Tom Thumb (1958)

Things are looking up for the woodcutter's lad named 'Tom Thumb'. Of course, when you're a mere 5 1/2 inches tall, that's the only way things can look. The tiny hero overcomes hard luck and huge obstacles while saving his parents from harm in this beloved Best Special Effects Academy Award winner based on the brothers Grimm tale and produced and directed by trailblazing effects movie-maker George Pal. Russ Tamblyn plays the title role, bringing athletic enthusiasm to an imaginative story in which toys spring to life (but only for Tom!) and unoccupied shoes happily cavort. Peggy Lee composes two of the five songs. And Terry-Thomas and Peter Sellers provide gleeful villainy. Good things do indeed come in small packages.