Comwayon
A Disappointing Continuation
Robert Joyner
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
Kaelan Mccaffrey
Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
weezeralfalfa
I haven't recently seen Mark Twain's classic book this film is based upon, nor seen the several other film adaptations of the book. So, I can't compare this film to these other versions. However, I have read several reviews that say that this film is reasonably faithful to the book.......A much repeated feature is the contrast between the personalities of Tom(Tommy Kelly) and his younger brother Sidney(David Holt). In contrast to Tom, Sidney is always neatly dressed, with plastered down hair, never skips school nor Sunday school, learns his verses, is always on time for supper, and generally does everything that pleases Aunt Polly(May Robson). Occasionally, he does play a dirty trick on Tom, whom he is jealous of, and generally acts superior to Tom. When Tom strikes back and messes up his face and clothes with something soft and messy, Sidney responds by screaming "Aunt Polly!" , and running toward where he thinks she is. These periodic slapstick scenes are a classic example of running gag humor. But if repeated too often, as in this film, they cease to be funny to most........Tom, of course, usually has hair uncombed and clothes dirty and disheveled from playing or working outside. Yet, he is sought after by certain girls, with whom he may 'get engaged' to. He often skips school and Sunday school to go fishing or swimming, and doesn't learn his verses. He is much more likely to play tricks, which are sometimes imaginative, such as the fence whitewashing scheme. In general, he is much more imaginative in his play and work. He is generally brave in the face of adversity, such being whipped for some transgression, or finding a way out of a cave, when lost. In short, he is often bratty. But, Aunt Polly loves him nonetheless, as shown when he and 2 other boys take off on a raft down the Mississippi, and are presumed drowned when they don't show up. Polly's overt attitude toward Tom changes dramatically after he proves his bravery by testifying at the murder trial of Muff Potter(Walter Brennan) ,when he knew that menacing Injun Joe(Victor Jory) might attack him for fingering him as the murderer. Also, his bravery in keeping his head when lost in a large cave, while having to fight off Injun Joe, until he found an opening, and rescued girlfriend Becky, as well. Now, he was a hero to all the town people. When Sidney went screaming to Polly after Tom hit him in the face with a handful of strawberry short cake, she slapped him down! Tom could now be a brat toward his brother with impunity. ....... Most of us can see both good and bad in the personalities of Tom and Sydney, although Tom is better equipped to face life's challenges. We hope that our kids will be somewhere between these two personality extremes......The episode with the 3 presumed drowned boys showing up for their own memorial service doesn't ring plausible. How did they get up to the church balcony, where they were alone, without someone recognizing them? Why didn't the preacher, who had a clear view of them, recognize them, unless his far vision was inadequate? He recognized them immediately, when they later sauntered down the aisle. See it in color at YouTube
Rueiro
Although it leaves important parts of the novel out -for budgetary reasons, I suppose-, what is in the film is all in the book, and to me it depicts the innocence and charm of Twain's children's world better than any other film adaptation has ever done. The Technicolor cinematography is absolutely fantastic, as well as the art direction. And the child actors are natural-born players, they are all perfect. And then we have dear old toothless Walter Brennan, one of my favourite American character actors and the first person ever to win three Academy Awards (1936, 1938 and 1940) as Muff Potter, the town drunk, a role he was born to play. David O'Selznick put the dollars in, and this film surely was a rehearsal for GWTW. And Norman Taurog, a director well experienced on working with children (Skippy, Huckleberry Finn, Boy's Town) at the helm. They made a film that will last forever.
Neil Doyle
Selznick's THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER is an extremely faithful version of the famous Mark Twain story, generally well acted and cast with the kind of precision the producer was famous for.TOMMY KELLY, despite some drawbacks in his acting, makes an almost perfect Tom Sawyer. He's a bit too quick in flashing the full smile, the nervous sideways glances, the hesitant speech pattern when confronting strict adults--but then, in the '30s there was no HALEY JOEL OSMENT or DANIEL RADCLIFFE to fulfill requirements for more natural acting.Likewise, ANN GILLIS is a bit too coy as Becky Thatcher and even VICTOR JORY is a bit too melodramatic as Injun Joe. MAY ROBSON makes a wonderful Aunt Polly, stern but all the time showing that beneath the gruff exterior she's got a warm spot for her troublesome Tom. The final scene, where she slaps Sid in the face, is priceless.William Cameron Menzies created some wonderful effects for the cave sequence that he designed and the early Technicolor does justice to all the sets and costumes, giving the film the look of an illustrated children's version of the classic novel.Well worth viewing, although it may not be fast paced enough to suit today's children used to more fast-moving stories.Trivia note: Both TOMMY KELLY and JACKIE MORAN (in a small role as Huck Finn) had bits in Selznick's GONE WITH THE WIND the following year--and both were featured in the Gettysburg battle death announcements, Kelly as a member of the band with tears in his eyes and Moran as Phil Meade.
Ron Oliver
THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER keep the small town of St. Petersburg, Missouri in constant turmoil, circa 1850...This is a splendid family film, one of producer David O. Selznick's very best. Presented in wonderful Technicolor, it is like looking through the pages of an illustrated copy of the classic novel. All the favorite episodes are here. All of the performers are perfect in their roles. It is difficult to imagine a better transition from book to screen.Elderly May Robson has one of her finest roles as harried, temperamental, lovable Aunt Polly. She easily steals every scene she's in & provides the sentimental heart of the movie. However, breaking out a bit, her last scene at the film's conclusion is hilarious. A small cluster of veteran character actors - Walter Brennan, Victor Jory, Donald Meek & Margaret Hamilton - are also exceptional in their roles.12-year-old Tommy Kelly IS Tom Sawyer - he will instantly gain the respect & admiration of every prepubescent male in the audience. Beguiling & mischievous, with an infectious grin & sad eyes, he admirably fills the bare feet of America's most famous literary kid. The movie's other child actors - David Holt, Marcia Mae Jones, Ann Gillis & Jackie Moran - give excellent support. (Legend has it that Selznick found young Master Kelly in an orphanage. True or not, this was his best role. Very soon he was playing only bit parts and eventually left films around the age of 25.)The cave sequence is especially noteworthy, thanks to the art design of William Cameron Menzies, the flickering camera work of James Wong Howe, and the moody music of Max Steiner. Spooky & claustrophobic, these scenes are the embodiment of every viewer's nightmares, and, thus, are tremendously entertaining.It should be noted that while the character of Jim is correctly depicted as a slave, the film itself is blessedly free of the racism that blights so many Hollywood films of the 1930's.
