Tom Sawyer (1973)

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

For some, it was the game of "Cowboys and Indians"; others chose "Cops and Robbers'. Some look up to firemen; others liked matchbox cars. For me, it was trains. For Tom Sawyer, it's right in his own back yard: the mighty Mississippi River. Makes me wish it had been in my own backyard! There are at least two older film versions of Mark Twain's great American novel, written with pre-teen boys in mind. Both are excellent. A 35 year difference between the 1938 Selznick version (an absolute brilliant adaption) saw a need for a new version, and thanks to Robert and Richard Sherman, songs were added. TV favorite Johnny Whitaker is a perfect choice to play the misunderstood Tom, the bane of his Aunt Polly's (Celeste Holm) existence, yet somehow her little love, tall tales and all. While the songs aren't really all that memorable outside the constraints of the plot, they perfectly fit the mood and setting of this version. However, some of the songs don't necessarily fit the characters who sing them, particularly a song about the fence white washing. Jodie Foster has to be the most tomboyish Becky Thatcher that I've ever seen on stage or screen, closer to Laura Ingalls' country girl than Twain's fragile judges daughter. Holm is both stern and loving as Aunt Polly, a nice followup to Clara Blandick's and May Robson's interpretations. It takes a bit for her warmth to pop out, but when it does (heard singing after Tom's supposed drowning while turning out the house lights), prepare to shed a tear or two. Screen time is increased for Warren Oates' Muff Potter, with Jeff East a cleaned- up Huck Finn. The lovable Lucile Benson is a hoot as the gregarious Widow Douglas. Kunu Hunk makes a scary Injun Joe, one of the most frightening villains in children's literature. Veteran character actor Henry Jones adds to the atmosphere as the no-nonsense schoolmaster who whips Tom mercilessly for Becky Thatcher's slate drawing.Taking away from some quickly written songs, this is really good technically for the perfect period feeling, beautiful country settings and a feeling of old fashioned Americana that seldom strikes a nerve in modern cinema. Of course, the story has been told several times afterwards, so there's no real surprises. Thanks to Whitaker's exuberance, it never gets to the point of over exposure. From my adolescence, this was the perfect film to watch on a late Saturday morning while my parents were shopping. Not quite a classic but far from a fiasco.

Young Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn enjoy the free days of youth in this 1973 film adaptation of the classic Mark Twain story "Tom Sawyer." With their stories and lives of the two boys blending in together so much, it's hard to tell where one starts and the other leaves off. They both live in the same slow easy days, which are also fresh with rascally trouble and bristling with uncouth characters. Tom Sawyer lives with an Aunt played by Celeste Holm and her two children. The boy does not like him and continually sets up booby traps for Tom when he sneaks in his room late for supper, but the daughter thinks the world of him. On one of their many hikes, Tom and Huck witness a scuffle that leads to murder. And Tom has a love interest in the form of a new girl, played by Jodie Foster. But all this takes a back seat to the adventurous and easy-going spirits of the boys and the wonderful music score and songs by the Sherman brothers. The performances by Johnnie Whitaker as Tom and Jeff East as Huck are very natural (Jeff East was particularly memorable) and a lot of recognizable faces make up the colorful supporting cast. A true highlight of the film is Charley Pride's song about being young and free, sung at the beginning and end of the film. I looked into buying the cd. But it was way too expensive, being a very rare find. If you love musicals and the imagination of Mark Twain, then you need to find this right away and while away the hours doing something close to nothing but getting in trouble anyway.

I have not seen this version of Tom Sawyer for quite a few years, but I did see it as a child on the "Big Screen". The fun part for me about this movie is that I grew up just a few miles from where most of it was filmed -- a small river town in Mid-Missouri called Arrow Rock. It's not the type of area where a person gets to see a lot of movies being filmed, so you can imagine that this was quite an event for a small rural area at the time.I was 12 at the time, same age as Johnny Whitaker when he played Tom, and I remember going to watch the filming of several scenes -- especially the "picnic scene". It was also interesting to see what was done to the town to prepare for the making of the film. The main street, which is paved asphalt, was covered with several inches of dirt. The concrete sidewalks were converted to boardwalk sidewalks, which still exist today! It was fun to watch the film in the theater, because many of the extras in the film were local townspeople, neighbors, and friends. You watched to pick out the scenes where you would recognize people you know.There is a special celebration in Arrow Rock this year for the July 4th festivities, celebrating the 35 years since the filming of Tom Sawyer (1972). Johnny Whitaker and Jeff East are returning to Arrow Rock to participate in the festivities... and I will be returning to partake also! If you're ever driving across Missouri on I-70, I invite you to take a slight detour on Hiway 41 North (just about 130 miles west of St. Louis) and visit the little historic town of Arrow Rock.... where for two months in 1972, Hollywood came to visit!

Having grown up in Missouri only an hour from Hannibal,it is gratifying to see the authentic locations that really capture the setting, and terrific portrayals from a great cast really create the spirit of Twain's book.I first saw this film when my grandparents took me to it long ago but I still can relive the joy of my childhood and "freebootin". I always imagined myself as a sort of Tom Sawyer from watching this(I secretly wanted to be him).....the film still deeply effects me......The cave sequence was actually filmed in Merramac Caverns cave, and I also believe Onondaga Cave in Missouri...it might be worth your time to visit them if you are visiting the state of Missouri....