The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Mark Twain (novel)
James Lee (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 August 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Family

Plot:

Huckleberry Finn, a rambuctious boy adventurer chafing under the bonds of civilization, escapes his humdrum world and his selfish...

Plot Keywords:

River | Escape | Raft | Friendship | Humor

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Tony Randall	...	The King of France
Archie Moore	...	Jim
Eddie Hodges	...	Huckleberry Finn
Patty McCormack	...	Joanna Wilkes
Neville Brand	...	Pap Finn
Mickey Shaughnessy	...	The Duke
Judy Canova	...	Sheriff's wife
Andy Devine	...	Mr. Carmody
Sherry Jackson	...	Mary Jane Wilkes
Buster Keaton	...	Lion Tamer
Finlay Currie	...	Capt. Sellers
Josephine Hutchinson	...	Widow Douglas
Parley Baer	...	Grangeford man
John Carradine	...	Slave catcher
Royal Dano	...	Harlan, Sheriff

Also Known As:

Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

South Korea:All | West Germany:6 (f) | USA:Approved (certificate #19461) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Finland:K-8 | Norway:7

Filming Locations:

Sacramento River Valley, California, USA

Company:

Formosa Productions

Trivia:

The four songs included in the film were originally intended for an M-G-M Technicolor musical version of "Huckleberry Finn" which was supposed to have been filmed in 1952, but was never made. It was supposed to have starred Dean Stockwell as Huck, William Warfield (fresh from his triumph as Joe in Show Boat (1951)) as Jim, and Gene Kelly and Danny Kaye as the two con men.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Just before Huck and Jim jump off the riverboat, Huck puts on his pants. We hear a "snap" as he snaps his pants. He then zips up his zipper. Neither snap fasteners or zippers were in use at the time (1851).

Movie Connections:

Version of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1981) (TV)

Soundtrack:

I Ain't Never Felt So Good Before

Mark Twain is spinning in his grave!

Michael Curtiz should have been thoroughly ashamed of himself when he was finished with this production. I can understand why directors will shorten or paraphrase certain adaptations from well-known literature, but to make wholesale changes in an American masterpiece is unforgivable. Huge and important parts of the novel were totally absent, or switched around and added to other parts of the movie that made it incomprehensible. Eddie Hodges (and Archie Moore) were terrible choices for the two main characters. Aside from never coming even close to a realistic dialect from that time and locale, neither actor were truly up to the task. There were some bright spots, though - notably Mickey Shaughnessy and Tony Randall (but even these were wasted.) Overall, a very poor effort and a waste of any true film buff's time. It leaves a very bad taste in one's mouth. Twain deserves better. If you want to see a better version, check out the 1939 version with Mickey Rooney.