The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Hardly a faithful adaptation of Mark Twain's masterpiece, Casablanca director Michael Curtiz's handsome 1960 film nevertheless offers a memorable ride, thanks to a supporting cast of venerable character actors (among them, Tony Randall, Buster Keaton, Sterling Holloway, and Andy Devine), and the compelling friendship between runaway Huckleberry Finn, seeking "uncharted waters," and runaway slave Jim, which comprises the heart of the story. Boxing champion Archie Moore is superb as Jim, although Eddie Hodges' Huck seems more like one of the Little Rascals than the rough-and-tumble adventurer of Twain's novel. Although rated "G," scenes involving Huck's abusive father (not to mention spare use of the "n-word") may make this either too intense or inappropriate for younger viewers. Recommended. (K. Lee Benson)