die extrem aufwendige 3-D-Konvertierung des Cameron-Titanic-Films nicht angewendet worden, aber das Ergebnis ist trotzdem bestechend. Die Handlung poltert ein wenig dahin; was aber durch faszinierende Schauspieler wie den erst 21jährigen Henry Brandon, der als alter(!) Bösewicht sehr eindrucksvoll ist, und Stan und Ollie locker wettgemacht wird. Ein paar Lacher passieren jedem Zuschauer garantiert. Man sollte meinen, dass sogar Peter Jackson für seine Trilogie "Herr der Ringe" dort abgekupfert hat. Es gab eben schon 1934 brutale Monster-Heerscharen. (Der Einsatz eines Äffchens im Kostüm wäre heute unvorstellbar; aber es waren natürlich andere Zeiten.) Auch die Umsetzung der Spielzeugsoldaten-Armee mit Stopp-Trick-Technik ist kolossal. Eine lohnenswerte Anschaffung für erwachsene Filmfans!

Came across this late one night on TV...fell in love with it so I had to purchase the DVD. Made in 1934 this is a Mother Goose based movie, which has Humpty Dumpty, Little Bo Peep, Lil Boy Blue, Little Miss Muffet, 3 little pigs & more. Its such a great film!! Obviously Black & White---but that never bothered me. DVD quality is great!!

Without a doubt Legend Films/Genius Entertainment has given us the best DVD version of "March of The Wooden Soldiers" I've ever seen. The newly restored black and white version is truly amazing and the picture quality is spectacular. The restored black and white version is why I bought this DVD from Legend Films. I've never been in favor of colorizing a classic movie like "March of the Wooden Soldiers" but after watching it in color all I can say is wow! The colors are positively vibrant and they add a new dimension to the overall viewing experience. Legends black & white DVD version beats Passport's version hands down and blows Goodtimes version out of the water. This DVD version is packed with tons of extra's. DVD Features : -Original theatrical trailer -Christmas trailer gallery -Bonus animated movie: rudolph the red-nosed reindeer -Rare laurel & hardy short film -The ultimate holiday bonus package including: Christmas toyshop, 'twas the Night before Christmas, Merry Christmas cartoon, classic toy commercials, vintage holiday film rarities

邦題『玩具の国』 玩具の国に住むスタンリー(スタン・ローレル)とオリー(オリヴァー・ハーディ)は、ビーブ家に間借りしているお人よしコンビ。ビーブ家の娘、ボー(シャーロット・ヘンリー)は、国でも名高い美人だったが、その美しさゆえに、金持ちでいやらしいバーナビー(ヘンリー・クラインバッハ)に目を付けられてしまう。バーナビーは、ボーとの結婚を条件に、ボーの母親へ貸している金の帳消を申し出るのだが…。 ヴィクター・ハーバートによるミュージカルの映画化作品。1934年に"Babes in Toyland"として公開されたが、その後、再公開時に、"March of The Wooden Soldiers"と改題され、ファミリー・ピクチャーの古典と呼ばれるようになった。ローレル&ハーディの笑いと芸も上手く配分された、童心に溢れた楽しいファンタジーの佳編だ。ディズニー作品でないにもかかわらず、サルが中に入って演じた(！)ミッキー・マウスが登場するのも、実に珍しい(ディズニーが、ローレル&ハーディのファンだったそうだ)。 いわゆるローレル&ハーディ主演作ではあるが、彼らも、「玩具の国」に住む不思議なキャラクターたちの一人という扱いで、変に突出せずに溶け込んでいる。良い意味で、マンガ的なパーソナリティが持ち味の彼らならではだろう。マザー・グースやバイオリン猫、ミッキー・マウス、三匹の子豚に交じっても全く違和感がない。と同時に、彼らのルーティン・ギャグも随所で効いていて、笑わせることも忘れていないあたりはさすがのエンターテイナーぶり。彼らを主演にしながらも、喜劇寄りにせず、きちんとファンタジーの体裁を保っているのが、本作の成功の要因だろう。 本作は、パブリック・ドメイン(権利切れ)作品として、各ヴィデオ会社から粗悪な質のヴィデオ、DVDが発売されて来たことで有名。本Blu-rayは、パブリック・ドメイン作品の丁寧なレストアとカラーライゼーション化で定評のある米Legend Filmsのもの。2006年に、同社から発売されたDVDのアップグレード版だ。 35mm素材(ただし、オリジナル・ネガではないようだ)からHDテレシネされたオリジナル白黒の画質は、全体に明るすぎ、黒に深みがないものの概して良好。場面によって、DVDのSD画質並に輪郭が甘いところもあるが、現状では、このBlu-rayが最高画質だろう。 クリスマス関連のアニメ(マックス・フライシャーのもの)や短編が盛りだくさんの特典も嬉しい。個人的には、カラーライゼーション版には全く興味がないが(一応、商品としての売りはこちらの版)、丁寧に着色されている印象だ。 北米盤だが、R-Aなので、日本のBlu-rayプレーヤーで問題なく視聴可能。ただし、英語字幕は未収録なのでご注意を。