March of the Wooden Soldiers

Since it’s beginning to be “that time of the year”, it is fitting to mention one of the first Christmas movies ever made. March of the Wooden Soldiers came out in 1934, and what makes this traditional holiday classic so intriguing is not just its fairy tale setting, but its role as an artifact of early Hollywood films. Back when films where made in immense production studios, by large ensembles of people, and with very minimal use of special effects. Along with that, this film also displays the iconic duo of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. This comedic pair was the first of its kind on film and laid the foundation for all buddy-comedies that came in the years after.

The basis for this holiday classic is Victor Herbert’s 1903 operetta Babes in Toyland (An alternate title of the film), which tells the story of Bo Peep (Charlotte Henry) and Tom Tom (Felix Knight), two characters plucked from famous nursery rhymes, that are deeply in love, but have their union threatened by the ruthless Barnaby (Henry Brandon) and his “Boogeymen”. As is common in large scale films of this era, there are musical pieces spread throughout, mixed in with the slapstick comedy of Laurel and Hardy. The costumes and set design do at times appear ripped out of a fever-dream, and the exuberance of it does teeter on being creepy, but its an interesting look at the early world-building tactics of Hollywood producers and directors well before the age of CGI.

Commonly played throughout the holiday season and a Thanksgiving and Christmas television tradition, March of the Wooden Soldiers is an easy-going trek through well known fairy-tales come to life. Although filmed in black and white (a process which Stan Laurel later regretted due to the colorful set pieces) a colorized version does exist. Along with showing the Fantasy of those famous tales, the movie also displays the Fantasy elements of Old Hollywood and how it helped pave the way for similar large-scale productions such as the Wizard of Oz, and its climactic scene of the titular 6-foot Toy Soldiers being activated is a classic lead in to the chaotic conclusion of Toyland’s good vs Barnaby’s evil.

Directed By: Gus Meins and Charles Rogers

Starring: Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Charlotte Henry

Runtime: 78 minutes Year Released: 1934