(1967)2.5Craig ButlerThe winner of an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program, this Jack and the Beanstalk is a diverting mixture of live action and animation. If Jack is less special than it was when first broadcast, it still should prove magical for its chief audience of young children. Adults today, however, may be less enthralled than were those who originally tuned in, lured by the talents of Gene Kelly as actor and director. Kelly is still aces, even if his voice is showing signs of age and wear (something his dancing definitely is not showing). He has the same charm, grace, and athleticism that he displayed in his memorable MGM musicals, but the material is a bit on the weak side. The screenplay, perfectly acceptable for children, is too obvious (and padded) for adults. The Jimmy Van Heusen-Sammy Cahn score is, at best, bland; at worst, it's downright annoying. The Hanna-Barbera animation is superior to most contemporary television animation, but it's distinctly below the level the team achieved with their '40s MGM work, including their memorable collaborations with Kelly. Still, Kelly, the hard working Bobby Riha, and the voices of Marni Nixon and Ted Cassidy help to make up for Jack and the Beanstalk's flaws -- none of which will matter to the younger set anyway.
