ThiefHott Too much of everything

Jenna Walter The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Zandra The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Yazmin Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Kirpianuscus One of most seductive musicals from 1950 period. first - for story. well known . and so new. second - for performances. three - for special effects, lovely, nice and...provocative, nostalgic and fascinating. not the less - for choreography. but the basic motif for be gratefull to George Pal is the recreation of the flavor of childhood. this must be, maybe, the first word for the invitation to see it. because it is a fairy tale, and not only adaptation of one . so, delightfull . or charming. or magic. especially for Peter Sellers. not ignoring Russ Tamblyn as Tom Thumb the perfect.

TheLittleSongbird I saw this long ago with my grandparents and absolutely loved it. I saw it again recently, and all those memories came back. This is a wonderfully charming and very underrated musical fantasy. For me, along with Hans Christian Andersen(1952) this has to be the most underrated musical I have seen. It is so endearing you can't help like it. Russ Tamblyn, previously seen in 1954's Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, is perfectly cast in the lead, a performance that is completely likable and very acrobatic. Bernard Miles and Jessie Matthews give fine support as Tom's adopted parents, and June Thorburn is lovely as the Forest Queen. Alan Young is good as Woody too, however it is Terry Thomas and Peter Sellers who steal the acting honours as the villains. They both managed to be sinister and hilarious at the same time. The cinematography, sets and costumes are perfect.The choreography is energetic, and the script well written. But the real joy come from the superb special effects that thoroughly deserved the Oscar and the splendid musical numbers that stick in your head for a while. The Yawning Song for me was the most memorable, because when I first saw it me and my grandparents used to have a right-old giggle every time the Yawning Man opened his mouth. All in all, a really well done underrated film. 10/10 Bethany Cox

Spikeopath Woodcutter Honest Jonathan is granted three wishes by the forest queen as gratitude for not chopping down a mighty oak tree. Returning home he excitedly tries to tell his wife about the wishes, but an argument ensues and during the course of which, the three wishes are foolishly wasted. Realising the folly of their waste, they both sadly ponder on the absence of a son in their life, no matter what size he be. Jonathan muses that perhaps the queen would grant them one more wish, even a small one...Based on the Brothers Grimm story, "tom thumb" may just be the most undervalued musical ever made in the 1950s. Not having a fully fledged Region 2 DVD release yet is not helping its cause, and quite frankly that's something of a disgrace. "tom thumb" has everything a family musical should have. A fantastical fairytale full of colour, vibrant song and dance, and a warmth to cheer the bluest of hearts. With the athletic and vibrant Russ Tamblyn taking the lead as Tom, and villains portrayed with such gleeful caddishness by Peter Sellers and Terry-Thomas, the film was always going to start from a good footing. Add in Tom Howard's Academy Award winning effects, Gamley & Jones' whimsical score and the zippy direction from Ray Harryhausen mentor, George Pal. Well what's the excuse for not letting this film into yours, and your children's life? The story unfolds in a blaze of glorious art design and pupetoon effects. As Tamblyn roams around his little world, the makers blend over-sized sets with animation and real life choreography. Yeah its a little creaky now, but this is still magic, a hark back to a time when it was hard work to craft such a fusion of incredible delights. There's a main sequence as Tom brings the toys to life {you see a toy without a child is as bad as a child without a toy}, a truly wondrous segment of film that deserves classic status. Fit to sit alongside the moment Gene Kelly danced with Mickey Mouse in Anchors Aweigh, this sees Tamblyn trip the light fantastic around, and with, numerous articles and childhood toys beloved by so many in the past. Then there is the talented shoes, a mortality romantic sub-plot, and yes! The good against evil thematic so rich and potent with many a fairytale that has been spun. It's all good, really it is.Am I biased because it was a childhood favourite? You can bet your last Cent, Penny or Euro that I am indeed! But I know this one truth. I have shown this to various age groups over the years, and not once has this film finished and not been met with smiles and even happy tears on occasions. Because ultimately it delivers the joy to the children, and to the children in us all. And that be the truth your honour.Doo be doo be doo 9/10

ptb-8 Made 52 years ago and still enchanting, this MGM musical and puppetoon version of TOM THUMB is still a valid solid family delight. Told in a very European storybook manner, rather like the illustrations from a Little Golden Book, TOM THUMB unfolds into a spectacular special effects laden thrill... and no CGI all marvelous sets and over-sized art direction with amazing stop frame animation and puppet movements. It actually became more interesting for the astonishing and clever ideas edited together to make the story work. In 2009 this version might at first seem a bit too juvenile for today's kids but the simple ideas presented as a pantomime with sheer brilliance of on screen mastery and some hilarious acting by Terry Thomas Peter Sellers and Russ Tamblyn made me in middle age realize that once the lights go down and a genuinely well made film begins, it works for any person of any age. The two 8 year olds with me who are saturated with Harry Potter and Star Wars simply loved TOM THUMB and like kids of any year gone, laughed along with the beauty and wit on screen. It must have had a big budget because what I saw in scene after scene was a beautifully constructed lavish fantasy with completely convincing special effects.. made of cardboard and film. TOM THUMB still works !! What a delight. This version did not have a gollywog dance wither so it might have been the shorter version still clocking in at about 92 minutes. I saw the Gollywog but he was lying down by the time he appeared. I saw a new 35mm print in a cinema in Sydney on Jan 13, 2009. The color was rich and a bit dark and the grain obvious, but it was so clever and funny I forgot any film laboratory hardness.