Jack & the Dentist's Daughter (1985)

• 77%
• 1985
• Comedy
• Tom Davenport
• Kent C. Jackman
• Deidre Johnson
• Gorham Scott

African American actors in period costumes and vintage cars re-enact a variant of the Grimms' comic story, "The Master Thief," in a small 1930s American town. Jack, a poor laborer's son, wants to marry the dentist's daughter, but the dentist insists that he earn money first. When clever jack steals the money from thugs Robin Hood-fashion, the dentist devises more premarital hurdles. Jack even kidnaps the preacher and steals the sheets off the dentist's bed -- while he's sleeping in it. A fine example of an American Jack Tale, closely related to traditional trickster tales found worldwide.