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      The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

      Released Feb 17, 1938 1h 33m Adventure List
      Reviews 85% 250+ Ratings Audience Score In the 1850s, Tom Sawyer (Tommy Kelly), a troublemaking orphan, lives with his controlling Aunt Polly (May Robson) in the small town of St. Petersburg. Tom spends his days skipping school, charming adults and wandering along the Mississippi River with his best friends, Huckleberry Finn (Jackie Moran) and Becky Thatcher (Ann Gillis). But when Tom and Huck take an oath of silence after witnessing a murder, their innocent adventures become matters of life and death. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Otis Ferguson The New Republic It isn't for the story that Tom Sawyer lives in memory. But with unerring touch these people follow the story, parading its episodes stiffly, squeezing each character and episode for more emotional pulp than Twain himself ever conceived. May 7, 2024 Full Review Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine Routine, I would say...Huck Finn inadequate. Apr 17, 2020 Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Tom Sawyer, which could easily have been ruined by inept handling, plus the hazards of technicolor and child acting, survives wonderfully in its present version. Jul 22, 2019 Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Selznick's version of Mark Twain's famous novel is the first (and best). Rated: B+ Jun 22, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      steve d ok version of the same dumb story. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review david l The 1938 adaptation of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is badly paced and overly short, but mostly a terrific, faithful and memorable adaptation that benefits from strong child acting across the board and beautiful Technicolor cinematography. The film looks gorgeous, it is very charming and adventurous and in particular the cave part is gloriously cinematic and unforgettable. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member It misses a lot of the book and has a lot of awkward performances. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm currently reading a book on David O Selznick, and this was one of his productions, and it was free on youtube so i checked it out, plus i dont think id ever seen a full tom sawyer film, it's kinda crazy the racist things they got away with here, especially with the black boy, and naming a character injun joe, but kelly is really good as tom sawyer despite never acting before, but becky is kind of a useless twat, robson is real good as aunt polly, i never read the book and was never a huge fan of twain, but i guess it did an all right job Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Not completely by the book, but a very good movie. Tom and Becky's interaction is absolutely adorable. A funny, heart-warming, and entertaining watch. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member Read it so many times as a kid,now it was time for a movie indeed :)all those cute dresses of children,amazingly b'ful sets,simple yet inspiring stories ,those sweet little talks about "Love",takes u far away from the reality to ur childhood.....and u just enjoy it......:))) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

      The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis In the 1850s, Tom Sawyer (Tommy Kelly), a troublemaking orphan, lives with his controlling Aunt Polly (May Robson) in the small town of St. Petersburg. Tom spends his days skipping school, charming adults and wandering along the Mississippi River with his best friends, Huckleberry Finn (Jackie Moran) and Becky Thatcher (Ann Gillis). But when Tom and Huck take an oath of silence after witnessing a murder, their innocent adventures become matters of life and death.
      Director
      Norman Taurog
      Distributor
      United Artists
      Production Co
      Selznick International Pictures
      Genre
      Adventure
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Feb 17, 1938, Wide
      Release Date (DVD)
      Sep 4, 2012
      Runtime
      1h 33m