Huckleberry Finn (1974)

Huckleberry Finn, a rambuctious boy adventurer chafing under the bonds of civilization, escapes his humdrum world and his selfish, plotting father by sailing a raft down the Mississippi ... See full summary »

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

Mark Twain (novel), Robert B. Sherman (screenplay),

Stars:

Jeff East, Paul Winfield, Harvey Korman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff East	...	Huckleberry Finn
Paul Winfield	...	Jim
Harvey Korman	...	The King
David Wayne	...	The Duke
Arthur O'Connell	...	Col. Grangerford
Gary Merrill	...	Pap
Natalie Trundy	...	Mrs. Loftus
Lucille Benson	...	Widder Douglas
Kim O'Brien	...	Maryjane Wilks
Jean Fay	...	Susan Wilks
Ruby Leftwich	...	Miss Watson
Odessa Cleveland	...	Jim's Wife
Joe Boris	...	Jason
Danny Lantrip	...	Kyle
Van Bennett	...	Wayne

Storyline

Huckleberry Finn, a rambuctious boy adventurer chafing under the bonds of civilization, escapes his humdrum world and his selfish, plotting father by sailing a raft down the Mississippi River. Accompanying him is Jim, a slave running away from being sold. Together the two strike a bond of friendship that takes them through harrowing events and thrilling adventures.

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Plot Keywords:

based on novel | character name in title

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Taglines:

The Greatest Of All American Adventure Stories.

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Genres:

Adventure | Musical

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 May 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn: A Musical Adaptation

Filming Locations:

Arrow Rock, Missouri, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reader's Digest, Apjac International

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Odessa Cleveland's movie debut.

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Quotes

Huckleberry Finn: Jim, your blood's red, same as mine.
Jim: You didn't know that before, Huck?

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Connections

Version of Tom Sawyer (1917)

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Soundtracks

"Rotten Luck"
Written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Performed by Gary Merrill

User Reviews

Unexpectedly delightful

A forgotten relic from the early '70s, when shows like "Little House on the Prairie" and "The Waltons" all reflected our yearning for a so-called simpler, less complicated era. This adaptation, while not entirely faithful to the book, captures its essential themes and spirit rather well. There are some technical problems (the lighting always seem to be half in shadow, whether it's night or day!) and its kiddie-friendly tone seems at odds during the Grangerfords/Shepherdsons sequence, wherein we see men being shot and killed right on camera--and it's handled rather lightly. Parents should also be warned that this adaptation does have some strong language--it has not been sanitized, notwithstanding its G rating.

In addition, the musical format sits much more uneasily with this movie than with the superior "Tom Sawyer" (from the year before, with many of the same cast members and production staff). However, as oddly as some numbers come off, others are wonderful, such as the clever, dixie-ish "Cairo, Illinois," a duet between Huck and Jim that kicks off their great journey together. The jaunty title song and the lovely anthem "Freedom" also showcase the movie and its themes beautifully--especially during "Freedom"'s reprise, as Huck, the boy/man run away, gazes after Jim making his way downriver. Performances are generally strong--Jeff East could've been a better singer but his performance is so sincere and authentic, you hardly notice. Likewise his bond with Jim (well-portrayed by the late Paul Winfield) comes through nicely, most especially in their final, very moving scene together. Harvey Korman and David Wayne also deliver terrific turns as the King and the Duke, respectively.

Cinematography is *gorgeous*--the DP took full advantage of the location shoot, with some beautiful silhouette shots. Although its prequel is far better (you simply cannot top "Tom Sawyer"'s terrific score and thoroughbred cast), Mark Twain's quintessential Great American novel is reasonably well-served here, if not transcendently.