Tom Sawyer

Play trailer

Tom Sawyer

G

Released Mar 15, 1973

1h 44m

Kids & Family

Musical

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

4 Reviews

54%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Best friends Tom Sawyer (Johnnie Whitaker) and Huckleberry Finn (Jeff East) spend their days in their small Mississippi hometown causing havoc and having fun wherever they go. When the young Becky Thatcher (Jodie Foster) moves in to town, it throws an unexpected wrench into their friendship. But when one of Tom's friends finds himself in a jam, all three kids come together to help solve the problem in this musical retelling of the classic Mark Twain story.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Penelope Gilliatt

The New Yorker

What a deformity that an American film of a Mark Twain classic should transmit so little of its American guts, and comprehension of chicanery, and slowness to judge a world that the books judging itself.

Jan 23, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The dramatic interludes with Injun Joe are filmed for maximum impact.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 3, 2021

Full Review

Judith Crist

Texas Monthly

And you have to have a passel of kids around you... to know that there's a children's classic at hand and that you can double your pleasure in adulthood by knowing the generations are ungapped thereby.

Jun 12, 2020

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

Has the sweep of grandeur of a musical in the classic Hollywood style, even if the songs don't always fit comfortably into the narrative.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 4, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

I. S. W

My ultimate escape back into boyhood. The tunes are infectious, especially "Gratifaction" and "Freebootin' ". Love the wiry Jeff East and my childhood heartthrob, believe it or not, Celeste Holme. (I bet you thought I was going to say Jodie Foster!)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/28/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Great movie filmed in Missouri, just like Tom Sawyer. The Missouri River is used instead of the Mississippi. There are some fantastic scenes in the movie. It captures the freedom of boyhood experience and community. Charlie Pride sings the theme song - what a job he does.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

steve d

Nothing new to this often told story.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my all time favorites growing up.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The Sherman's and John Williams make a musical.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

Audience Member

http://filmreviewsnsuch.blogspot.com/2012/12/tom-sawyer.html

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Don Taylor

Director

Johnny Whitaker

Tom Sawyer

Celeste Holm

Aunt Polly

Warren Oates

Muff Potter

Jeff East

Huckleberry Finn

Jodie Foster

Becky Thatcher

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - Whipped for Becky

1:58

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - Responsibility

2:03

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - Getting Engaged

1:27

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - A Man's Gotta Be What He's Born to Be

2:33

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - Tom's Testimony

2:13

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - Tom and Huck's Funeral

2:08

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - Freebootin'

2:10

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - If'n I Was God

2:07

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - Gratifaction

2:32

Tom Sawyer: Official Clip - Becky Thatcher

1:43

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Best friends Tom Sawyer (Johnnie Whitaker) and Huckleberry Finn (Jeff East) spend their days in their small Mississippi hometown causing havoc and having fun wherever they go. When the young Becky Thatcher (Jodie Foster) moves in to town, it throws an unexpected wrench into their friendship. But when one of Tom's friends finds himself in a jam, all three kids come together to help solve the problem in this musical retelling of the classic Mark Twain story.

Director: Don Taylor
Producer: Arthur P. Jacobs
Screenwriter: Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: APJAC Productions
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Musical
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 1973, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 44m

Most Popular at Home Now