Jack and the Beanstalk (1967 film)

Jack and the Beanstalk is a 1967 live-action/animated-hybrid musical-themed telefilm that was produced and directed by and starred Gene Kelly. It was produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. It is a retelling of the popular fairy tale that mixes both live action and animation.^[1] The film premiered on NBC, on February 26, 1967.^[2]

Jack and the Beanstalk
Written by	Larry Markes Michael Morris
Directed by	Gene Kelly
Starring	Gene Kelly Boby Riha Ted Cassidy Marian McKnight Marni Nixon Chris Allen Dick Beals Leo DeLyon Cliff Norton Janet Waldo
Music by	Lennie Hayton
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Joseph Barbera William Hanna Gene Kelly Bill Perez Arthur Pierson
Cinematography	Hal Mohr
Editor	Warner E. Leighton
Running time	51 minutes
Production company	Hanna-Barbera Productions
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	February 26, 1967 (1967-02-26)

The songs, written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, included "Half-Past April and a Quarter to May", "It's Been Nice", "What Does a Woggle Bird Do?" and "One Starry Moment".^[3]

The special won the 1967 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Children's Program".^[4]

Plot

The adventure begins when Jack (Bobby Riha) trades his cow for some magic beans from peddler Jeremy Keen (Gene Kelly). The beans sprout a beanstalk high into the clouds, and Jack and Jeremy climb it to discover a giant (voiced by Ted Cassidy), a goose that lays golden eggs, and a singing princess named Serena (voiced by Janet Waldo and sung by Marni Nixon) who is trapped in a harp by a magic spell and can only be released through a kiss.

Cast

• Bobby Riha as Jack
  • Dick Beals as Jack (singing voice)
• Gene Kelly as Jeremy Keen, Proprietor
• Ted Cassidy as The Giant
• Marian McKnight as Jack's Mother/Serena
• Janet Waldo as Princess Serena
  • Marni Nixon as Princess Serena (singing voice)
• Chris Allen as Mouse
• Leo DeLyon as Woggle-Bird #1
• Cliff Norton as Woggle-Bird #2
• Don Messick as Cat, Mice (uncredited)