Jack and the Beanstalk (VHS)

Ever since teaching Jerry the Mouse (of Tom and Jerry fame) how to dance in Anchors Aweigh (1945), Gene Kelly became noted for innovative and entertaining ventures in combining live action and animated performance. In 1967, Kelly made this hour-long television version of the classic story of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Jack, a young boy, who hovers between being cute and annoying, and his companion Jeremy (Kelly) explore the animated world above the clouds, entering the animated giant's castle and freeing the beautiful princess from her imprisonment as a singing harp. Jack is basically along for the ride as Kelly's character becomes the protagonist. Kelly duels the giant's cat and does a very entertaining dance with two peculiar "woggle" birds. In this latter scene, Kelly most nearly approaches the quality of dancing accomplished in the "Sinbad the Sailor" sequence of his pet project, the all-dancing Invitation to the Dance (1956). In that number, Kelly dances with two highly elastic animated Arabian guards determined to keep him from escaping.

Whereas Kelly's first two ventures with animated characters were more focussed on the dancing, Jack and the Beanstalk places its emphasis on telling the story. The constraints of the television medium, the target audience, and possibly Kelly's age (he was in his mid-fifties), limited the range and extent of the dancing. "A Tiny Bit of Faith and a Large Amount of Hope," a song which occurs throughout the story, is catchy and nice. There are also several additions or twists to the original Jack and the Beanstalk tale, which keep the material fresh and interesting. The army of mice who assist Jack and Jeremy are a clever inclusion.

Kids and parents will have fun watching this movie together. It is certainly unique among retellings of the classic story and an hour of television programming superior to most other shows in its originality and entertainment value.