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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
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.

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic 05/07/2024
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. Go to Full Review Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine 04/17/2020
Routine, I would say...Huck Finn inadequate. Go to Full Review Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine 07/22/2019
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. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 06/22/2011
B+
Selznick's version of Mark Twain's famous novel is the first (and best). Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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steve d 01/09/2023 ok version of the same dumb story. See more 06/16/2015 It misses a lot of the book and has a lot of awkward performances. See more 04/02/2014 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 See more 04/08/2013 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. See more 07/02/2012 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......:))) See more 04/21/2012 the best movie ever Mack Twain made See more Read all reviews
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

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Cast & Crew

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Norman Taurog

Director

Tommy Kelly

Tom Sawyer

Jackie Moran

Huckleberry Finn

Ann Gillis

Becky Thatcher

May Robson

Aunt Polly

Walter Brennan

Muff Potter
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

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
Producer
David O. Selznick
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