Tom Thumb

One of George Pal's better films. Very fun and entertaining for the whole family.Wish they would upgrade the film to Blu Ray or even 4K.

I grew up with it now getting grandkids watching it now

Are you looking for a film that you can safely watch with your children ? Have you seen most of the Disney catalogue ? Well, happily--once in a while--someone other than Disney produces a film that can enchant young and old, and in 1958 Mr. George Pal did just that with "Tom Thumb". After producing several science fiction classics in the fifties, Mr. Pal and his crack special effects team set up shop in England for this winning musical fantasy, based on the famous fairy tale.A poor, honest wood-cutter, Jonathan (Bernard Miles) and his wife, Anne (Jessie Matthews) are granted three wishes by the Forest Queen (lovely June Thorburn) for sparing her favourite tree. They basically bungle their wishes, but they are granted a son to raise. His name is Tom, and he is 5 1/2 inches tall. Of course, being so tiny, Tom has all sorts of interesting adventures. Unfortunately, one of them involves innocently helping two crooks (the hilarious team of Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers) steal a bag of gold, for which Tom's new parents are blamed. Luckily, Tom is able to eventually turn the tables on the crooks, with help from a local "merry minstrel"(affable Alan Young),who also has a crush on the Forest Queen, and we wind up with a very happy ending !Tom is played by one of the most talented and remarkable performers in the history of cinema--Mr. Russ Tamblyn--an incredible dancer and acrobat with a very engaging personality. Even among this strong cast, Russ Tamblyn--all "5 1/2 inches" of him--stands tall ! The extended production number with Tom and the toys is a classic--a tribute to Mr.Tamblyn's talent and Mr.Pal's Oscar-winning (as it turned out) special effects team. You can see how all that "puppetoon" experience paid off ! A later scene where Tom puts on wooden shoes that can't stop dancing is another highlight.As the "heavies", Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers are a matchless pair--with his rolling eyes, and devilish grin, Mr. Thomas gives this film exactly the type of "over-the-top" performance it needs, with Mr. Sellers as a perfect, dim-witted foil. They are perhaps the funniest duo since Laurel and Hardy.The DVD is widescreen on one side, and full screen on the other. The colour is beautiful, especially the scenes where Tom is interacting with the toys. The sound is mono. Miss Peggy Lee composed the lively score, with several songs that your children will enjoy (especially the "Yawning Man" sequence, voiced by Stan Freberg)--was there no end to Miss Lee's talent ?Extras are sparse--brief biographies of Russ Tamblyn and George Pal (who directed as well as produced), and the film's trailer."Tom Thumb" is the happy result of two major talents combining their efforts to produce a timeless classic. Today George Pal is remembered and respected as a pioneer of imaginative film. As for Russ Tamblyn, this title role--perhaps more than any other--provides a showcase for his special gifts. How about 4 1/2 stars for a 5 1/2 inch star ! Recommended for the entire family !

I remember this movie from my younger days. I wanted it in my collection. I like musicals.

I was probably about twelve when I first saw this movie, so I was still young enough to ignore some of the silliness that (pre-Harry Potter) Hollywood seemed to think children would have enjoyed. Actually, we didn't actually enjoy it, we simply let our imaginations carry us past it. So, we tend to forget about the stupidity and remember the wonder, and this movie is filled with wonder.We start with a woodchopper in the forest, a typical beginning for a fairy tale. Then a beautiful fairy queen appears and grants him three wishes, which he and his wife squander in a hilarious bit of farce. Then the wife relates that what they really should have wished for was a son, saying " I would love him even if he were no bigger than my thumb." That night her wish is granted - a little boy only seven inches tall. From there the wonder goes wild with dancing toys, dancing shoes, and all sorts of adventures.In the midst of this, the silliness arrives in the grimacing form of Terry Thomas and Peter Sellers. Now, Terry Thomas and Peter Sellers were great comic actors, but a little bit of them goes a long way and this movie gives us a lot of them for a long time, and the script does not give them any help. Basically, they play an english version of the three stooges without the stooges excuse of good intentions. These guys are VILLAINS, and their intentions are bad from the start. I will say however that Peter sellers should have played the lead villain. I have often noted that the less believable the part he is given to play, the more fun he makes from it.Altogether, as an adult the movie wasn't quite as entertaining as I remembered, but I think It is a great choice for children under ten years old.

I remember this classic quite vividly from my childhood - it's a real treat to finally be able to see it again on DVD. In TOM THUMB (1958), the special-effects wizardry of George Pal, the outstanding talents of Russ Tamblyn, and the whimsical music of Peggy Lee come together to create a spellbinding story for the young and the young in heart.A childless couple (Bernard Miles and Jessie Matthews) are blessed with a tiny, thumb-sized son, when they are given three wishes by the beautiful and kindly Forest Queen (June Thorburn). Little Tom Thumb (Russ Tamblyn) turns out to be quite a handful indeed, leading the whole town on a merry dance in his enchanted shoes; but later falls into the clutches of two merciless crooks (Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers), who exploit Tom by making him participate in a robbery, for which his parents are ultimately blamed. Tom and his friend Woody (Alan Young) - who also hides a yen for the lovely Forest Queen - must race against time to catch the real villains, and save Tom's parents in the process.A real charmer. TOM THUMB springs to life with music, colour and merriment to spare. Russ Tamblyn is a little dynamo in the title role, displaying his amazing gymnast skills in some fantastic dance numbers ("tom thumb's Tune", "Talented Shoes"). George Pal's legendary stop-motion Puppetoons make several appearances (who could ever forget the Yawning Man?), and the strong chemistry of June Thorburn and Alan Young helps the romantic portion of the story become one of it's most memorable components.The DVD includes both widescreen and full-frame versions of the movie, plus the trailer.

It wouldn’t play on a cheaper DVD player, but a more expensive one. It’s copyright protected and thought that my connection wasn’t right and played in black and white, not color. So even if you own it, you can’t play it on any DVD player. Excellent story and acting though.

An absolutely adorable film that will entertain young and old. My mother took me to the cinema to see this not long after release and I was thoroughly engrossed in it. Considering that there were no computer graphics in those days it was in my mind incredible how they managed to shrink Russ Tamblyn and make it so believable. I have seen it once since on TV and now I have my own copy to watch as and when. Fantastic. If you like a good family film that will entertain young children then this is a must.

i brought this for my better half for his birthday as he remembered watching it as a child, i had never watched it before but i love the film. i think it should come with a warning sign because that sleepy yarny song made me yarn more than i haved ever yarned in my life haha

The item arrived in good time, even though it came from the US. Although it was supposed to be for my grandchildren, my children spotted it and promptly sat down to watch it and enjoyed it as much as they did when they were young. It is a timeless classic and to coin a phrase, a proper family film.

Great picture as it could be with being old movie loved it

It arrived within the time stated. It plays on our DVD player, no problem. A lovely, true family film, enjoyed by my mother as a child, myself when I was young and now my children can share in its magic. This film does not hold the credit it deserves, a timeless classic.