Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn (1982) (TV)

Director:

Dick Lowry

Writers:

Carlos Davis (writer)
David Taylor (writer)

Release Date:

27 February 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Family

Plot:

The adventures and misadventures of Tom and Huck on the Mississippi River in Missouri with their involvement...

Plot Keywords:

Missouri | Con | Mississippi River | Rural | Carnival

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Patrick Creadon	...	Tom Sawyer
Anthony Michael Hall	...	Huck Finn
Anthony James	...	Scree
Allyn Ann McLerie	...	Aunt Polly
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Jeb
Cynthia Nixon	...	Alice
John Harkins	...	Mr. Clinch
Hansford Rowe	...	Colon Beeton
Anthony Zerbe	...	Arco the Magnificent
J.D. Hall	...	George
William LeMassena	...	Judge Thatcher
Gretchen West	...	Callie
Eugenia Wright	...	Reba
Ed Bakey
Edward Seamon	...	Doc Robinson

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Natchez, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Great little film, perfect launching pad for Hall

A terrific little action-packed film for children, young teens and adventurists.

I remember watching this film occasionally until I was in 7th grade. I just watched it this spring because I remember my imagination opening up for this adventure; that attribute makes this the best Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer screenplay.

This blows "Tom and Huck" out of the water with its much better storyline, subplots and innocence that many children's films lack today. The boys do fight over the carnie's daughter. However, it's more to show the innocence that children once had at 14 and does not get in the way with the plot like "Tom and Huck" did.

The movie shows it's time because of the special effects, the choreography and the adolescent Anthony Michael Hall with his mop of blond hair. (Who would have thought he would be Johnny Smith in "The Dead Zone" one day?) Hall definitely deserves credit for it being his first film he stars in. Patrick Creadon is also in this film, but I'm not as familiar with the boy.

The best part of the film is when the boys are in the woods running away from con-artist Scree. They work together escaping from their bondage from Scree. If one boy is in trouble, the other bails him out. The screenplay unfolds the boys' friendship for each other, which I didn't notice until I saw it this year.

Definitely recommend it for children and viewers who love adventure and living like a kid again.