Tom Sawyer (1973 film)

Last updated
Tom Sawyer
Tom Sawyer (1973) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Don Taylor
Screenplay by Robert B. Sherman
Richard M. Sherman
Based on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
1876 novel
by Mark Twain
Produced by Arthur P. Jacobs
Frank Capra Jr.
Starring Johnny Whitaker
Celeste Holm
Jeff East
Warren Oates
CinematographyFrank Stanley
Edited by Marion Rothman
Music bySongs:
Richard M. Sherman
Robert B. Sherman
Score:
John Williams
Production
company
Distributed by United Artists
Release date
  • March 15, 1973 (1973-03-15)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$6,000,000 (rentals) [1]

Tom Sawyer is the 1973 American musical film adaptation of the Mark Twain novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and was directed by Don Taylor. The film was produced by Reader's Digest in collaboration with Arthur P. Jacobs, and its screenplay and songs were written by both Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman.

Contents

During the 46th Academy Awards, the film received three nominations for Best Original Song Score, Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design, but failed to win any.

Plot

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, seeking adventure and superstition, skip school to attempt resurrecting a dead cat through an incantation they believe will be empowered by the imminent death of a man named Hoss Williams. During their escapade, they encounter Muff Potter, the town drunk. Their discussion is interrupted by Injun Joe, who informs them that Doc Robinson seeks their assistance to exhume Williams' body. Concurrently, Tom consistently evades school, weaving elaborate tales to excuse his absences at dinner. When Aunt Polly, his guardian, seeks to discipline him for his truancy, Tom cunningly persuades other children to undertake his punitive chores, demonstrating his mischievous and manipulative nature.

Following Williams' death, Tom and Huck visit the cemetery, only to discover Muff Potter and Injun Joe exhuming Williams' grave under Doc Robinson's orders. An altercation ensues when Joe demands additional payment, and in the ensuing chaos, Robinson inadvertently incapacitates Muff with a shovel. In a violent response, Joe strikes Robinson, knocking him into the grave, then fatally stabs him with Muff's knife. Horrified, Tom and Huck witness the entire event and flee the scene, binding themselves with a pact of silence over the gruesome murder they observed.

In the aftermath of the murder, Injun Joe deceitfully accuses Muff Potter of the crime, resulting in Muff's imprisonment. Concurrently, Tom Sawyer becomes infatuated with the newly arrived Becky Thatcher. During Muff's trial, as Injun Joe testifies with false claims, Tom, unable to bear the injustice, courageously reveals the true series of events on the stand, carefully omitting Huck's presence. In a dramatic turn, Injun Joe retaliates by hurling a knife at Tom, narrowly missing him, and then makes a daring escape through the courthouse window.

Post-trial, Tom and Becky's brief "engagement" dissolves when Becky learns of Tom's prior commitment to Amy Lawrence. Distraught, Tom finds himself at odds with Huck for violating their pact of secrecy. The boys, seeking escape and adventure, decide to run away together, journeying down the Mississippi River. Their expedition takes a perilous turn when a riverboat capsizes their raft, stranding them on an island. As they revel in their newfound freedom, they speculate about Injun Joe's fate. During their island sojourn, they observe a group conducting a river dragging, a technique involving cannon fire aimed to recover bodies submerged in the river.

Tom and Huck, yearning for home, return only to discover a funeral in progress, presumed dead by the townsfolk. Their sudden appearance joyously interrupts the service, leading to a warm reception. Subsequently, the Widow Douglas adopts Huck, endeavoring to civilize him. During a subsequent Independence Day celebration, Tom and Becky's exploration of McDougal's Cave turns perilous when they encounter Injun Joe. A harrowing chase ensues, culminating in a dramatic confrontation with Judge Thatcher, Muff, and Huck. In the chaos, Muff throws a torch at Injun Joe, causing him to fall to his demise.

Some time after the tumultuous events, Huck vanishes, causing concern for the Widow Douglas. Tom, upon locating him at their favored fishing spot, chides Huck for his thoughtlessness. As Huck ponders his future, possibly setting the stage for his own adventures in "Huckleberry Finn," Tom returns to find Muff Potter preparing to leave town, hinting at a possible future reunion. Concurrently, Judge Thatcher arranges a two-week trip to St. Louis for Tom and Becky, offering a reprieve from recent events. Before departing, Tom mends relationships with his family and commits to personal improvement.

Cast

Jodie Foster and Johnny Whitaker had starred together in Napoleon and Samantha the previous year.

Production

The film was shot in Arrow Rock and Lupus, Missouri. Meramec Caverns in Stanton, Missouri with cave sets.

As a Mormon, Whitaker was prohibited from using tobacco. In the scene in which Tom and Huck carve a pipe and smoke it together, cabbage leaves were substituted in place of the tobacco, at Whitaker's insistence. [2]

Another similar film, also titled "Tom Sawyer," was released on television that same year. It was shot at Upper Canada Village in Ontario, but the cave scenes were filmed at Howe Caverns in Howes Cave, New York. Originally broadcast on CBS on March 23, 1973, it starred Josh Albee as Tom and Jeff Tyler as Huck. Los Angeles Times critic Don Page called it a "pleasant treatment" of the novel, although he found Albee "low-key" and Tyler "uncharismatic." "The best performances come from the veterans," Page noted, "especially Buddy Ebsen as the pitiful but lovable town sot, Muff Potter. Jane Wyatt as forgiving Aunt Polly, Vic Morrow as the sinister Injun Joe, and John McGiver as Judge Thatcher are excellent. ... Jane Holloway's script is bright enough, but the youngsters fail to ignite the spark." [3] The presentation was sponsored by Dr. Pepper [4] and featured a dog named Pepper accompanying Tom and Huck on their adventures. [5]

The paddle–wheeled boat used in the theatrical musical film was the Julia Belle Swain , currently (as of September 24, 2013) moored at Riverside Park in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Awards and nominations

At the 31st Golden Globe Awards, the Sherman Brothers, along with John Williams, received a nomination for Best Original Score. The trio would later be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring Original Song Score and/or Adaptation. Tom Sawyer also received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction–Set Decoration (Philip M. Jefferies, Robert De Vestel) and Best Costume Design (Donfeld). [6]

Songs

  1. River Song (The Theme from “Tom Sawyer”) Charley Pride, Chorus & Orchestra
  2. Tom Sawyer – Aunt Polly, Mary, Sidney
  3. Gratifaction – Boys
  4. How Come? – Tom
  5. If'n I Was God – Tom
  6. A Man's Gotta Be (What He's Born to Be) Tom, Huckleberry and Muff
  7. Hannibal, Mo(Zouree) – Cast
  8. Freebootin' – Tom, Huckleberry
  9. Aunt Polly's Soliloquy – Aunt Polly

Related Research Articles

<i>Tom and Huck</i> 1995 American film

Tom and Huck is a 1995 American adventure comedy-drama film based on Mark Twain's 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Brad Renfro, Mike McShane, Eric Schweig, and Amy Wright. The film was directed by Peter Hewitt and produced/co-written by Stephen Sommers. The film was released in North America on December 22, 1995.

<i>Tom Sawyer</i> (2000 film) 2000 American film

Tom Sawyer is a 2000 American animated musical comedy film directed by Paul Sabella and Phil Mendez. Released direct-to-video on April 4, 2000, the film was produced by MGM Animation. It is the only MGM Animation production not to be available exclusively through Warner Home Video worldwide. This is also the final MGM Animation film before shutdown in 2002. It is an adaptation of Mark Twain's 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, with a cast of anthropomorphic animals instead of humans. Most of the characters' voices are generally performed by country music singers.

<i>Huckleberry Finn and His Friends</i> 1979 television series

Huckleberry Finn and His Friends is a 1979 television series documenting the exploits of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, based on the novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) by American writer Mark Twain. The series consists of 26 episodes and was a Canadian/West German international co-production.

<i>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</i> (1980 TV series) 1980 Japanese anime television series

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a Japanese anime television series produced by Nippon Animation and directed by Hiroshi Saito, which premiered on January 6, 1980, and ended its run on December 28 the same year. It is based on the 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.

<i>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</i> (musical) Musical by Don Schlitz

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a musical comedy based on the 1876 novel by Mark Twain conceived and written by Ken Ludwig, with music and lyrics by Don Schlitz. The musical is the story of a fourteen-year-old boy growing up in the heartland of America. This Broadway musical version of Mark Twain's novel is set in 1840 in St. Petersburg, Missouri, a bustling town on the banks of the Mississippi River. In the course of the story, Tom matches wits with his stern Aunt Polly, falls in love with the beautiful, feisty Becky Thatcher, and goes on the adventure of his life with Becky and Huckleberry Finn. Along the way he meets a terrifying villain named Injun Joe, Tom's bratty half-brother Sid, and all the other boys and girls in the village.

<i>The Adventures of Mark Twain</i> (1985 film) 1985 film

The Adventures of Mark Twain, also known as Comet Quest in the United Kingdom, is a 1985 American independent stop-motion claymation fantasy film directed by Will Vinton and starring James Whitmore. It received a limited theatrical release in May 1985 and was released on DVD in January 2006 and again as a collector's edition in 2012 on DVD and Blu-ray.

<i>Tom Sawyer</i> (1917 film) 1917 comedy-drama film directed by William Desmond Taylor

Tom Sawyer is a 1917 American silent comedy-drama/adventure film starring Jack Pickford, Robert Gordon, and Clara Horton; it is based on Mark Twain's 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Directed by William Desmond Taylor, the film was released by Paramount Pictures.

<i>The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</i> Television series

The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an American live-action and animated fantasy television series that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1968, through February 23, 1969. Produced by Hanna-Barbera and based on the classic Mark Twain characters, the program starred its three live-action heroes, Huck Finn, Becky Thatcher, and Tom Sawyer, navigating weekly adventures within an animated world as they attempted to outrun a vengeful "Injun Joe". After the show's original run, the series continued to air in reruns as part of The Banana Splits and Friends Show syndication package.

<i>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</i> (1938 film) 1938 American film directed by Norman Taurog

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a 1938 American drama film produced by David O. Selznick and directed by Norman Taurog who had previously directed Huckleberry Finn (1931) with Jackie Coogan and Junior Durkin. The film starred Tommy Kelly in the title role, with Jackie Moran and Ann Gillis. The screenplay by John V. A. Weaver was based on the classic 1876 novel of the same name by Mark Twain. The movie was the first film version of the novel to be made in color.

<i>Tom Sawyer</i> (1930 film) 1930 film

Tom Sawyer is a 1930 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by John Cromwell and starring Jackie Coogan. The screenplay by Grover Jones, William Slavens McNutt, and Sam Mintz is based on the 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.

<i>Huckleberry Finn</i> (1931 film) 1931 film

Huckleberry Finn is a 1931 American pre-Code adventure comedy film directed by Norman Taurog, and written by Grover Jones and William Slavens McNutt, based on Mark Twain's 1884 novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It stars Jackie Coogan as Tom Sawyer, Mitzi Green as Becky Thatcher, Junior Durkin as Huckleberry Finn, and Jackie Searl as Sid Sawyer.

<i>Huckleberry Finn</i> (1920 film) 1920 film by William Desmond Taylor

Huckleberry Finn is a surviving American silent dramatic rural film from 1920, based on Mark Twain's 1884 classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed through Paramount Pictures. William Desmond Taylor directed Huckleberry Finn, as he had the 1917 film version of Tom Sawyer, using a scenario written by Julia Crawford Ivers, who also had been the writer for Tom Sawyer.

<i>Huck and Tom</i> 1918 film by William Desmond Taylor

Huck and Tom is a surviving American comedy-drama film directed by William Desmond Taylor and released in 1918. The scenario by Julia Crawford Ivers is derived from Mark Twain's novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884). Robert Gordon and Jack Pickford reprise the title roles from the 1917 version of Tom Sawyer, a successful adaptation that was also directed by Taylor.

<i>Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn</i> 2014 American film

Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn is a 2014 American comedy-drama/adventure film directed by Jo Kastner and starring Joel Courtney as Tom Sawyer, Jake T. Austin as Huckleberry Finn, Katherine McNamara as Becky Thatcher, Noah Munck as Ben Rogers, and with Val Kilmer as Mark Twain. It is based on Mark Twain's novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884). The film was released by VMI Worldwide.

<i>The Adventures of Tom Sawyer</i> 1876 novel by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an 1876 novel by Mark Twain about a boy, Tom Sawyer, growing up along the Mississippi River. It is set in the 1840s in the town of St. Petersburg, which is based on Hannibal, Missouri, where Twain lived as a boy. In the novel, Sawyer has several adventures, often with his friend Huckleberry Finn. Originally a commercial failure, the book ended up being the best-selling of Twain's works during his lifetime. Though overshadowed by its 1884 sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the book is considered by many to be a masterpiece of American literature. It is alleged by Mark Twain to be one of the first novels to be written on a typewriter.

<i>Tom Sawyer</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Bing Crosby

Tom Sawyer is a 3-LP box set containing a reading by Bing Crosby of an abridged version of Mark Twain’s classic story The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. It was recorded for Argo Records (UK) on September 3 and 5, 1975 at Argo Studios, 115 Fulham Road, London.

<i>Band of Robbers</i> 2015 American film

Band of Robbers is a 2015 American crime comedy film written and directed by brothers Aaron and Adam Nee, based on Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It stars Kyle Gallner as Huck Finn and Adam Nee as Tom Sawyer. Matthew Gray Gubler, Melissa Benoist, Daniel Edward Mora, Eric Christian Olsen, Hannibal Buress, and Stephen Lang also star.

"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is a 1955 CBS TV film adaptation of Mark Twain's 1884 novel of the same name, starring Charles Taylor in the title role. It was directed by Herbert B. Swope Jr. It aired on September 1, 1955 as the Season 2 premiere of the anthology program Climax!.

<i>Tom Sawyer</i> (1956 musical) 1956 American film

Tom Sawyer was a one-hour musical by Frank Luther, originally created for the television series The U.S. Steel Hour. It was broadcast live on CBS November 21, 1956, and marked the first time the anthology series had presented a musical. Luther said the show evolved from his re-reading of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer a few years earlier: "(W)henever an incident or character gave me an idea for a song, I'd write the music and words," Luther told an interviewer in 1957. "By the time I'd reached the end of the book, I found I had written 32 songs. The cast included John Sharpe as Tom Sawyer, Jimmy Boyd as Huckleberry Finn, Bennye Gatteys as Becky Thatcher, Rose Bampton as Aunt Polly, Matt Mattox as Injun Joe and Clarence Cooper as Jim the Narrator. A cast album was released on Decca Records shortly after the broadcast, featuring several songs omitted from the original show. The show's sets and backgrounds were designed by Thomas Hart Benton. At the time of the broadcast, Sharpe was performing in the Broadway cast of The Most Happy Fella. Luther was commissioned to follow up the show with a musical adaptation of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, also starring Boyd, which was broadcast on The U.S. Steel Hour November 22, 1957. There does not appear to be any existing film or kinescope of either broadcast. There is a recording of the original broadcast audio in the New York Public Library's Toscanini Legacy Collection of Sound Recordings.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.