The Adventures of Tom Sawyer [Blu-ray]

Director: Norman Taurog

Overview

In a small town on the Mississippi River, the troubles of young Tom Sawyer (Kelly) are often due to his half-brother Sid (Holt) informing on him. When his Aunt Polly (Robson), with whom Tom lives, orders the boy to whitewash the fence, he manages to convince his friends that it's a privilege rather than a chore, and they take over for him. He's smitten by newcomer Becky Thatcher (Gillis), but she spurns him when he lies about knowing passages from the Bible. However, when Tom takes the blame for something she did, she sees him with new eyes. Tom and his rapscallion friend Huckleberry Finn (Moran) go to the graveyard one night, and see Injun Joe (Jory) stab a man to death, then convince drunken Muff Potter (Brennan) that he committed the murder instead. The frightened boys flee, and vow never to mention what they saw. When both Tom and Huck get into more trouble, they head for an island to play pirates, accompanied by their friend Joe Harper (Rentschler). when they realize the townspeople think they've drowned, they decide to watch their own funeral service, but soon come out of hiding. Later, at Muff Potter's murder trial, Tom decides to testify; Injun Joe flings a knife at him, and escapes. On a school picnic in a cavern, Tom and Becky are separated from the others, and find a treasure chest full of gold--but they also find Injun Joe, hiding in the cave. He tries to kill them, but falls to his death. Back in town, Tom and Becky are greeted as heroes.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/10/2018
UPC:	0738329231880
Original Release:	1938
Rating:	NR
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[DTS 5.1-Channel Surround Sound]
Language:	English
Time:	2:48:00
Sales rank:	18,838

Special Features

Includes both 91-minute cut and 77-minute 1954 reissue; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Tommy Kelly	Tom Sawyer
Jackie Moran	Huckleberry Finn
May Robson	Aunt Polly
Walter Brennan	Muff Potter
Ann Gillis	Becky Thatcher
Victor Jory	Injun Joe
David Holt	Sid Sawyer
Victor Kilian	Sheriff
Nana Bryant	Mrs. Thatcher
Olin Howlin	Schoolmaster
Donald Meek	Superintendent
Charles Richman	Judge Thatcher
Margaret Hamilton	Mrs. Harper
Marcia Mae Jones	Mary Sawyer
Mickey Rentschler	Joe Harper
Cora Sue Collins	Amy Lawrence
Philip Hurlic	Jim
Clara Blandick	Actor
Spring Byington	Widow Douglas
Harry Myers	Churchgoer
Elizabeth Patterson	Actor
Elizabeth Risdon	Actor
Max Steiner	Composer
Louis Forbes	Composer
Franz Waxman	Composer

Technical Credits

John Weaver

David O. Selznick	Producer
William H. Wright	Producer
Jack Cosgrove	Special Effects
John Weaver	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

A remarkably faithful -- perhaps TOO faithful -- adaptation of the Mark Twain classic, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is visually stunning. William Cameron Menzies and Casey Roberts have created gorgeous settings that are beautifully captured by James Wong Howes's delicious camerawork; the climactic sequence inside the cave is especially noteworthy; the clammy, claustrophic sets work together with Howes' spot-on photography to create a harrowing effect. Aside from the visuals, Tom Sawyer runs into a few problems, although none of them seriously damage the film. The screenplay keeps all of the most famous episodes from the book, but does so in such a manner as to make the film seem a little too episodic. In the title role, Tommy Kelly is good but inconsistent; director Norman Taurog can't always pull out of him all that is required, although he has better luck with Anne Gillis and Jackie Moran. May Robson shines as Aunt Polly, allowing us to feel sympathetic for the character while still feeling free to laugh at the troubles Tom gives her. If Tom Sawyer is not perfect, it's still a fine production that leaves the audience with a warm, happy glow.