The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Released Feb 17, 1938

1h 33m

Adventure

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4 Reviews

85%

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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.

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

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Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy)

Esquire Magazine

Routine, I would say...Huck Finn inadequate.

Apr 17, 2020

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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

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Selznick's version of Mark Twain's famous novel is the first (and best).

Rated: B+

Jun 22, 2011

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steve d

ok version of the same dumb story.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Audience Member

the best movie ever Mack Twain made

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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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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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