Description
Toys is a 1992 American fantasy comedy film directed by Barry Levinson, co-written by Levinson and Valerie Curtin, and starring Robin Williams, Michael Gambon, Joan Cusack, Robin Wright, LL Cool J, and Jamie Foxx in his feature film debut. Released in December 1992 in the United States, and March and April 1993 in the United Kingdom and Australia, respectively, the film was produced by Levinson’s production company Baltimore Pictures and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Despite appearing somewhat juvenile at first glance, the movie garnered a PG-13 rating from the MPAAfor some language and sensuality.
The winner of 1992’s “worst film to sport a great trailer” is Toys. The good-natured, humorous spots that advertise this film (featuring Robin Williams in a field delivering quirky, amusing one-liners) bear little resemblance the actual product. That’s unfortunate, because, at least on the surface, Toysseems to have some potential.
Those seeing this film with the expectation of a “typical” Robin Williams comedy will likely be chagrined. Even viewers anticipating a surreal fantasy may suffer some disappointment. Toys does not look like a Barry Levinson film, nor does it have the substance associated with the director’s previous work (Avalon, for example). Instead, it’s more like a project that Tim Burton might take the helm on. In fact, there are sequences in Toys that could fit seamlessly into either Batman Returns or Edward Scissorhands.
- Winter Reveries (excerpts from SYMPHONY NO. 1)
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Arranged and Edited by Trevor Horn - The Closing of the Year
Written by Trevor Horn and Hans Zimmer
Produced by Trevor Horn
Performed by The Musical Cast of Toys
Featuring Wendy & Lisa
Wendy and Lisa appear courtesy of ZTT Records - Ebudae
Written by Enya and Roma Ryan
Produced by Nicky Ryan
Performed by Enya
Courtesy of Warner Music U.K. Ltd. - The Happy Worker
Written by Trevor Horn and Bruce Woolley
Produced by Trevor Horn
Performed by Tori Amos
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corporation - Workers
Written by Trevor Horn and Bruce Woolley
Produced by Trevor Horn
Performed by The Musical Cast of Toys - Let Joy and Innocence Prevail
Written by Trevor Horn and Hans Zimmer
Produced by Trevor Horn and Pat Metheny
Performed by Pat Metheny
Courtesy of Geffen Records - The Mirror Song
Written by Trevor Horn, Bruce Woolley and Thomas Dolby
Produced by Trevor Horn
Performed by Robin Williams and Joan Cusack as “Steve and Yolanda”
Featuring Thomas Dolby
Thomas Dolby appears courtesy of Giant Records - Welcome to the Pleasure Dome (Into the Battle Mix)
Written by Peter Gill (as Gill), Holly Johnson (as Johnson), Brian Nash (as Nash),
Mark O’Toole (as O’Toole)
Produced by Trevor Horn
Into battle mix by Trevor Horn, Robin Hancock and Tim Weidner
Performed by Frankie Goes to Hollywood
Courtesy of ZTT Records - In the Still of the Night
Written by Fred Parris - Nessun Dorma (from Turandot)
Written by Giacomo Puccini - The Closing of the Year/Happy Workers
Written by Trevor Horn and Hans Zimmer
Performed by The Musical Cast of Toys and Wendy Melvoin (as Wendy) & Lisa Coleman (as Lisa)
Featuring Seal - Once in a Lifetime
Written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley - Let Joy and Innocence Prevail
Written by Trevor Horn and Hans Zimmer
Performed by Grace Jones
Video: Toys (Trailer 1992)
