51min | Animation, Family, Fantasy | TV Movie 26 February 1967 | Color, fs
Director: Gene Kelly
Stars: Gene Kelly, Bobby Riha, Ted Cassidy, Marni Nixon.
Alex Romero ... assistant choreographer
Watched online, good print.
7 songs in the Soundtracks.
GK (b. '12) dances a bunch, although not so athletically as in the '50s, still with his panache. Jack (BR) keeps step with him in some scenes, but that's where you see GK's extra style.
The story has been significantly modified to include GK in the action, and give them excuses to dance. He plays Jeremy the peddler who trades the beans for the cow, and he comes by the next morning to make sure Jack is satisfied with his deal. They climb the beanstalk together, and deal with the giant together. The harp is really a princess attached to the harp by the giant's black magic, and says a kiss will release her. The goose is there too, and eventually flies away with them. I didn't notice what prevented the goose's escape before the guys arrived.
Extras also include a large number of mice in the giant's castle, and a couple of dodo-looking birds who dance just like GK (can you say rotoscope?) Also, we finally see Jack's mother after the giant has been felled, and she's young and pretty and Jeremy is attracted.
Good to see GK in fine form. Young Girls of Rochefort is 1 or 2 movies hence in this quest.
Hanna-Barbera Prod., distr. NBC, dir. Kelly; 6+
