Babes in Waltland : Part II

re: Babes in Waltland : Part II

Floyd Norman — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:57:02 GMT

Hello Floyd, I just want to thank you for these two articles. Babes in Toyland is actually one of my favorite Disney films, though not particularly for the film itself. Long before video rentals, my parents used to rent Disney films for me and my siblings birthdays. I mean a 16mm print of three or more reels and a projector. We's put blanketts up over the dining room windows and put up the home movie screen and create our own little theater. It was great fun watching "Babes in Toyland"; "The Monkey's Uncle"; "Sammy the Way out Seal" and others this way.

Speaking of "Sammy the Way out Seal", do you have any memories of this particular film? I had the great privledge of visiting the actual beach that's shown in the film. I even climbed on the same rocks that the two boys in the film are seen walking between at the beginning. Did you ever see the seal when it was on the set? I know the seal was actually female and was also featured in "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

re: Babes in Waltland : Part II

Floyd Norman — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:20:20 GMT

Hiya Floyd!

Was Bolger cast before Kimball was fired? I ask, because Barnaby bears an almost striking resemblance to Walt that sounds like the ultimate way of thumbing your nose at the boss, by casting him as a villain.

re: Babes in Waltland : Part II

Floyd Norman — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:40:50 GMT

Hey there Nub, I must agree that Ray Bolger in costume as Barnaby does resemble a young Walt.

re: Babes in Waltland : Part II

Floyd Norman — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:26:06 GMT

Timing is everything. This might have been a very successful film if it had been made 5 years earlier, where it would have fit in with other kiddie musicals like Geprge Pal's 'Tom Thumb'. The world was changing, Disneyland was modernizng, even the cartoon features had adopted a more 'contemperary' look. "Babes" was just a little too old fashioned for its own good.