Babes in Toyland

A 1986 American made-for-television Christmas musical film directed by Clive Donner. The film is based on the 1903 operetta of the same name by Victor Herbert and Glen MacDonough. This version features a new score by Leslie Bricusse along with select portions of Herbert's original score. Filming took place in Munich, West Germany, during the summer of 1986. It premiered on NBC on December 19, 1986, and was released on VHS in 1991. The story follows eleven-year-old Lisa Piper (Drew Barrymore) from Cincinnati, Ohio, who, after her father's death, has taken on the responsibility of caring for her family, growing up too fast and losing interest in toys. Her older sister Mary (Jill Schoelen) works at a toy store owned by Mr. Barnaby Barnacle (Richard Mulligan), who harasses her. On Christmas Eve, during a snowstorm, Lisa, along with Mary and her boyfriend Jack (Keanu Reeves), gets into an accident, after which Lisa finds herself in the magical Toyland. Here, she interrupts the wedding of Mary Contrary (Jill Schoelen) and the unpleasant Barnaby Barnacle, stopping the ceremony because Mary loves Barnaby's nephew, Jack Nimble (Keanu Reeves). Lisa, Mary, Jack, and their friend Georgie Porgie (Googy Gress) learn of Barnaby's evil plan to take over Toyland. They seek help from the kind Toymaster (Pat Morita), who can only assist them if Lisa believes in toys again. Barnaby steals a flask containing distilled evil collected by the Toymaster and attempts to destroy Toyland, but Lisa and her friends confront him, ultimately defeating the villain and restoring peace. After these adventures, Lisa returns to the real world, realizing the importance of childhood and belief in miracles.