Jack and the Beanstalk is a 1967 live-action/animated-hybrid musical-themed telefilm that was produced and directed by and starred Gene Kelly. It was produced by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. It is a retelling of the popular fairy tale that mixes both live action and animation.[1] The film premiered on NBC, on February 26, 1967.[2]
The songs, written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, included "Half-Past April and a Quarter to May", "It's Been Nice", "What Does a Woggle Bird Do?" and "One Starry Moment".[3]
The special won the 1967 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Children's Program".[4]
The adventure begins when Jack (Bobby Riha) trades his cow for some magic beans from peddler Jeremy Keen (Gene Kelly). The beans sprout a beanstalk high into the clouds, and Jack and Jeremy climb it to discover a giant (voiced by Ted Cassidy), a goose that lays golden eggs, and a singing princess named Serena (voiced by Janet Waldo and sung by Marni Nixon) who is trapped in a harp by a magic spell and can only be released through a kiss.
