Jack the Giant Killer (1962 film)

Jack the Giant Killer
Original theatrical poster
Directed byNathan H. Juran
Written byOrville H. Hampton
Nathan H. Juran
Based onJack the Giant Killer
Produced byEdward Small
Robert E. Kent
StarringKerwin Mathews
Judi Meredith
Torin Thatcher
CinematographyDavid S. Horsley
Edited byGrant Whytock
Music byPaul Sawtell
Bert Shefter
Production
company
Zenith Pictures
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release dates
  • June 13, 1962 (1962-06-13) (Los Angeles)
  • July 16, 1962 (1962-07-16) (United States)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Jack the Giant Killer is a 1962 American heroic fantasy adventure film starring Kerwin Mathews in a fairy tale story about a young man who defends a princess against a sorcerer's giants and demons.[1]

The film is loosely based on the traditional tale "Jack the Giant Killer" and features extensive use of stop-motion animation. It was directed by Nathan H. Juran and later reedited and rereleased as a musical by producer Edward Small because Columbia Pictures, which released The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, threatened to sue Small. The original print without the music was released 30 years later with no protest from Columbia Pictures, while United Artists continues to own the rights to the musical version of the film. The film reunited Mathews, Juran, Small and actor Torin Thatcher, all of whom had worked on The 7th Voyage of Sinbad.

  1. ^ "FAIRY TALE LISTED BY UNITED ARTISTS: Edward Small Will Produce 'Jack the Giant Killer' -- 3 Films Open Here Today". New York Times. July 8, 1959. p. 26.