Tom Sawyers Abenteuer

I saw this one in the theater when it was released and still love it! This is the perfect example of a "Classic Family Movie". The harshest word you hear is "damn". The performances are wonderful to watch from the entire cast (Jodie Foster may be the weakest of them all, but just my opinion), the music fits beautifully (thanks to the Sherman brothers) and the settings make me feel the era. An enjoyable way to spend a Saturday afternoon. And to the reviewer who commented on Celeste Holm's "attempt" to sing - check her resume, my friend. Everyone who knows her work (see "High Society" or the 1965 version of "Cinderella", or just listen to the Original Broadway Cast recording of "Oklahoma!") knows she CAN!

Adaptation-wise, the best version is the 1938 film(though it occasionally suffers from being too faithful). This 1973 musical version is not one to dismiss either, in regard to the adapting the main events are intact and with the right impact. Though it could've stuck to Mark Twain's prose a little more, the script is fine and witty in quality but the simplifying of the philosophising of Twain's writing makes Tom not quite as interesting or in depth as he is in the book. But it is a nice and really quite good film on its own. It does get off to a slow start and feels for the first 15 minutes or so a little aimless, and while the songs are very pleasant only Freebootin', Gratifaction and River Song stood out properly. The rest aren't bad at all but somewhat too short and incidental. John Williams does arrange and conduct them beautifully though so further credit is due. The film looks absolutely beautiful though, the costumes and sets are great and the photography evocative, at its best it is absolutely splendid. The story has a real innocence and charm and is paced generally very well, the standouts being the charming picnic scene, the riverboat encounter, the intense confrontation in the caves, Tom and Huck's "funeral" and Injun Joe's spectacular leap from the courtroom. The choreography/staging of the musical numbers are appropriately lively too especially in Gratifaction. Johnny Whitaker is very well-cast as Tom, and Jeff East and particularly Jodie Foster match him in spirited and charming performances. In support, Celeste Holm impresses as Aunt Polly being overbearing yet loving- exactly the right approach for the character, Warren Oates seems to be really enjoying himself as Muff Potter and Kuna Hank is one creepy Injun Joe. Overall, a nice if not exceptional musical version of a classic. 7/10 Bethany Cox

This was a show well worth seeing. Johnnie Whitaker gives a sweet and charming performance and the legendary Celeste Holm is wonderful as always, portraying the exasperated yet loving Aunt Polly. From the wonderful songs, that, unlike most musicals, help to move the story along, to the realistic setting(it was filmed on location), to the excellent and talented cast, this movie is a charming little glimpse into the life of one one America's greatest characters and the insight into the talented author that created him.

An amusing and fun musical film about Mark Twain's classic novel. Homogenized made musical movie with production enough about the adventures of Tom Sawyer : Johnny Whitaker and his friend Huckleberry Finn : Jeff East . Dealing with his girlfriend Becky Thatcher : Jodie Foster and various adventures , including the attractive sketches about the fence whitewashing as well as threatening appearance of the Indian Bogeyman and the likeable Muff Potter : Warren Oates . Mark Twain's hero, you hero of other days , has now been brought to life and you can see him again in life . Remember how you hated to have your face washed when you were a kid ? Come on join Tom and Huck and the gang and be kids again .

Winning adaptation of Mark Twain's often told tale of boyhood in Hannibal, Missouri . Concerning Tom's adventures along with his free-spirited best friend Huck , as both of whom run away to enjoy feats and dangers . The film is pretty well , though is marred by excessive songs in Howard Keel-style ballads , including the following ones : River Song , Gratification, Tom Sawyer , Freebotin' , Aunt Polly's Soliloquy , A man's gotta be what he's born to be, How come ? . Stars the sympathetic prodigy child Johnny Whitaker as Tom whose girlfriend performed by the incombustible Jodie Foster as Becky , Tom holds a real friendship to Huckleberry amusingly played by Jeff East . Along with other notorious secondaries such as : Celeste Holm as Aunt Polly , Warren Oates , Henry Jones and Dub Taylor. It contains a colorful cinematography in technicolor adding dazzling helicopter shots . A lavish Reader's Digest production, the picture was well directed by Don Taylor and in old-style movie-making.

Other enyable versions upon this vintage story are as follows : Tom Sawyer 1917 by William Desmond Taylor with Jack Pickford , Edythe Chapman . 1930 Tom Sawyer by John Cromwell with Jackie Coogan, Mitzie Green . The best : The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 1938 by Norman Taurog with Tommy Kelly , Jackie Moran . Tom Sawyer 1973 by James Nielson with Josh Albee, Jeff Tyler , Buddy Ebsen , Vic Morrow. Tom and Huck 1995 by Peter Hewitt with Jonathan Taylor Thomas , Brad Renfo, Eric Schweig , Amy Wright. Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn 2014 by Joe Kastner with Joel Courtney , Jake Austin, Val Kilmer . Rating : 6.5/10 . Better than average . Well worth watching . The kids may enjoy it , but adults will want to reread the book.

This film captures the essence of Tom Sawyer. The wonder and freedom of childhood, and the struggles of growing up. Johnny Whitaker gives the best performance of his career, portraying Tom as mischievous and clever, yet lovable and innocent. This is not the Tom so often portrayed in films, who is a conniving brat. This is the Tom of the book who gets in trouble because he is curious and adventurous, whose mind wanders in church and school, and who stretches the truth or even fibs without malicious intent.

The rest of the cast is excellent, The production appears to be on location and is very authentic, and the music is well done. This is a true musical in that the lyrics serve to move the story along. If you like musicals, this is for you. If you don't, then concentrate on the lyrics and what they are telling you about the central character.

The book is timeless because of it's universal theme, the glory days of childhood. The Movie captures that. It will bring a tear to your eye as you hear the theme song "...a boy is gonna grow to be a man, be a man. Only once in his life is he free. Only one golden time in his life is he free."