Tom Thumb

Cinephile deep dive

The take

George Pal directs. Georges Périnal behind the camera. Fred Spielman scores. Frank Clarke cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom. Dialogue in English, German.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

• 168 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
• 2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: English, German.
• 3Directed by George Pal, shot by Georges Périnal. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
• 4Original score by Fred Spielman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
• 5Editor Frank Clarke shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
• 6Russ Tamblyn and Alan Young and June Thorburn carry the top of the cast.
• 7Marketing tagline: "He's only 5 1/2 inches high, but he's terrific!".
• 8IMDB entry: tt0052427 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
• 9Only 78 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography

Georges Périnal

Original score

Fred Spielman

Editing

Frank Clarke

Costume design

Olga Lehmann

Makeup / hair

Hilda Fox

Runtime

98 min · 1h 38m

Aspect ratio (typical)

1.37:1 (Academy)

Status

Released

Original language

EN

Certification (US)

G

IMDB

Tom Thumb (1958) ↗

Rotten Tomatoes

100% 🍅 Fresh

IMDB rating

6.5/10 · 3,153 votes

MPAA

G

Also by

George Pal

• 
  Jasper's Boobytraps

  1945 · ★ 10.0
• 
  Jasper and the Watermelons

  1942 · ★ 10.0
• 
  Jasper Goes Hunting

  1944 · ★ 10.0
• 
  Jasper and the Choo-Choo

  1942 · ★ 10.0
• 
  Sky Pirates

  1938 · ★ 10.0
• 
  Jasper Tell

  1944 · ★ 10.0

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper Wallpaper Wallpaper Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

• 

  ▶
  Tom Thumb - Trailer

  Trailer · Official

Community reviews

What people are saying

• John Chard2019-08-02
  ★ 8/10

  Good things do indeed come in small packages. 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 made in the 1950s. "tom thumb" has everything a family musical should have, a fantastical fairytale full of colour, vibrant song and dance sequences, and a warmth to cheer the bluest of hearts. With the athletic and ebullient 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, that 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

  Read full review ↓

Production companies

Who made it

• GA

  Galaxy Films Inc.

Key crew

• Production ManagerE.J. Holding
• Camera OperatorDenys N. Coop
• AnimationWah Chang
• AnimationGene Warren
• HairdresserHilda Fox
• SongsFred Spielman
• SongsJanice Torre
• ChoreographerAlex Romero
• Recording SupervisionA.W. Watkins
• ContinuityAngela Martelli
• Makeup ArtistCharles E. Parker
• SongsPeggy Lee
• Music DirectorMuir Mathieson
• EditorFrank Clarke
• Costume DesignOlga Lehmann
• Sound RecordistJohn Bramall
• SongsKermit Goell
• Assistant DirectorDavid Middlemas
• Associate ProducerDora Wright
• ProducerGeorge Pal
• Art DirectionElliot Scott

Themes & keywords

What it's about, really

• queen
• musical
• forest
• miniature people

Release history · US

When it landed

• Theatrical1958-12-22G