The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

I had the pleasure of watching the final scene of this film being shot back in 1959. I was six years old and witnessing this began my lifelong love for the movies. When the film arrived in our city, I was struck by Jerome Morross' incredible music score, which completely captured the sense of adventure, wonder and beauty of life on the Mississippi River and rural Missouri. The film itself is robust, dramatic and filled with Mark Twain's colorful, classic words. The cast is perfect and Michael Curtiz' direction keeps the action flowing. This is a wonderful film for all ages.

From the man who directed "Casablanca" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" comes a colourful, humorous video version of Mark Twain's timeless novel. The casting is superb. It's hard to think of any other actors from the early 1960s in these roles, they are so well chosen. Especially impressive is pro boxer Archie Moore as Jim. His scene where he's talking about his deaf child is heart-wrenching, quite a feat for a cross over athlete. The child actor who plays Huck is very good as well. My honourable mention goes to Tony Randall and Mickey Shaughnessy who make a great comedy team as the King and the Duke. They are simply hilarious. Although many of Twain's adventures are deleted, most of the better known and interesting characters and scenes are included. Many of these characters are played by Hollywood legends like Sterling Holloway(the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Jiminy Cricket), Judy Canova, John Carradine, Neville Brand, and Buster Keaton. All in all, a highly recommended family film.

All the acting was superb. The sets were...well, it was 1960. But the script! To hear Mark Twain so joyfully transposed, and so artfully accurate for the film characters and actors! What a straight, simple joy to see this film, made to entertain and doing it proudly, with all concerned -- actors and director mainly -- working on the same premise. And tell me Tony Randall didn't go home whistling after every day on the set! But this was Mark Twain done proud. How many other great writers so easily lend themselves to film scripts? What a writer! What fun he had with phrases, sayings and words. And how well all that was put to use in this movie. And PS Archie Moore was a great heavyweight.

It's the Mark Twain classic. Huckleberry Finn fakes his own death to escape his abusive father. He travels down the Mississippi River with fellow runaway, a slave named Jim. They form a strong bond and encounter various people including two con men. I've never read the book. Somehow, I escaped it in school. I do know the broad strokes. The movie has a bit of cursing and I counted one n* word. There could be more but it's not quite the book. I can't talk to the faithfulness of the adaptation. The story is much more fitting for a mini-series with its episodic nature. The kid is pretty good. He has the rambunctiousness. Jim needs a bigger performer. It's easier to dial it down than it is to dial it up. All in all, their friendship is what sells the movie and the story. They do well in that aspect and thereby makes this movie work.

I'm deeply disappointed and upset to see this movie so underrated at IMDB with decreased 6.3 of this immortal Mark Twain's novel, which based in his own experience at Mississippi river as steamboat pilot, the story is straightforward a masterpiece where a white boy Huckleberry Finn (the fantastic Eddie Hodges) and a black mature slave Jim (Archie Moore) as a fugitive.

Both have countless adventures with a couple of dirty rotten scoundrels running down the river, Tony Randall nickname as King of France in his best role ever (together 7 Faces of Dr. Lao), he is flawless as never seen before, he tries to any means cheating everybody with those polite words, having alongside his obtuse buddy Duke, (Mickey Shawghnessy) when Huck unmask them. Henceforth the smart Huck and the faithful Jim never got a single instant of unwinding.

They crossing their path to delivery Jim to Sheriff to take the reward of 200 bucks for catch him, using a smart language pertaining of native Mississippi, the picture flows easy on clean waters, Huck pursuing his dream to know the world, meanwhile Jim wants just his freedom, the chemistry between them is fully authentic given a dynamic duo finest performance, masterfully directed by the legendary Michael Curtiz!!!

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 2008 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-Cable TV-DVD-R / Rating: 8.5.