The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938)

Misadventures of a mischievous boy in 1850 Missouri.

Director:

Norman Taurog

Writers:

Mark Twain (the beloved classic by), John V.A. Weaver (screen play),

Stars:

May Robson, Ann Gillis, Jackie Moran

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
May Robson	...	Aunt Polly
Walter Brennan	...	Muff Potter
Victor Jory	...	Injun Joe
David Holt	...	Sid Sawyer
Victor Kilian	...	Sheriff
Nana Bryant	...	Mrs. Thatcher
Olin Howland	...	Mr. Dobbins - Schoolmaster
Donald Meek	...	Sunday School Superintendent
Charles Richman	...	Judge Thatcher
Margaret Hamilton	...	Mrs. Harper
Marcia Mae Jones	...	Mary Sawyer
Mickey Rentschler	...	Joe Harper
Cora Sue Collins	...	Amy Lawrence
Philip Hurlic	...	Little Jim
Ann Gillis	...	Becky Thatcher

Storyline

Sentiment rules in this version of the Twain tale of boyhood in 1850 Missouri, reasonably faithful except for minor details and making the character Jim a boy instead of a man. Includes the whitewash episode, puppy love, the graveyard murder, the boys' running away to Jackson's Island, the salvation of Muff Potter, and the cave adventure.

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Plot Keywords:

boy | missouri | cave | murder | graveyard | 

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Taglines:

Thrills! Adventure! Laughs! [1958 re-release]

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Genres:

Family | Adventure

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 February 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Las aventuras de Tom Sawyer

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Selznick International Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Marcia Mae Jones was originally signed to play Becky Thatcher. Because of a growth spurt, she was recast as Mary Sawyer.

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Goofs

When Tom is wooing Becky by the river, the frog makes his hat jerk up and down. In the next shot, the string attached to the hat is clearly visible (at 25:40 in 91 minutes).

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Quotes

Aunt Polly: Land o'Goshan, your hair looks like a hornets' nest.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits read "A Picturization in Technicolor of the Beloved Classic by Mark Twain 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer'".

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Connections

Version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939)

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Soundtracks

"Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean"
(1843) (uncredited)
Written by David T. Shaw
Arranged by Thomas A. Beckett
Sung by the schoolchildren at school

User Reviews

Definitive Version

Even after all these years, this David O. Selznick version of the Mark Twain classic holds up better than most. The humor with Sidney is stretched to the limits, but all of the novel's high points are included. And most impressive is the camerawork of James Wong Howe, especially in those latter cave sequences.