Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story 

The bones of a giant are discovered. This turns Jack Robinson's life upside down as he learns the truth behind the fairy tale and how he can fix his greedy ancestor's mistakes.

Stars:

Matthew Modine, Vanessa Redgrave, Mia Sara

Won 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Matthew Modine	...	Jack Robinson (Johnathan William Duncan Robinson) 2 episodes, 2001
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Countess Wilhelmina - Matriarch / ... 2 episodes, 2001
Mia Sara	...	Ondine 2 episodes, 2001
Daryl Hannah	...	Thespee - Member Great Council of Mac Slec 2 episodes, 2001
Jon Voight	...	Siggy (Sigfried Mannheim) - Overseas Div. Director for Robinson Intl. 2 episodes, 2001
Richard Attenborough	...	Magog - Arbiter of Justice Great Council of Mac Slec 2 episodes, 2001
Bill Barretta	...	Thunderdell 2 episodes, 2001
Honor Blackman	...	Jules - Jack's Secretary 2 episodes, 2001
JJ Feild	...	Young Jack 2 episodes, 2001
Jonathan Hyde	...	Dussan - Jack's Butler 2 episodes, 2001
Anton Lesser	...	Vidas Merlinis - Research Scientist 2 episodes, 2001
Julia McKenzie	...	Jack's Mum 2 episodes, 2001
Frank Baker	...	Forensic Doctor 2 episodes, 2001
Josh Cole	...	Operator 1 2 episodes, 2001
Richard Cubison	...	Curious Patron 2 episodes, 2001
Glen Davies	...	Construction Worker 1 2 episodes, 2001
Leo Dolan	...	Construction Foreman 2 episodes, 2001
Tom Ellis	...	Bigger Boy 1 2 episodes, 2001
Fraser Flintham	...	Bigger Boy 2 2 episodes, 2001
Oliver Ford Davies	...	Dr. Newman 2 episodes, 2001
Jerry Harte	...	Board Member 2 episodes, 2001
Richard Huw	...	Jack's Father 2 episodes, 2001
Rosalind Knight	...	Hag Woman 2 episodes, 2001
Joseph Long	...	Antonio the Baker 2 episodes, 2001
Vincent Marzello	...	Mr. Sprague - Head of Security 2 episodes, 2001
Roger Morlidge	...	Construction Worker 2 2 episodes, 2001
Carl Pizzie	...	Operator 2 2 episodes, 2001
Cyril Shaps	...	Bent Little Man 2 episodes, 2001
Rachel Shelley	...	Brunette / ... 2 episodes, 2001
Alisdair Simpson	...	Paramedic 2 episodes, 2001
Lolly Susi	...	Miss Gilgin 2 episodes, 2001
Tomas Shepherd	...	Jack aged 6 2 episodes, 2001
Craig Stoke	...	Limo Driver 2 episodes, 2001
Jason Thorpe	...	Maitre D' 2 episodes, 2001
Jemma Woodman	...	Newsreader 2 episodes, 2001
Brian Henson	...	Galaga 2 episodes, 2001
Jim Carter	...	Odin - Member of Great Council of Mac Slec 2 episodes, 2001
James Corden	...	Bran - Thunderdell's Son 2 episodes, 2001
Nicholas Beveney	...	Cernos - Member of Great Council of Mac Slec 2 episodes, 2001
Roger Blake	...	Giant Thor - Member of Great Council of Mac Slec 2 episodes, 2001
Mel Cobb	...	Journalist 2 episodes, 2001
Adam Fogerty	...	Lead Warrior 2 episodes, 2001
Marc Goodhall	...	Cavern Guard 2 episodes, 2001
Andrew Grainger	...	Armed Policeman 2 episodes, 2001
Peter Guinness	...	Hall Cryer 2 episodes, 2001
Sam Halpenny	...	Taxi Driver 2 episodes, 2001
Edward Highmore	...	Dad at Playground 2 episodes, 2001
Freddie Highmore	...	Son at Playground 2 episodes, 2001
Lisa Kay	...	Security Woman 2 episodes, 2001
David J. Nicholls	...	Ragnar, Executioner 2 episodes, 2001
Iain Rogerson	...	Guard 2 episodes, 2001
Lynda Rooke	...	Hostess 2 episodes, 2001

Storyline

Jack Robinson is a wealthy business man with no time for anything but work. However, a family curse is looming over him, no man in the Robinson line ever lives past the age of thirty. With his upcoming birthday appears the remains of literally giant skeleton and a mysterious woman who claims to have once known the giant. Jack decides to go with her to another world where all is revealed to him along with the story of his ancestor, the original Jack and the Beanstalk. In order to save his own life and the world of the giants, Jack must right the wrongs of the past and return the magical harp and goose that lays the golden eggs to their rightful home.

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Plot Keywords:

giant | beanstalk | fairy | skeleton | harp | 

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Taglines:

This Time...It's No Fairy Tale.

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Fantasy

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 December 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story

Filming Locations:

Belvoir Castle, Belvoir, Leicestershire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Entertainment,Jim Henson Productions,The Jim Henson Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

174 min (2 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Sir Richard Attenborough's final television acting role before his death on August 24, 2014, at the age of ninety.

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Connections

Featured in Troldspejlet: Episode #28.7 (2002)

User Reviews

Entertaining

Corporate head Jack Robinson is about to discover that fairytales are very real in this revisionist take on `Jack and the Beanstalk'.

The film starts off well, with Jack (Matthew Modine) discovering that life isn't as straightforward as he thought. A nice atmosphere is created as a mysterious woman, Ondine (Mia Sara looking very cute), appears dropping dire hints as to his family's secret. Eventually Jack discovers the truth behind his wealth, and finds out that it is up to him to put things right.

The `real world' segments of this movie tend to work best, as Jack struggles to come to terms with his discovery that fairy tales are true, with the `fantasy land' segments - mainly due to some variable effects - actually detracting from the sense of wonder. While most of the performances are fine (though Modine occasionally seems to be playing Scott Bakula), the guy playing the original Jack is fairly dire.

What really makes the story work is the idea that fairy tales are history dressed up to be palatable to us (and of course not necessarily reliably related history), and the way that we might exploit magic if it were available to us.

Well worth a watch for fantasy/fairy tale fans, or if you liked the superior `The 10th Kingdom'.