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If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

I call it okay, because this is essentially anime from the early 70s done to tell a classic European folk tale. I saw this on HBO many years ago in the early 80s, and shrugged at it. My only regret was that I hadn't seen the whole thing, because it did look interesting.Now, having seen the whole thing some thirty years later I can see how people get fond of this film. For the time it had an impressive scope of imagination; i.e. the kind of thing you'll never see Disney produce, but at the same time was hampered by it's own production values whereby Japanese studios use fewer drawings to animate their stories.This iteration of Jack and the Beanstalk takes the basic tale and blows it up to cinematic proportions by expanding on the basic tale, and adding a few more story points to make the tale that much more interesting. Having said all that I wish this movie had done more with those expanded points to deliver an even richer film, but nonesuch is the case here.I happen to like the film for what it is, but I'm hard pressed to recommend it to anyone because of its production limitations. Currently the only version available is a full screen DVD. Maybe we'll get a blu- ray reissue in widescreen format down the road.Still, see it once and decide for yourself.

Ever since I viewed this slightly distorted version of "Jack and the Beanstalk" (hereafter JATB 1974) about 32 years ago on TV during Thanksgiving or Christmas on the "SFM Holiday Network" (including the "Monday Night Football" theme song – you know, EEEEEEEE, ta-ta-ta-ta-TA!), it has obsessed my memory. Before I bought and watched the DVD from Amazon, I could only remember bits and pieces from this extended cartoon feature, such as 1) Jack's stalwart bloodhound Crosby singing to the moon ("Crosby, you can talk!"), 2) the eerily weird wedding sequence with Princess Margaret, the giant Tulip, and the magically animated "paper congregation", 3) Tulip toppling some columns while chasing Jack and Margaret, 4) Tulip flicking a swordsman (the general) away with his finger, and 5) Jack's shrewish mother fainting at the sight of Tulip descending the beanstalk after Jack. These images flickered in my mind like a dream. Now, having watched the movie as an adult, some of the eeriness and oppressive atmosphere has diminished, but JATB 1974 is still quite a unique, compelling, and thought-provoking experience.As other posters have commented, JATB 1974 strongly adheres to the basic plot, except for the inclusion of Crosby, Margaret, and the thoroughly malevolent and devious witch Hecuba, also the purported mother (!) of the brutish Tulip. In another deviation from the basic plot, after doing away with her royal parents, Hecuba has somehow mesmerized Margaret to see beastly Tulip as a beautiful prince so that she can marry him and make Hecuba "Queen of the Clouds". The jazzy, theatrical score permeating the movie is a third difference, prompting me to suggest to Broadway to produce a musical based on JATB 1974. Despite Hecuba's convoluted matrimonial scheme, JATB 1974 respects and fleshes out the classic plot, fully developing at a deliberate but lively pace all the characters and their motivations.For example, Jack comes across as a boisterous, cheerful, friendly kid, if a bit impulsive, self-absorbed, and naïve (with the bean/cow trade and all). His plump, widowed mother appears as a shrill, harsh termagent, but still grudgingly empathetic since we realize that her bad temper probably arises from destitute circumstances. Crosby the bloodhound initially appears as a lazy dreamer of heroic deeds, but eventually proves himself an invaluable ally and conscience to Jack as he convinces him to accept the responsibility to save the princess from the witch and giant. Princess Margaret evokes our fearful sympathy as we feel sorry for the loss of her parents and pray that Jack can somehow break Hecuba's sinister spell over her. Hecuba makes for a completely seductive but hissable witch who is quite prepared to sacrifice anyone in her way (including her verbally abused son Tulip) to achieve her dream. Even the supporting cast of Princess Margaret's court entourage (transformed into speechless mice by Hecuba) charm us with their pluck and resourcefulness as they aid Jack and Crosby in their quest.Even given this multifaceted cast, I still found Tulip to be the most interesting character of all because despite his seemingly simple brutish and villainous nature, he is actually a rather complex, conflicted, and even endearing being. To me, he had aspects of the Hulk, the Beast (of Beauty and the Beast), the Frankenstein monster, and even the green ogre Shrek. However, most of all, he reminded me of a persecuted King Kong, ape-like (longer arms than legs), fierce, and frightening, but ultimately more sinned against than sinning, and generally harmless unless provoked. Also, like Kong, he topples from a great height to his death, a fate he does not warrant. In other words, "Tulip Kong", in my opinion is not such a bad guy.(There is a second part to this post, but IMDb does not have enough room to include it. If you are interested in seeing my full review of JATB 1974, go to Amazon.com and search for "'Tulip Kong' does not deserve his fate (contains spoilers)" in the comments section of the JATB 1974 DVD profile.)

Jack and the Beanstalk has got to be one of the best animated films I have seen to date. In the 80's The Disney Channel had rights along with HBO, and they aired a lot of the "Magic Windows" video rights. They aired the unico Movies and Pandas Adventure and The Prince and the Fire Child. I want to let everyone know that this version of Jack and the Beanstalk on DVD. Hens Tooth Video has acquired rights and released a beautifully restored copy. Definitely worth the $25 asking price, can be found on Ebay, Movies Unlimited, Critics Choice, Best Buy Online, FYE online, Coconuts Online etc... For some reason stores don't seem to be able to order them for in store.

I did a search for this movie a couple of months ago and came up with imdb reviews (The only place I found it by the way).It is the best rendition of Jack and the Beanstalk I know of and my brothers and I saw it like 20 years ago, and still talk about it. I would love my kids to get a chance to see it also.