Jack and the Beanstalk (1974 film) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jack and the Beanstalk |
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Japanese poster for the film
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| Directed by | Gisaburō Sugii |
| Produced by | Mikio Nakata |
| Written by | Shūji Hirami |
| Starring | Masachika Ichimura Linda Yamamoto |
| Music by | Takashi Miki |
| Cinematography | Kazu Moriyama |
| Editing by | Masashi Furukawa |
| Studio | Group TAC Nippon Herald Films |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures (United States) |
| Release date(s) | July 20, 1974 (Japan) February 13, 1976 (United States) |
| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | Japan |
| Language | Japanese |
Jack and the Beanstalk (ジャックと豆の木, Jakku to Mame no Ki) is a fun animated movie from Japan, released in 1974. It's based on the classic fairy tale you might already know! This film is a musical fantasy, meaning it has lots of songs and magical adventures. It was made by Group TAC and Nippon Herald Films and directed by Gisaburō Sugii. Later, in 1976, it was shown in the United States.
Contents
The Story of Jack and the Beanstalk
The movie tells the tale of Jack, who lives with his mother in a small house. They are very poor and decide they must sell their cow, which isn't giving milk anymore. On his way to sell the cow, Jack meets a mysterious man. This man offers Jack some "magic" beans in exchange for the cow. Jack agrees!
When Jack gets home, his mother is very upset about the trade. She spanks him with a broom and throws the beans out the window.
The Beanstalk Grows
While Jack sleeps, something amazing happens. A giant beanstalk grows right outside their window! Jack's dog, Crosby, is super surprised to see it. Crosby is even more shocked when a mouse wearing a dress comes down the beanstalk. Jack wakes up and is also amazed. The mouse convinces Jack and Crosby to climb up the huge plant with her.
Adventures in the Sky Castle
At the top of the beanstalk, they find a big castle. Inside, they meet a girl named Margaret. She is the princess of the castle, but she seems to be in a trance. Margaret says she's happy because she's going to marry her "beloved prince," Tulip. But Tulip is actually a giant!
Margaret introduces Jack to Tulip's mother, Madame Hecuba. Madame Hecuba is secretly an evil witch! She has put Margaret under a spell. The witch wants to become queen of the Land of the Clouds when Tulip and Margaret get married.
Madame Hecuba tries to trick Jack by giving him soup meant to make him sleep. She has to hide him quickly when Tulip, who isn't very smart, arrives. Tulip can smell Jack, but Jack manages to escape! The witch gets angry and tells Tulip to find Jack, promising to share him.
Secrets of the Castle
Jack soon meets more talking mice and a magical talking harp. The harp first calls for the giant, but Jack and the mice convince her to help them. The harp reveals that Madame Hecuba got rid of the king and queen. She also turned all the castle's people into mice! The harp also shares a big secret: the witch's spell on Margaret must be renewed every day.
Jack sees a golden hen in the treasure room that lays golden eggs. He decides to grab the hen and as much treasure as he can carry. He tricks Tulip into thinking he fell to his death and climbs back down the beanstalk. Jack and his mother are rich now! But Crosby convinces Jack that he needs to go back and save the princess.
Breaking the Spell
Jack bravely climbs the beanstalk a second time. The harp tells him that Margaret's spell can be broken with a kiss from someone truly brave. Jack crashes the wedding and kisses Margaret. The spell breaks! Margaret realizes who the witch and giant really are.
A chase begins. Jack faces Madame Hecuba again. Tulip comes into the room and is about to step on Jack. But at the last moment, Tulip turns on his own mother and steps on her instead! The witch is destroyed.
With the witch gone, the mice turn back into people, and the castle starts to return to normal. But the giant is still there! He chases Jack and Crosby down the beanstalk. When they reach the bottom, they quickly cut down the beanstalk. Tulip falls to his death. Later, Jack and Crosby look up at the clouds, thinking about their friends in the sky.
Characters in the Movie
Here are some of the main characters you'll meet in Jack and the Beanstalk:
- Jack (ジャック, Jakku)
- Voiced by: Masachika Ichimura (Japanese), Billie Lou Watt (English)
- Margaret (マーガレット, Māgaretto)
- Voiced by: Linda Yamamoto (Japanese), Corinne Orr (English)
- Prince Tulip the giant (巨人 – チューリップ, Kyojin (Chūrippu))
- Voiced by: Hiroshi Mizushima (Japanese), Ray Owens (English)
- Madam Noir (ノワール夫人, Nowāru-fujin), also known as Madame Hecuba in the English version
- Voiced by: Kirin Kiki (Japanese), Billie Lou Watt (English)
- Crosby (グロスビー, Gurosubī)
- Voiced by: Kazuo Kamimura (Japanese), Jack Grimes (English)
- Harp (たて琴, Tategoto)
- Voiced by: Nobue Ichitani (Japanese), Billie Lou Watt (English)
- Mother (Ohhaha)
- Voiced by: Miyoko Asō (Japanese), Billie Lou Watt (English)
Soundtrack
The music for Jack and the Beanstalk was released in Japan in July 1974. The soundtrack is called ミュージカル・ファンタジィ"ジャックと豆の木". It features many songs that help tell the story and bring the characters to life.
