Toys (1992)

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers (WGA):

Valerie Curtin (written by) &
Barry Levinson (written by)

Release Date:

18 December 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Laughter is a state of mind.

Plot:

When a military general inherits a toy making company and begins making war toys, his employees band together to stop him before he ruins the name of Zevo Toys forever.

Plot Keywords:

Toy | Business | Brother | Uncle | Weapon

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 9 nominations

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Leslie Zevo
Michael Gambon	...	Lt. General Leland Zevo
Joan Cusack	...	Alsatia Zevo
Robin Wright	...	Gwen Tyler
LL Cool J	...	Captain Patrick Zevo
Donald O'Connor	...	Kenneth Zevo
Arthur Malet	...	Owen Owens
Jack Warden	...	Old General Zevo
Debi Mazar	...	Nurse Debbie
Wendy Melvoin	...	Choir Soloist
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Cortez
Jamie Foxx	...	Baker
Shelly Desai	...	Shimera
Blake Clark	...	Hagenstern
Art Metrano	...	Guard at Desk
Tommy Townsend	...	General Tagnell
Clinton Allmon	...	General Magraw
Kate Benton	...	Researcher
Steve Park	...	Researcher
Julie Hayden	...	Researcher
Yeardley Smith	...	Researcher Miss Drum
Ralph Tabakin	...	Fred
Martha Faulkner	...	Housekeeper Mary
Alex Bookston	...	Minister
Manny Portel	...	Joe at Cafeteria
Brooks Mondae	...	Guard in General's Office
Jack Levinson	...	War Room Player
Sam Levinson	...	War Room Player
Kevin West	...	Technician with Tigers
Jonathan McGarry	...	'Great Egghead'
Jacque Lynn Colton	...	Woman in Supermarket
Felton Anderson III	...	Child at the World Choir
Jenny Canales	...	Child at the World Choir
Amy Arwen Gibbons	...	Child at the World Choir
Michaela Herbon	...	Child at the World Choir
Nicholas Herbon	...	Child at the World Choir
Benjamin Hernandez	...	Child at the World Choir
Sarah M. LeFever	...	Child at the World Choir
Eric W. Miller	...	Child at the World Choir
Kristy E. Miller	...	Child at the World Choir
Jeffrey R. Miller	...	Child at the World Choir
Tashequa J. Peterson	...	Child at the World Choir
Heather Rogers	...	Child at the World Choir
Denise J. Saucedo	...	Child at the World Choir
Lisette Yvonne Saucedo	...	Child at the World Choir
Summer Simaan	...	Child at the World Choir
Jimmy Spooner	...	Child at the World Choir
Sarah Yee	...	Child at the World Choir
Lisel Brunson	...	Factory Worker
Dolores Finch	...	Factory Worker
Lisa Fink	...	Factory Worker
Jerry Goldman	...	Factory Worker
Gerald McKinnie	...	Factory Worker
Dolores E. Sebrasky	...	Factory Worker
John Stevens	...	Factory Worker
Roldan Nill Williams	...	Factory Worker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sam Bauso	...	Factory Worker (uncredited)
Ivan Dudynsky	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Barry Levinson

Writing credits (WGA)
Valerie Curtin		(written by) &
Barry Levinson		(written by)

Produced by
Peter Giuliano	....	co-producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
Barry Levinson	....	producer
Charles Newirth	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Hans Zimmer

Cinematography by
Adam Greenberg		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stu Linder

Casting by
Ellen Chenoweth

Production Design by
Ferdinando Scarfiotti

Art Direction by
Edward Richardson

Set Decoration by
Linda DeScenna

Costume Design by
Albert Wolsky

Makeup Department
Hallie D'Amore	....	makeup artist
Susan V. Kalinowski	....	key hair stylist (as Sue Kalinowski)
Cheri Minns	....	key makeup artist
Greg Nelson	....	old age makeup artist: Mr. Warden
Stephen Robinette	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Robert Grasmere	....	post-production supervisor (as Robert Grasmere Jr.)
Charles Newirth	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kate Davey	....	second assistant director
Stephen P. Dunn	....	additional first assistant director
Peter Giuliano	....	first assistant director
Annette Sutera	....	second second assistant director (as Annette N. Sutera)
Christine A. Tope	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Todd J. Adelman	....	construction medic
Carl Aldana	....	illustrator
Randy Anflick	....	mill gang boss
Robert M. Beall	....	set designer
Thomas Betts	....	set designer (as Thomas F. Betts)
Larry Guy Clause	....	propmaker foreman (as Larry Clause)
Denis Cordova	....	propmaker foreman
Michael Denering	....	scenic artist
John Dexter	....	set designer (as John E. Dexter)
Beverli Eagan	....	set designer
John R. Elliott	....	general foreman (as John Elliott)
Ronald Farnsworth	....	scenic artist
Anthony Feola	....	labor general foreman
Harold Fuhrman	....	set designer
Nancy Gilmore	....	set dresser
Nancy Gomes	....	paint foreman (as Nancy A. Gomes)
Pat Gomes	....	paint supervisor (as Patrick A. Gomes)
Tim Gomes	....	paint foreman
David E. Gonzales	....	labor foreman
Dennis Gothie	....	propmaker foreman
Yael Haffner	....	art department coordinator
Donald D. Hardenburg	....	propmaker foreman
Joseph E. Hubbard	....	set designer
Jack Johnson	....	assistant art director
Gary F. Kieldrup	....	assistant property master (as Gary Kieldrup)
Ron Marshall	....	mill foreman
Ric McElvin	....	lead man
John Moffitt	....	scenic artist
Nick Navarro	....	set designer
Eric T. Nicolaisen	....	labor foreman
Errol C. Nofziger	....	paint foreman
Dan Ondrejko	....	greensman (as Daniel Ondrejko)
Joe Ondrejko	....	propmaker foreman (as Joseph M. Ondrejko)
Joseph G. Pacelli Jr.	....	assistant art director (as Joe Pacelli)
Dennis J. Parrish	....	property master
Hope M. Parrish	....	assistant property master (as Hope Parrish)
Dan Pemberton	....	general foreman (as Daniel Pemberton)
Jeffrey J. Perkins	....	plaster foreman
Joseph Perugini	....	plaster supervisor
Donn Piller	....	set dresser
John Rankin	....	set dresser
Brian Rock	....	labor foreman (as Brian J. Rock)
Ed Strang	....	scenic artist
John Villarino	....	construction coordinator
Mike Villarino	....	construction general foreman
Leslie Warren	....	set dresser
Darrell L. Wight	....	set designer
John Alvin	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Randy L. Childs	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)
Michael A. Contreraz	....	laborer (uncredited)
John Eaves	....	model maker (uncredited)
Fred Folger	....	props (uncredited)
Victor M. Shannon	....	plasterer (uncredited)
Robert Van Dyke	....	propmaker gangboss (uncredited)

Sound Department
C.J. Appel	....	adr editor
Sandina Bailo-Lape	....	foley editor
Richard Beggs	....	sound designer
Gloria S. Borders	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher Boyes	....	foley recordist
Clare C. Freeman	....	foley editor (as Clare Freeman)
Lora Hirschberg	....	assistant sound designer
Robert Jackson	....	boom operator
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ron Judkins	....	sound mixer
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Jeff Rona	....	sound effects recordist
Paige Sartorius	....	dialogue editor
Robert Shoup	....	sound effects editor
Ewa Sztompke	....	dialogue editor
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Tove Blue Valentine	....	cable person
Ethan Van der Ryn	....	sound effects editor
Marian Wilde	....	foley editor
John Countryman	....	machine room operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Blitstein	....	special effects foreman
Randy Cabral	....	special effects shop foreman
Pat Domenico	....	special effects foreman
Fernando Favila	....	special character effects
Werner Hahnlein	....	special effects technician
William D. Harrison	....	special effects foreman (as William Dale Harrison)
Anthony L. Paquet	....	special effects medic (as Anthony L. Paquet Jr.)
Art Pimentel	....	special character effects
Clay Pinney	....	special effects coordinator (as Clayton Pinney)
Vincent Prentice	....	special character effects (as Vince Prentice)
Sam Sainz	....	special character effects
Loren Soman	....	special character effects
Richard Stutsman	....	special effects foreman
Michael A. Tice	....	special effects technician
Joe Viskocil	....	pyrotechnics: Dream Quest Images
Todd Weslow	....	special character effects
John S. Baker	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Gary D. Bierend	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Douglas Calli	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Rich E. Cordobes	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Marvin Gardner	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Kevin Hudson	....	special effects crew (uncredited)
Bruce Y. Kuroyama	....	mechanical special effects technician (uncredited)
Hans Metz	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)
Joshua Pinney	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Steve Riley	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)
Carl Robarge	....	mold maker (uncredited)
Christopher S. Ross	....	model maker (uncredited)
Gene Young	....	special effects robots (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Andrew Adamson	....	technical director: PDI
Mat Beck	....	visual effects supervisor: DQI
George Bernota	....	mechanical animator: Stetson Visual Services
Beth Block	....	post production supervisor: DQI
George Bruder	....	animator: PDI
Howard Burdick	....	digital supervisor: DQI
Anjelica Casillas	....	animation coordinator: DQI
William S. Conner	....	digital effects (as William Conner)
Tony Cope	....	model maker foreman (as Anthony Cope)
Chris Cowan	....	miniature zevo mansion lead: Stetson Visual Services
Jamie Dixon	....	digital effects supervisor: PDI
David Emerson	....	digital effects
Michele Ferrone	....	digital effects producer: PDI
Jody Gaber	....	digital coordinator: DQI (as Jody Levine)
Mark Garbarino	....	sea swine lead: Stetson Visual Services
Gary George	....	digital effects
Julia Gibson	....	digital effects producer: PDI
Henry Gonzales	....	crew chief: Stetson Visual Services
Roy Goode	....	mechanical animator: Stetson Visual Services
Ron Gress	....	lead painter: Stetson Visual Services
Brian Griffin	....	digital effects
Todd Hall	....	digital effects
Eric Heisler	....	mechanical animator: Stetson Visual Services
Michael Karp	....	stage supervisor: DQI
Patric Kenly	....	animation camera: Dream Quest (as Pat Kenly)
Sanford Kennedy	....	mechanical animator: Stetson Visual Services
Robert Kohut	....	mechanical animator: Stetson Visual Services
Peter Kuran	....	digital effects
Kevin Kutchaver	....	digital effects
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	production assistant: Video Image/VIFX
Kenneth Littleton	....	digital effects
Lawrence Littleton	....	digital effects
Roland Loew	....	mechanical animator: Stetson Visual Services
Kamran Manoochehri	....	software developer: PDI
Rebecca Marie	....	animator: PDI
Jo Martin	....	digital effects
Tom Martinek	....	film recordist: PDI
Gary Marvis	....	model maker: Stetson Visual Services
Jeff Matakovich	....	optical supervisor: DQI
Barbara McCullough	....	production manager: PDI
Barb Meier	....	animator: PDI (as Barbara Meier)
Marilyn Nave	....	digital effects
Roberto Olivas	....	model maker foreman
Jeff Pyle	....	model maker: Stetson Visual Services
Thomas Quinn	....	mechanical animator: Stetson Visual Services (as Tom Quinn)
Kevin Rafferty	....	animator: PDI
Brian Ripley	....	mechanical animator: Stetson Visual Services
Wendy Rogers	....	animator: PDI
Carl Rosendahl	....	digital effects executive producer: PDI
Chris Salazar	....	production assistant: DQI
Scott Schneider	....	model maker: Stetson Visual Services
Keith Shartle	....	visual effects executive producer: DQI
Tom Shaughnessy	....	motion control assistant: DQI
Amie Slate	....	compositing: PDI
Robert Spurlock	....	additional toys and miniature effects
Robert Stadd	....	visual effects producer: DQI
Kirk Starbird	....	head model maker
Mark Stetson	....	additional toys and miniature effects
Erik Stohl	....	mechanical animation lead: Stetson Visual Services
Mark Sullivan	....	matte painter
Tully Summers	....	sculptor: Stetson Visual Services
John Swallow	....	digital effects executive producer: PDI
Kelly Tartan	....	line-up: PDI
James Valentine	....	rotoscope supervisor: DQI
Graham Walters	....	performance animation: PDI
Stacy Wexler	....	sculptor: Stetson Visual Services
Julie White	....	production coordinator: DQI
Dana Yuricich	....	detail lead: Stetson Visual Services, Manhattan
Jacqueline Zietlow	....	digital effects
Christopher Duddy	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Robert Grasmere	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Adam Howard	....	visual effects animator (uncredited)
Ted Rae	....	matte plate photography (uncredited)
Laurel Schneider	....	miniature effects production coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator (as James Arnett)
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts
Mark De Alessandro	....	stunts
Andy Epper	....	stunts (as Andrew R. Epper)
Jeff Evans	....	stunts (as Jeffrey R. Evans)
Gary Hymes	....	stunts
Matt Johnston	....	stunts
Maria R. Kelly	....	stunts (as Maria Kelly)
Lisa McCullough	....	stunts (as Lisa McCullough-De Alessandro)
Janet Lee Orcutt	....	stunts
Michael Runyard	....	stunts
Keith Campbell	....	stunt double: Robin Williams #1 (uncredited)
Michael Runyard	....	stunt double: Robin Williams #2 (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Adcock	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Larry J. Aube	....	best boy grip (as Larry Aube)
Paul C. Babin	....	camera operator (as Paul Babin)
Sidney Ray Baldwin	....	still photographer (as Sidney Baldwin)
Charles John Bukey	....	best boy grip
Alan Cohen	....	second assistant camera
John J. Ellingwood	....	second assistant camera (as John Ellingwood)
Michael A. FauntLeRoy	....	first assistant camera (as Mike Fauntleroy)
Curtis Foster	....	best boy electric (as Curtis Rowe Foster)
Robert Gray	....	key grip
Steve Hastings	....	best boy rigger
David Katz	....	video playback operator
Dennis J. Laine	....	first assistant camera
Kevin J. Lang	....	best boy electric
Moshe Levin	....	camera operator
Steven C. McGee	....	gaffer (as Steve McGee)
Bill Roe	....	camera operator
Stephen Sfetku	....	film loader
Alan Shultz	....	dolly grip
Rick Tschudin	....	first assistant camera
Mark Cueto	....	electrician (uncredited)
David Dunbar	....	electrician (uncredited)
Scott C. Keys	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Richard J. Lee Jr.	....	rigging assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)

Animation Department
Rob Bottin	....	special character effects: Alsatia

Casting Department
Carol Larkin	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James 'Mike' Balker	....	set costumer: men
James P. Cullen	....	costumer: Mr. Williams (as Jim Cullen)
Randy Gardell	....	specialty costume keyperson
George L. Little	....	costume supervisor: men
Carlane Passman	....	costume supervisor: women
Shawna Trpcic	....	assistant costume designer (as Shawna Leavell)
Fran Vega-Buck	....	set costumer: women (as Frances Vega-Buck)
Marsha Bozeman	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Blair Daily	....	associate editor
Mark Daily	....	assistant editor
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Arthur Tostado	....	color timer

Music Department
Curt Bisquera	....	musician
Chris Bruce	....	musician
Eric Cadieux	....	musician
Janey Clewer	....	musician
Lisa Coleman	....	musician
Lol Creme	....	musician
Bob Daspit	....	musician
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Anne Dudley	....	musician
Michael Fisher	....	musician (as Mike Fisher)
James Flamberg	....	music supervisor
Bruce Fowler	....	orchestrator
Peter Gabriel	....	musician
Michael Gambon	....	musician
Nico Golfar	....	score wrangler
Richard Greene	....	musician
Robin Hancock	....	musician
Peter Haycock	....	musician: solo guitar
Trevor Horn	....	music arranger
Trevor Horn	....	music editor: "Winter Reveries"
Trevor Horn	....	musician
Steve Howe	....	musician
Ian Hunter	....	musician
John Isham	....	musician: uilleann pipes
Luis Jardim	....	musician (as Louis Jardim)
Jonathan Jeczalik	....	musician
Steve Lipson	....	musician
Malcolm McNab	....	musician
Susannah Melvoin	....	musician
Wendy Melvoin	....	musician
Mike Michaels	....	music playback operator
Julia Migenes	....	musician
David Palmer	....	musician
Gregory Perler	....	first assistant music editor
Andrew Richards	....	musician
Jay Rifkin	....	score mixer
Jay Rifkin	....	score recordist
Jeff Rona	....	composer: additional music
Jeff Rona	....	musician
Jeff Rona	....	score sounds
Kevin Savigar	....	musician
Seal	....	musician
Jane Siberry	....	musician
Armin Steiner	....	orchestra recordist
Michael Stevens	....	musician
Vivian Treves	....	music coordinator
Shirley Walker	....	conductor
Shirley Walker	....	orchestrator
Christopher Ward	....	assistant to composers
Bruce Woolley	....	musician
Cole Ynda	....	musician
Hans Zimmer	....	music arranger
Hans Zimmer	....	musician
Ryeland Allison	....	musician: drums (uncredited)
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
Michael Higham	....	music programmer (uncredited)
Chet Leonard	....	music playback (uncredited)
Ladd McIntosh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Joshua Winget	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Randy Cantor	....	transportation captain
Joel Marrow	....	transportation coordinator
Joseph Sullivan	....	driver
Stanley R. Webber	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Alan J. Adler	....	toy consultant
Edward Allen	....	assistant production accountant
Allegra Clegg	....	pageant coordinator
Mike Cobos	....	staff shop supervisor (as Joseph Mike Cobos)
Sara Dee	....	assistant: Mr. Johnson
James Fred Donelson	....	crew: Video Image (as Fred Donelson)
Janet L. Earl	....	coordinator: Video Image (as Janet Earl)
Jennifer Erskine	....	assistant: Mr. Levinson
Kelley Finn	....	production assistant
Leigh French	....	adr group coordinator
Jay Gianukos	....	production assistant
Scott Giegler	....	crew: Video Image
Katie Gilbert	....	production coordinator
Rhonda C. Gunner	....	crew: Video Image
Russell Hanson	....	production assistant
Charles Harrington	....	location manager (as Charlie Harrington)
Richard E. Hollander	....	video image
Kelly Householder	....	production assistant
Stephen G. Howard	....	crew: Video Image (as Steve Howard)
Debra James	....	assistant production coordinator
Aaron Katz	....	crew: Video Image
Nancy Jane King	....	production assistant
Teruhisa Kitahara	....	toy consultant
Greg Kozikowski	....	crew: Video Image
Charles A. May	....	crew: Video Image
Jonathan McGarry	....	production assistant
Gregory L. McMurry	....	crew: Video Image
Michael John Meehan	....	location manager
Carole Nix	....	production secretary
Andrew Peltz	....	production assistant
Scott D. Peterson	....	crew: Video Image (as Scott Peterson)
Julie Pitkanen	....	script supervisor
Larry Potoker	....	crew: Video Image
Willie Radcliff	....	craft service
Kelly Richards Ralston	....	first assistant production accountant (as Kelly Richards Stitt)
Elena Santaballa	....	production assistant
Kelly Richard Smith	....	assistant administrator
Victoria Smith	....	assistant production accountant
Jody Spilkoman	....	production assistant
Cheryl A. Stone	....	production accountant (as Cheryl Stone)
Russ Tanaka	....	set medic
Kayla Thames	....	assistant location manager
Anthony Thomas	....	choreographer
John C. Wash	....	crew: Video Image
Larry Weiss	....	crew: Video Image
Marsha Garces Williams	....	assistant: Mr. Williams (as Marsha Williams)

Production Companies

• Baltimore Pictures
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century Fox)

Distributors

• 20th Century Fox (1993) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (1993) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Lucernafilm - Beta (1993) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (USA) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (video)
• Gativideo (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Manuel Salvador (Spain)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (USA)

Special Effects

• Dream Quest Images (special visual effects)
• Gene Young Effects
• Pacific Data Images (PDI) (digital visual effects and animation)
• Stetson Visual Services Inc. (additional toys and miniature effects)
• Video Image (video and graphics displays)
• Visual Concept Engineering (VCE) (optical digital effects)

Other Companies

• Absolute Entertainment Inc.  tank gunner video game
• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• CFI Imaging Group  laboratory
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Hansard  process compositing
• Hildegard Gunzel Dolls  special thanks
• Hollywood Rental Company  grip equipment
• Howard A. Anderson Company  titles and opticals
• International Children's Choir  choir
• MTV Networks  mtv: music television logo courtesy of
• Madame Alexander Dolls  special thanks
• Marx Toys  special thanks
• Matthews  grip equipment
• Otto Nemenz International  camera equipment
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• St. Paul's School Choir  choir
• Steiff USA L.P.  special thanks
• THX Sound System Theatre  sound post-production
• The Casting Group  extras casting
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language and sensuality

Runtime:

118 min | 122 min (FMC Library Print) (dvd release)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1994) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L (original rating) | South Korea:12 | Peru:PT | Sweden:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Baltimore Pictures

Trivia:

Leslie 'Robin Williams' and Owen 'Arthur Malet' had previously worked together on the movie Hook (1991) which was released the year before.

Goofs:

Continuity: When General Zevo is in the arcade playing "Tank Gunner" you notice that his score bounces. It's at -2400 at the point where he only shoots UN Trucks (each truck is -1000 points) and in the next seen he's at 1600 points, down to 400, then up to 3600, then down to -6000, then -3400, and finally -7000.

Quotes:

Leslie Zevo:We're going to fight fire with marshmallows.

Movie Connections:

References The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Soundtrack:

EBUDAE

A Masterpiece

As years go by , this will become a gem . I have heard that this is one of Robin Williams personal favourites , and while I admit it's easy to see what people don't like about this movie ( eccentricity , continual whimsy ) I agree it's his best film . In it you will see all his vast talents displayed in varying measures , and it's obvious there was a lot his own input during filming . The ultimate storyline of good versus evil plays out beautifully as the demented General ( marvelously portrayed by Michael Gambon ) wages war with robotical war toys against the more traditional products of the dream factory built by his recently deceased brother . A rare appearance by Donald O'Connor at the beginning adds to film's sense of purity and charm . The opening sequence is , in my opinion , one of the very best ever produced , with a staged musical and ballet depicting the initial innocence to introduce the characters and the child-like motives of the toymaker . LLCoolJ turns in a great , if muted , performance as the lunatic Gambon's militaristic son , and Joan Cusack is perfect as William's sibling foil . Watch for Robin's speech , spoofing many great real speeches , to his wind-up toys as they prepare to do battle against the evil war machines , it's clear he had much to do with it's cleverness and scripting . Sure , there are flaws here, but just ignore them , watch and be happy . I have found that the more times you view this film , the more little jewels of movie magic emerge from it . A lot of people didn't like this film when it came out, and there are a lot who still don't , but I believe they are lacking in whimsical imagination and patience , because both are needed to enjoy this cinematic masterpiece. Mjc