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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Play trailer Poster for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 1938,  1h 33m,  Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist - - 4 Reviews Tomatometer 85% 250+ Ratings Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 4 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
In the 1850s, Tom Sawyer (Tommy Kelly), a troublemaking orphan, lives with his controlling Aunt Polly (May Robson) in the small town of St. Petersburg. Tom spends his days skipping school, charming adults and wandering along the Mississippi River with his best friends, Huckleberry Finn (Jackie Moran) and Becky Thatcher (Ann Gillis). But when Tom and Huck take an oath of silence after witnessing a murder, their innocent adventures become matters of life and death.

Critics Reviews

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Otis Ferguson The New Republic May 7, 2024
It isn't for the story that Tom Sawyer lives in memory. But with unerring touch these people follow the story, parading its episodes stiffly, squeezing each character and episode for more emotional pulp than Twain himself ever conceived. Go to Full Review
Meyer Levin (Patterson Murphy) Esquire Magazine Apr 17, 2020
Routine, I would say...Huck Finn inadequate. Go to Full Review
Ann Ross Maclean's Magazine Jul 22, 2019
Tom Sawyer, which could easily have been ruined by inept handling, plus the hazards of technicolor and child acting, survives wonderfully in its present version. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jun 22, 2011
B+
Selznick's version of Mark Twain's famous novel is the first (and best). Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Draco M Sep 17, 2018 Although the book is better than the movie. The movie is very comic, full of scenes that really make adults lentivate the times of child. Highly recommend. See more
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Norman Taurog

Director

Tommy Kelly

Tom Sawyer

Jackie Moran

Huckleberry Finn

Ann Gillis

Becky Thatcher

May Robson

Aunt Polly

Walter Brennan

Muff Potter

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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1850s, Tom Sawyer (Tommy Kelly), a troublemaking orphan, lives with his controlling Aunt Polly (May Robson) in the small town of St. Petersburg. Tom spends his days skipping school, charming adults and wandering along the Mississippi River with his best friends, Huckleberry Finn (Jackie Moran) and Becky Thatcher (Ann Gillis). But when Tom and Huck take an oath of silence after witnessing a murder, their innocent adventures become matters of life and death.
Director
Norman Taurog
Producer
David O. Selznick
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Selznick International Pictures
Genre
Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 17, 1938, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Sep 4, 2012
Runtime
1h 33m
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