Ever since I viewed this slightly distorted version of "Jack and the Beanstalk" (hereafter JATB 1974) about 32 years ago on TV during Thanksgiving or Christmas on the "SFM Holiday Network" (including the "Monday Night Football" theme song – you know, EEEEEEEE, ta-ta-ta-ta-TA!), it has obsessed my memory. Before I bought and watched the DVD from Amazon, I could only remember bits and pieces from this extended cartoon feature, such as 1) Jack's stalwart bloodhound Crosby singing to the moon ("Crosby, you can talk!"), 2) the eerily weird wedding sequence with Princess Margaret, the giant Tulip, and the magically animated "paper congregation", 3) Tulip toppling some columns while chasing Jack and Margaret, 4) Tulip flicking a swordsman (the general) away with his finger, and 5) Jack's shrewish mother fainting at the sight of Tulip descending the beanstalk after Jack. These images flickered in my mind like a dream. Now, having watched the movie as an adult, some of the eeriness and oppressive atmosphere has diminished, but JATB 1974 is still quite a unique, compelling, and thought-provoking experience.
As other posters have commented, JATB 1974 strongly adheres to the basic plot, except for the inclusion of Crosby, Margaret, and the thoroughly malevolent and devious witch Hecuba, also the purported mother (!) of the brutish Tulip. In another deviation from the basic plot, after doing away with her royal parents, Hecuba has somehow mesmerized Margaret to see beastly Tulip as a beautiful prince so that she can marry him and make Hecuba "Queen of the Clouds". The jazzy, theatrical score permeating the movie is a third difference, prompting me to suggest to Broadway to produce a musical based on JATB 1974. Despite Hecuba's convoluted matrimonial scheme, JATB 1974 respects and fleshes out the classic plot, fully developing at a deliberate but lively pace all the characters and their motivations.
For example, Jack comes across as a boisterous, cheerful, friendly kid, if a bit impulsive, self-absorbed, and naïve (with the bean/cow trade and all). His plump, widowed mother appears as a shrill, harsh termagent, but still grudgingly empathetic since we realize that her bad temper probably arises from destitute circumstances. Crosby the bloodhound initially appears as a lazy dreamer of heroic deeds, but eventually proves himself an invaluable ally and conscience to Jack as he convinces him to accept the responsibility to save the princess from the witch and giant. Princess Margaret evokes our fearful sympathy as we feel sorry for the loss of her parents and pray that Jack can somehow break Hecuba's sinister spell over her. Hecuba makes for a completely seductive but hissable witch who is quite prepared to sacrifice anyone in her way (including her verbally abused son Tulip) to achieve her dream. Even the supporting cast of Princess Margaret's court entourage (transformed into speechless mice by Hecuba) charm us with their pluck and resourcefulness as they aid Jack and Crosby in their quest.
Even given this multifaceted cast, I still found Tulip to be the most interesting character of all because despite his seemingly simple brutish and villainous nature, he is actually a rather complex, conflicted, and even endearing being. To me, he had aspects of the Hulk, the Beast (of Beauty and the Beast), the Frankenstein monster, and even the green ogre Shrek. However, most of all, he reminded me of a persecuted King Kong, ape-like (longer arms than legs), fierce, and frightening, but ultimately more sinned against than sinning, and generally harmless unless provoked. Also, like Kong, he topples from a great height to his death, a fate he does not warrant. In other words, "Tulip Kong", in my opinion is not such a bad guy.
(There is a second part to this post, but IMDb does not have enough room to include it. If you are interested in seeing my full review of JATB 1974, go to Amazon.com and search for "'Tulip Kong' does not deserve his fate (contains spoilers)" in the comments section of the JATB 1974 DVD profile.)
