The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Filmmaker Norman Taurog’s 1938 classic adaptation of Mark Twain’s beloved 1876 novel covers all of the major scenes from the book as it follows the (mis)adventures of young Tom Sawyer (Tommy Kelly), who is fond of skipping school, playing with frogs, and new classmate Becky Thatcher (Ann Gillis). Living with his frequently exasperated Aunt Polly (May Robson) and constantly being ratted out by his smarmy, smirking half-brother Sid (a perfect David Holt—no kid ever begged more for a baked confection to the face), Tom regularly finds himself in troubles minor (such as the famous fence-whitewashing episode) and major (witnessing a murder). Wooing Becky by day and joining up with pal Huckleberry Finn (Jackie Moran) on nocturnal outings, Tom eventually winds up in court accusing Injun Joe (Victor Jory) of a murder, and later meets Joe in a suspenseful climax while lost in caves with Becky. One of the best versions of this oft-filmed tale—presented here in its original 1:33:1 aspect ratio with a Technicolor image that is bit soft but overall reasonably vibrant—the David O. Selznick production The Adventures of Tom Sawyer remains a great family film. Including both the original full-length version and an abridged 77-minute 1954 reissue, this is highly recommended. (R. Pitman)