"Jack and the Beanstalk" was an American television play broadcast on November 12, 1956, as part of the NBC television series, Producers' Showcase.
Plot The production revived the fairy tale of a boy who trades the family's cow for a handful of magic beans. It included new characters and 11 original songs.
Cast The following performers received screen credit for their performances:Kinescope of "Jack and the Beanstalk", aired November 12, 1956 Joel Grey as Jack Celeste Holm as Mad Maggie Cyril Ritchard as The Peddler Peggy King as Tillie Hemmelpacker Arnold Stang as Mr. Fum Leora Dana as The Widow Tooper Billy Gilbert as Mr. Poopledoop Dennis King as Narrator
Production Clark Jones was the director and Mort Abrahams was the executive producer. It was written by Helen Deutsch. The music was by Jerry Livingston with lyrics by Helen Deutsch.
Reception In The New York Times, Jack Gould that the production had plenty of sets and stars but lacked "the spirit of make-believe" and "only achieved an intermittent glow." He also noted that Joel Grey was "much too old for the part."
Bob Blackburn called it "sickeningly moral and harmless."
References