Jack and the Beanstalk (1970)

Director:

Barry Mahon

Writer:

Barry Mahon

Genre:

Family | Fantasy | Musical

Tagline:

Join Jack in the Funtastic LAND of the GIANT

Plot:

Retelling of the classic fairy tale, but from a decidedly 1960s point of view, complete with "groovy" dialogue. |

Plot Keywords:

Fairy Tale | Golden Egg | Magic Beans | Surrealism | Harp

Cast

Mitch Poulos	...	Jack (as Mitchell Poulos)
Dorothy Stokes	...	Jack's Mother
Renato Boracherro	...	Giant
Christopher Brooks	...	Honest John (as Chris Brooks)
John Loomis
Sami Sims
George Wadsworth

Directed by
Barry Mahon

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Barry Mahon

Produced by
Barry Mahon	....	producer
C.T. Robertson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Eugene Ventresca

Cinematography by
William Tobin

Film Editing by
Steve Cuiffo

Set Decoration by
Thelma Raniero

Costume Design by
Penni Praigg

Makeup Department
Tom Brumberger	....	makeup artist

Production Companies

• Childhood Productions
• Cinetron

Distributors

• R & S Film Enterprises Inc. (1970) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1970) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (2002) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (2002) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

62 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:G

Filming Locations:

Pirates World Amusement Park - Sheridan Street, Dania, Florida, USA

Company:

Childhood Productions

Movie Connections:

Edited into Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny (1972)

Strictly from hunger.

Oh dear! Where to start? Well, this version of the classic fairy tale (which could kindly be called ''lousy'') was filmed in a long shuttered Florida amusement park called "Pirate's World". WHY it was called that is anyone's guess--but a documentary exploring that subject would have made more sense than this atrocity. The cast consists of "actors" so stiff they could pass for Redwood trees. The musical score sounds like a 6th grade class project. The "production values" consist of costumes which look like what the cast wore to an audition (though there probably wasn't one for this film) and the "sets" were probably constructed in somebody's back yard. There are the usual weird inconsistencies-- The Giant sports a Southern accent(!) Jack himself is a decidedly unvirile hero,and he has a sister, who has a boyfriend, both of whom add absolutely nothing to the plot--except more bad acting. And for a movie filmed at an amusement park, there's little evidence of it. But then, maybe THAT'S why the place shut down. Producer (and nudie specialist) Barry Mahon filmed three kiddie gems, but this one is the worst, and if you saw the other two "The Wonderful Land Of Oz" and "Thumbelina" that says it all. Both "Jack" and "Oz" are currently available on DVD as a double feature. An if you can watch them without laughing your head off, you need a serious medical check-up.