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Jack and the Beanstalk (Producers' Showcase)

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"Jack and the Beanstalk"
Producers' Showcase episode
Joel Grey in "Jack and the Beanstalk"
Original air dateNovember 12, 1956 (1956-11-12)

"Jack and the Beanstalk" was an American television play broadcast on November 12, 1956, as part of the NBC television series, Producers' Showcase.

Plot

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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.[1]

Cast

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The following performers received screen credit for their performances:[2]

Production

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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

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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."[3]

Bob Blackburn called it "sickeningly moral and harmless."[4]

References

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  1. ^ Gene Inge (November 10, 1956). "Producer's Showcase Revives Fairy Tale". Daily News-Post – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Kinescope of "Jack and the Beanstalk", aired November 12, 1956
  3. ^ Jack Gould (November 13, 1956). "'Jack and Beanstalk' Lacks Make Believe; It's a Capt. Video in the Vegetable Patch". The Atlanta Constitution (via The New York Times) – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Bob Blackburn (November 13, 1956). "Make Magical Changes In Jack And Beanstalk". The Ottawa Citizen – via Newspapers.com.