MovieChat Forums > Babes in Toyland (1934) Discussion > Why was the name changed?

Why was the name changed?

posted 18 years ago by Mel_Diablo
12 replies | jump to latest

It's not just a DVD thing, because it was called this back in 1983 when I first saw it. In fact I didn't even know it was originally called Babes in Toyland until today after seeing the production notes in the DVD extras.

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[–] chris-636 18 years ago

That's a good question and I wish I had an answer for it. I'll soon be 48 years old and as far as I'm concerned this film is and always will be known to me as "The March of the Wooden Soldiers".

[–] Davejohnson316 18 years ago

I prefer the March of the Wooden Soldiers name.

[–] wmorrow59 18 years ago

According to a book on the comedy team (Laurel & Hardy From the Forties Forward by Scott MacGillivray) the title of this film was changed to March of the Wooden Soldiers as far back as 1950, when it was re-released to theaters by a company called Lippert Pictures. The reasons are a little obscure but have to do with copyright ownership; apparently the Roach Studio no longer held legal title to the film by that time but MGM (the company through which Roach released the movie in 1934) still retained ownership of the original stage material. In any event, in addition to changing the title the Lippert company also made six minutes' worth of cuts in the film, and misspelled the name of several of the movie's personnel in their new credits!

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] LightsCameraAction1 17 years ago

I was told that the title was changed in 1961, when Disney released their awful Babes In Toyland mess-terpiece.

[–] pepperdoggie 16 years ago

WPIX in New York (or CW11 or whatever they're calling it now) still promotes it as "The March of the Wooden Soldiers" when they show it.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] OlympicLeprechaun 16 years ago

I hate to appear salacious on th board of such a wonderful family film, but let's face it, most people in this day and age hearing the phrase "Babes in Toyland" would immediately think of a porno movie. Maybe they didn't know it at the time, but changing the title probably turned out to be a wise move.

[–] Underdog_73 7 years ago

OlympicLeprechaun replied May 10, 2008
I hate to appear salacious on th board of such a wonderful family film, but let's face it, most people in this day and age hearing the phrase "Babes in Toyland" would immediately think of a porno movie. Maybe they didn't know it at the time, but changing the title probably turned out to be a wise move.

I hate to burst your bubble, but you're the only person, I've ever heard of, who thought about porn when hearing the title "Babes in Toyland". I dont know anyone, from my 10 year old niece to my 97 year old Grandmother, who isn't familiar with this musical, regardless of the version.

I know you want to fault today's generation for being so immature, but in this case, you're the one with the issue. No one ever wants to admit creepiness and immaturity, but in this case you don't have a choice.

You should reevaluate yourself and come to terms with the direction of your own mind, and stop trying to blame or fault others.

[–] bobbybrdwy 15 years ago

this movie was based on the broadway musical babes in toyland and was originally released with that title.... when disney made there new version they also bought the rights for the original so to make no confusion they remaketed it as march of the wooden soliders before the release of the new version... hope that answers all your questions :-)

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[–] Aulic Exclusiva 13 years ago

This was no "broadway musical", but the operetta masterpiece by the King of American operetta, Victor Herbert (born Dublin.)

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[–] Bilwick1 13 years ago

They should go back to the movie's original and more evocative title, "Bogey Nights."