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Tom Thumb

  • 1958
  • Approved
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
2.7K
YOUR RATING
Tom Thumb (1958)
Watch Official Trailer
Play trailer1:32
1 Video
41 Photos
FamilyFantasyMusical

A boy (Russ Tamblyn), no bigger than a thumb, manages to outwit two thieves (Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers) determined to make a fortune from him.A boy (Russ Tamblyn), no bigger than a thumb, manages to outwit two thieves (Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers) determined to make a fortune from him.A boy (Russ Tamblyn), no bigger than a thumb, manages to outwit two thieves (Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers) determined to make a fortune from him.

  • Director
    • George Pal
  • Writers
    • Ladislas Fodor
    • Jacob Grimm
    • Wilhelm Grimm
  • Stars
    • Russ Tamblyn
    • June Thorburn
    • Peter Sellers
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    2.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George Pal
    • Writers
      • Ladislas Fodor
      • Jacob Grimm
      • Wilhelm Grimm
    • Stars
      • Russ Tamblyn
      • June Thorburn
      • Peter Sellers
    • 47User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 1 win & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:32
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos41

    Peter Butterworth, Jessie Matthews, Bernard Miles, June Thorburn, and Alan Young in Tom Thumb (1958)
    Russ Tamblyn in Tom Thumb (1958)
    Russ Tamblyn in Tom Thumb (1958)
    Tom Thumb (1958)
    Russ Tamblyn and June Thorburn in Tom Thumb (1958)
    Tom Thumb (1958)
    Jessie Matthews and Bernard Miles in Tom Thumb (1958)
    Russ Tamblyn in Tom Thumb (1958)
    Peter Sellers, Jessie Matthews, Bernard Miles, Russ Tamblyn, Terry-Thomas, June Thorburn, and Alan Young in Tom Thumb (1958)
    Russ Tamblyn in Tom Thumb (1958)
    June Thorburn in Tom Thumb (1958)
    Peter Butterworth, June Thorburn, and Alan Young in Tom Thumb (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Russ Tamblyn
    Russ Tamblyn
    • Tom Thumb
    June Thorburn
    June Thorburn
    • The Lover: Forest Queen
    Peter Sellers
    Peter Sellers
    • The Villain: Antony
    Alan Young
    Alan Young
    • The Lover: Woody
    Terry-Thomas
    Terry-Thomas
    • The Villain: Ivan
    Bernard Miles
    Bernard Miles
    • The Parent: Jonathan
    Jessie Matthews
    Jessie Matthews
    • The Parent: Anne
    Ian Wallace
    Ian Wallace
    • The Cobbler
    Peter Butterworth
    Peter Butterworth
    • Kapellmeister
    Peter Bull
    Peter Bull
    • Town Crier
    Stan Freberg
    Stan Freberg
    • Yawning Man
    • (voice)
    Dal McKennon
    Dal McKennon
    • Con-Fu-Shon
    • (voice)
    Wallace Bosco
    • Townsperson at Public Whipping
    • (uncredited)
    Norman Bowler
    Norman Bowler
    • 3rd Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Victor Brooks
    • 1st Soldier
    • (uncredited)
    Ayshea Brough
    Ayshea Brough
    • Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmy Cains
    • Villager
    • (uncredited)
    Jimmy Charters
    • Pie-seller at Fair
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • George Pal
    • Writers
      • Ladislas Fodor
      • Jacob Grimm
      • Wilhelm Grimm
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The head of MGM's British operations was so impressed that George Pal brought this film in under budget that he suggested that Pal submit a script for his favorite unproduced project. Pal chose "The Time Machine (1960)."
    • Goofs
      When Tom falls from a castle turret into a horse trough there are 2 horses tethered there, but when the robbers escape there's only .one.
    • Quotes

      The Villain: Antony: Ivan, there's a crook in here. And it's not me!

      The Villain: Ivan: There are two crooks in here - and they're both you!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown on the pages of a book, which a male hand is turning. The first couple we see are shown through a magnifying glass, a reference to Tom Thumb's size.
    • Connections
      Featured in That's Dancing! (1985)
    • Soundtracks
      Tom Thumb's Tune
      (uncredited)

      Music and Lyrics by Peggy Lee

      Performed by Russ Tamblyn and the Puppetoons

    User reviews47

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Lightweight Fare That's Fun for the Whole Family
    If you have children and want to entertain them and yourself with a film, TOM THUMB is acceptable entertainment. Producer/director George Pal creates a quaint, vivid fairy tale world with bright colors, picturesque scenery and Tyrolean costumes. The stop motion animated singing and talking toys who befriend the titular tiny boy (Russ Tamblyn), are beautifully realized and smoothly co-exist with the live action Tamblyn. The songs are pleasant and hummable. Particularly memorable is "The Yawning Song," drowsily warbled by the voice of Stan Freberg as a sleepy toy. Russ Tamblyn is appealing in the title role and Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers as, respectively, the conniving Ivan and his eager confederate Tony practically steal the film with their comic shenanigans. Sellers is particularly impressive, giving the standard dim-witted accomplice part a creepily animalistic shading.

    But although TOM THUMB is enjoyable, it doesn't rank with such outstanding family films like THE WIZARD OF OZ and Walt Disney's PINOCCHIO. What mainly prevents TOM THUMB from achieving greatness is Ladislas Fodor's slight scenario. In the best family films, the protagonists have important goals. For instance in THE WIZARD OF OZ Dorothy has to find a way back from Oz and in PINOCCHIO the titular puppet must learn to distinguish between right and wrong in order to become a real boy. In contrast, Tom Thumb's mission- to prove his parents (Bernard Miles, Jessie Matthews) did not steal the town's treasury by exposing the real thieves, Ivan and Tony-seems inconsequential. Compared to the scheme of, say, the Wicked Witch of the West to obtain Dorothy's ruby slippers in order to obtain supremacy in Oz, Ivan and Tony's plan is very pedestrian. The fate of the parents if they're not cleared- a public whipping- is certainly bad but much milder than say the fate of Pinocchio, Geppetto, and their pets if they can't escape from Monstro the whale- eternal imprisonment.

    Then there is the romantic subplot between a local musician Woody (Alan Young) and the immortal Fairy Queen (June Thorburn). Woody wants to kiss the Fairy Queen so she can become a mortal as well as his wife, but the Fairy Queen warns him he should prove himself responsible before he can marry her. Pal handles the scenario in such a fluffy manner, however, that there is little conflict or feeling in this subplot. And while the animated segments are delightful, they hardly contribute to the plot.

    But considering the glut of dreadful films trying to pass off as family entertainment, one should be grateful that TOM THUMB succeeds in its modest goal of entertaining viewers. Although the film is not extraordinary, it does emanate a storybook charm without succumbing to cloyingness. And Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers are a memorable pair- a kind of malevolent Laurel and Hardy.
    helpful•14
    3
    • RJV
    • Nov 6, 2003

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 24, 1958 (United Kingdom)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Der kleine Däumling
    • Filming locations
      • MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK(principal photography)
    • Production company
      • Galaxy Pictures Limited
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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