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:

Everybody knows him! Everybody loves him! He's everybody's favorite boy! Mark Twain's most beloved story

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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

H.C. Potter was the initial director but quit over "Selsnickian interference." His footage (in black and white) was completely discarded.

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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 (1960)

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Soundtracks

"If I Ever See"
(uncredited)
Composer unknown
Poem by Lydia Maria Child
Sung a cappella by children on the hayride
Reprised a cappella by Ann Gillis in the cave

User Reviews

A marvellous piece of Americana

A glorious piece of Americana and a great film for children, this adaptation of Mark Twain's classic was directed by Norman Taurog, who was a dab hand at this sort of thing, (he had already won the Oscar for Skippy with Jackie Cooper), and is something of a classic itself. The very likable Tommy Kelly is Tom and it's a lovely performance, one of the least ingratiating by a child in all of American movies. He's untrained and innocent and when he cries he's actually very moving. Under Taurog's direction all of the children are first-rate; they all capture the spirit of Mark Twain perfectly. The adults include the great May Robson, magnificent as Aunt Polly, Victor Jory, a suitably frightening Injun Joe, Walter Brennan, Margaret Hamilton and Donald Meek. It's also luminously photographed in early colour by James Wong Howe. David O Selznick produced with all the care and attention to detail you would expect.