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.

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.

Johnny Whitaker late of A Family Affair and Jeff East star as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in a musical adaption of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer. I think Twain might have liked this one.

This is one story that when filmed is rarely deviated from. I guess it's too well known and lovers of Mark Twain wouldn't stand for it.

Whitaker and East play the mischievous adolescents from Hannibal, Missouri who are just contributing to everyone's delinquency. Huckleberry Finn seems incorrigible since all he wants to do is fish and swim. And Celeste Holm playing Tom Sawyer's Aunt Polly who is raising Tom with two of her own kids and the widow is just mighty put out by them.

Among the grownup population is Warren Oates who is a perfect fit for Muff Potter, Tom and Huck's best friend and whose raffish ways they admire. Truth be told Oates is a lowdown character who earns an extra drinking dollar or three as a graverobber for Dr. Richard Eastham.

When Eastham is stabbed to death on one of those grave robbing expeditions Oates is arrested and that sets in motion the main plot of Twain's story.

The Shermans wrote a serviceable score for Tom Sawyer. Of course it's nothing like the score they wrote for Mary Poppins. They were nominated for the overall musical score though no individual songs were recognized. Tom Sawyer also got Oscar nominations for Costume Design and Film Editing.

The story has been good family reading and viewing for more than a century and this film is no exception.