Babes in Toyland (1986 film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Babes in Toyland
International theatrical release poster
Genre	Adventure Family Fantasy Musical Romance
Written by	Glen MacDonough Paul Zindel
Directed by	Clive Donner
Starring	Drew Barrymore Richard Mulligan Eileen Brennan Keanu Reeves Jill Schoelen Googy Gress Pat Morita
Theme music composer	Leslie Bricusse
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
Production
Executive producer(s)	Bill Finnegan Patricia Finnegan Sheldon Pinchuk
Producer(s)	Tony Ford Neil T. Maffeo Anthony Spinner (supervising producer)
Production location(s)	Munich, Germany
Cinematography	Arthur Ibbetson
Editor(s)	David Saxon
Running time	95 minutes
Production company(s)	Orion Television The Finnegan/Pinchuk Company Bavaria Atelier Gmbh
Distributor	MGM Television Sony Pictures Television Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (2020-present, under license from MGM Home Entertainment)
Release
Original network	NBC
Picture format	Color
Audio format	Dolby
Original release	December 19, 1986 (1986-12-19)

Babes in Toyland is a fun 1986 American TV movie that's a Christmas musical! It was directed by Clive Donner and stars Drew Barrymore, Richard Mulligan, Eileen Brennan, and Keanu Reeves. This movie is based on an old operetta (a short opera with spoken parts) by Victor Herbert and Glen MacDonough. This version has new songs by Leslie Bricusse, plus some of the original music.

The film was shot in Munich, West Germany, during the summer of 1986. It first aired on NBC on December 19, 1986. A shorter version, about 94 minutes long, was released in theaters overseas. This shorter version is the one that became available on VHS and other home media worldwide.

What is Babes in Toyland About?

The movie begins with Lisa Piper (Drew Barrymore), an eleven-year-old girl from Cincinnati, Ohio. Lisa feels like she has to grow up too fast. She takes care of her younger siblings and cooks for her family. This is because her father has passed away. She thinks she has no time for toys and doesn't want to be treated like a child.

During a big snowstorm on Christmas Eve, something magical happens. Lisa is suddenly transported to a wonderful place called Toyland! She arrives just before a wedding is about to take place. Mary Contrary (Jill Schoelen) is supposed to marry the very unpleasant Barnaby Barnacle (Richard Mulligan). But Mary doesn't love Barnaby. She is actually in love with his kind nephew, Jack Nimble (Keanu Reeves).

Lisa quickly steps in and stops the wedding. With her new friends, she soon discovers Barnaby's evil plan. He wants to take over all of Toyland! Lisa, Mary, Jack, and their friend Georgie Porgie (Googy Gress) decide to get help. They go to the kindly Toymaster (Pat Morita). The Toymaster tells them he can only help if Lisa truly believes in toys.

Barnaby confronts them and the Toymaster. He shows his true evil self. He steals a special flask that holds "distilled evil" that the Toymaster had been collecting. Barnaby then leaves Lisa and her friends to face Trollog. Trollog is a scary, vulture-like monster with a magical eye that Barnaby uses to spy on people.

Lisa and her friends manage to escape Trollog. They blind him with paint and lock him in a chest. But their escape is short-lived. Barnaby's forces capture them one by one. They are all imprisoned in Barnaby's secret fortress.

Barnaby reveals his big plan: he has been creating an army of trolls! He wants to use them to take over Toyland. He tries to make his captives evil servants using the contents of the flask. He even says he will replace Trollog with Lisa and make Mary his "Troll Princess."

However, Lisa is special. She is immune to the evil potion! She bravely manages to reverse its effects on her friends. After escaping from Barnaby's stronghold, they rush back to the Toymaster.

When Barnaby unleashes his army of trolls on Toyland, Lisa's newfound belief in toys saves the day. Her belief brings to life an army of giant toy soldiers that the Toymaster had created! These brave toy soldiers drive Barnaby into the mysterious Forest of the Night. Barnaby has lost control of his creatures and failed to make Lisa his new Trollog. He is then banished from Toyland forever.

With Barnaby gone, Jack and Mary are finally able to get married. After all the excitement, the Toymaster takes Lisa home. It turns out the Toymaster is actually Santa Claus! They travel across the Milky Way in a sleigh pulled by wooden reindeer. Lisa then wakes up at home, wondering if it was all just a wonderful dream.

Who Stars in Babes in Toyland?

What Songs Are in the Movie?

Here are the musical numbers featured in Babes in Toyland:

• "C-I-N-C-I-N-N-A-T-I" – Sung by Jack, Lisa, George and Mary
• "Toyland" – Sung by the Toyland chorus
• "Let's Hear It!" – Sung by Georgie and the Toyland chorus
• "We'll Think of Something" – Sung by Lisa, Georgie and Mary
• "It's the Feeling" – Sung by Mary and Jack
• "Monsterpiece" – Sung by Barnaby
• "I Live in Two Worlds" – Sung by Lisa
• "C-I-N-C-I-N-N-A-T-I" (Reprise) – Sung by Lisa, Jack, Mary and Georgie
• "Eyes of a Child" – Sung by the Toymaster
• "May the Years to Come" – Sung by the Toyland chorus
• "Eyes of a Child" (Reprise) – Sung by the Toymaster and Lisa
• "Toyland" – Sung by Lisa

When Did Babes in Toyland Come Out?

The original, longer version of the movie (145 minutes) was only shown on television. It was never officially released for purchase. However, the shorter 94-minute version was released on VHS and other home video formats.