IMDb > Jack the Giant Killer (1962)

Jack the Giant Killer (1962) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
6.6/10   588 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Nathan Juran
Writers:
Orville H. Hampton (screenplay) and
Nathan Juran (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Jack the Giant Killer on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
13 June 1962 (USA) more
Genre:
Fantasy | Family | Adventure more
Tagline:
A pretty princess. An evil sorcerer. A hero for the ages. more
Plot:
A farmboy turned knight must protect a princess from the schemes of an evil wizard. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Bryan Singer Killing Giants Before He Kills BSG
 (From Cinema Blend. 23 September 2009, 10:16 AM, PDT)
Bryan Singer to direct Jack the Giant Killer
 (From Filmonic. 23 September 2009, 10:02 AM, PDT)
User Comments:
Just A Good Old Neat Movie more (42 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Kerwin Mathews ... Jack
Judi Meredith ... Princess Elaine
Torin Thatcher ... Pendragon
Walter Burke ... Garna
Don Beddoe ... Imp
Barry Kelley ... Sigurd
Dayton Lummis ... King Mark
Anna Lee ... Lady Constance
Roger Mobley ... Peter
Robert Gist ... Scottish Captain
Tudor Owen ... Chancellor
Ken Mayer ... Boatswain
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
94 min | USA:91 min (re-release) (musical version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
UK:PG | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:G
Filming Locations:
Samuel Goldwyn Studios - 7200 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, California, USA more
Company:
Edward Small Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film was unreleased in the UK until 1967 and then received cuts for an 'A' certificate to edit the witch attack on the ship, Princess Elaine being attacked by the giant, and Jack's fight with the dragon. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Narrator: The legend of Jack the Giant Killer was born over a thousand years ago in Cornwall, England near Land's End. There was a time when the Kingdom of Cornwall lived in fear and trembling of the Black Prince Pendragon - master of witches, giants and hobgoblins - who ravished the land...
more
Movie Connections:
Remake of The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
12 out of 13 people found the following comment useful.
Just A Good Old Neat Movie, 25 October 2003
Author: Jim Robertson from Simi Valley, Ca.

When this picture came out in '62 or '63, Mom took us 3 kids to see it at an old-style huge screened theatre. The titles of the movies(Bert I. Gordon's "The Magic Sword" was the other one) suggested to Mom that these were quaint, Disney-like fantasy films, so she figured we were safe from anything hideous. At the bursting from his elf disguise by the first monstrous giant in the movie, Mom realized she had made a boo-boo and suggested that we should seek milder entertainment. Our desperate protests put the wet blanket on poor Mom's wishes, and we sat through 2 film adventures that, to this day, are among our all-time favorites. As I understand it, this picture was produced to cash in on the tremendous success of "7th Voyage Of Sinbad", and the legal troubles that resulted from the vast similarities between the two films were the reason that the owners of the movie's rights were required to downgrade it into a ridiculous musical version. Thankfully, after years of being unavailable, the original untouched "Jack" came out on video, and it was about as much fun seeing it again as an old codger as it was as a 10-year-old.

For us "baby boomers" who started out on black-and-white TV and seeing such films as "King Kong", etc., when we were young, a stop-motion animated monster is just more scary, other-worldly, dangerous...whatever term fits an effective creature feature. Although Kerwin Matthews' many nemeses in "Jack The Giant Killer" don't quite stand alongside Ray Harryhausen's magnificent work, they still make this film well worth seeing for anyone who enjoys a good, old-fashioned mythical adventure.

Incidentally, if you have an idiotic sense of humour, the musical version is a scream to behold- especially the sequence of the evil wizard's servant returning to his master to report a failed kidnapping. :D :D

Everyone certainly has their own taste in motion pictures, but as far as this old monster movie watcher is concerned, "Jack The Giant Killer" is among the upper crust of its genre. Even after 31 years.

I'll say 8.5/10. God bless one and all...

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (42 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Jack the Giant Killer (1962)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Ew. Is it just me, or...? BillyFisher
FILM PRINT robertgraham1
a Fine 'Fun' Film plwblj
uk tv screening wizzo31
castle in the movie mortimerj190
Favourite scene mortimerj190
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Stardust Sleeping Beauty The Flight of Dragons The Princess Bride The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Fantasy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.