Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story

Released	December 2, 2001 (part 1) December 4, 2001 (part 2)
Duration	184 minutes
Director	Brian Henson
Written by	James V. Hart, Brian Henson, Bill Barretta
Music	Rupert Gregson-Williams
Studio	Hallmark Entertainment

Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story was a two part TV-movie inspired by the fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk that aired on CBS in December 2001. The film, produced by The Jim Henson Company and Hallmark Entertainment, was directed by Brian Henson and featured effects by the Jim Henson Creature Shop. The first half of the film aired on CBS as a 2-hour television event on Sunday December 2, 2001 (9-11pm ET/PT); the second half aired on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 (9-11pm ET/PT). The film was released on video and DVD immediately following the television premiere.

Production was based as Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, England. Location shoots took place at Belvoir Castle, Windsor Great Park and Leighton Buzzard in England.

“If you thought you knew the story of the boy and his beanstalk... you don't know Jack.”

Plot

Part 1

Jack has a giant skeleton in his closet.

Jack Robinson is a wealthy business man with no time for anything but work. However, a family curse is looming over him - no man in the Robinson line has lived past the age of fourty.

When a beautiful and mysterious woman, going only by the name of Ondine, corners Jack in a restaurant, she alleges that the Robinson family empire is not built on the blood, sweat and tears of his ancestors, but on the feathery back of someone named Gallaga. In an ominous tone, she warns that his time is almost up, and unless he rights the wrongs of his ancestors, he too shall suffer their fate. Jack is confused and stunned, but nonetheless interested, however the young beauty vanishes as quickly as she appeared.

However, Jack has bigger problems on his hands - the latest project for Robinson Enterprises has run into a bit of a "hiccup." While digging the foundation for a new casino, the workmen have stumbled upon some enormous bones in the ground - and they aren't from a dinosaur.

Jack goes to see an old relative, Willy who tells the Jack the ancient fairy tale of Jack and the Beanstalk - about a poor boy who steals from an evil and greedy giant. She also reveals that the fairy tale is true. Jack learns that he is a descendent from the Jack in the story. Willy gives him a necklace, which she says is the key Jack's salvation.

Ondine appears again to tell Jack that she is from the giant world and was sent to retrieve the stole goose and harp that Jack's ancestor stole years ago. When Jack says he doesn't know where they are she warns that if the giants don't get them back soon they will come to get him.

Jack runs off into the woods to think. He finds a bean inside the necklace Willy gave him and he plants it. Jack falls asleep only to awake to a giant beanstalk where the bean was planted. Jack decides to climb the beanstalk...

Part 2

The kind and friendly Thunderdell falls to his death in attempt to save the gifts that rejuvenate the world.

When Jack reaches the top of the beanstalk he finds himself in the land of the giants. He soon comes across Ondine but Jack is arrested and taken to stand trial for his family's crime.

Jack learns that the story of Jack and the Beanstalk we know is distorted, warped and bias and is told the real story. The Giant, Thunderdell, was a kind and peaceful creature - in fact he was one of the nicest giant there ever was. Jack greedily betrayed Thunderdell's warm hospitality and friendship. He stole the goose and harp which were needed to keep the land green and alive - without it the land would die. Jack murdered the giant out of greed with no regard of the repercussions of his actions on the innocent and friendly people of the land in the clouds.

The giant court sentences Jack to death to repay the crimes of his family. Ondine, however, feels sympathy towards Jack and takes the prisoner back the Earth in an attempt to find the goose and harp – but they must hurry as the giants will soon be coming to kill Jack.

As time passes differently on Earth than in the giant's world, years have past since Jack climbed the beanstalk and Jack Robinson has been long declared dead. "Siggy", the former Chief Operating Officer, has taken Jack's place. With no other Robinson's left, Siggy has inherited the entire fortune and will do anything to guard the goose and harp. Jack and Ondine break-in to the company vaults and steal the goose and harp to return to the giants.

After much pursuit, from both Siggy's security and the giants, Jack returns the harp and goose to the giant's world. The harp once again plays its song, the goose can lay its eggs and the world becomes rejuvenated and green once again.

Home Video

The telefilm was release was released on both VHS and DVD by Hallmark Home Entertainment in December 2001. The 184-minute feature was the complete 2-part telefilm edited into a single continuous full length movie. The DVD version of the film was presented in the original 16:9 anamorphic widescreen (unlike the TV airing). The DVD also included both a 5.1 Dolby Digital audio mix and a 2.0 Dolby Digital audio mix in addition to 2 featurettes ("A Look Behind the Scenes" and "Jim Henson's Creature Shop Special"), detailed production notes, 11-chapter scene selection and interactive animated menus.

Cast

• Matthew Modine as Jack Robinson
• Mia Sara as Ondine
• Jon Voight as Sigfried Manheim
• Vanessa Redgrave as Countess Wilhelmina
• Jonathan Hyde as Dussan
• Anton Lesser as Vida
• Honor Blackman as Jules
• J.J. Field as Jack the Giant Killer
• Buttercup as Milky White
• Julia McKenzie as Jack's Mum
• Cyril Shaps as Bent Little Man
• Bill Barretta as Thunderdell
• Richard Attenborough as Magog
• Daryl Hannah as Thespee
• James Corden as Bran
• Jim Carter as Odin
• Hon Ping Tang as Maha Calla
• Nicholas Beveney as Cernos
• Gareth Wilmot as Gargan
• Roger Blake as Giant Thor
• Denise Worme as Nimna
• Brian Henson as Gallaga (voice)
• Rachel Shelley as The Harp (voice)

See Also

• Jack and the Beanstalk Characters
• Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story (video)

Links

• Official Site
• IMDB: Jack and the Beanstalk
• Tough Pigs - My Week with the Beanstalk