Product Details

• Actors: Johnny Whitaker, Celeste Holm, Warren Oates, Jeff East, Jodie Foster
• Directors: Don Taylor
• Writers: Mark Twain, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman
• Producers: Arthur P. Jacobs, Frank Capra Jr., Walter Bien
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, HiFi Sound, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Rated: G (General Audience)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: December 7, 1994
• Run Time: 103 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304413491
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,549 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The 1973 version of Tom Sawyer features Mark Twain's young hero in a rousing musical adventure. Much to the exasperation of his Aunt Polly (Celeste Holm), Tom (Johnny Whitaker) likes nothing better than going fishing with Huck Finn (Jeff East, who reprised the role a year later in Huckleberry Finn), spinning a tall tale, or convincing the other boys to whitewash a fence for him. But life gets complicated when a pretty girl moves in to town (a 10-year-old Jodie Foster), and then a friend runs into serious trouble and only Tom can bail him out. It's not a letter-for-letter adaptation of Twain, but it's entertaining, and the music (songs by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, score by John Williams) is fun, with such songs as "Tom Sawyer," "Gratisfaction," and "Free Bootin'." It's less lavish than 1970's Oliver!, but should appeal to the same audience. Like Oliver!, however, some parental discretion is advised due to a sinister villain (Kunu Hank's Injun Joe), implied violence, and scary situations. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Tom Sawyer i ever saw., August 26, 2002

By 

Rick D. Barszcz (bristol, ct United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tom Sawyer [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie was playing at Radio City Music Hall back in the days of the movie/stage show formt. It was also presented in 70mm on that huge Radio City screen. I remember how impressed i was with that opening scene with the steam boat going down the river and you see Tom running thru the field and the music builds more and more. Wow,,,,what a great movie!I've seen many versions of "Tom Sawyer" but this one seems to be the best ever brought to the screen. Maybe because it's a musical. Whatever made this so successful back then you will not be disappointed by it's gradure and scope. A must for ever American kid and adult too. This is as red, white and blue as it gets and now must be the most politically incorrect movie ever made. (hehe) Buy it before some group puts a ban on it. Which should want you to buy this for the kids even more. They don't make them like this anymore.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Film For a Young Boy..., November 28, 2001

By 

C. Hurt (orlando, florida United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Tom Sawyer [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I was seven years old when I first saw this film in a theatre in 1973. I never forgot it. Regardless of what the "high-brow" literary-types say about the screenplay abandoning Twain's original story, this is a terrific film for the young boy in your life who's beginning to notice the wonder of the world around him.

As for the music, I don't think you could ask for more than the Oscar-winning duo who provided the tunes for most of Disney's movies for years, Richard and Robert Sherman.

Then there's the film's cast, most of whom have gone on to bigger and better things: Remember 'Sgt. Hulka' from "Stripes"? or Jeff East who plays Huck? Not to mention little Jodie Foster. It's worth buying the film just to see them when they were younger...

Truly a great film with all the mischief and awe and fun that a young boy dreams of enjoying before he's forced to grow up!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Energetic, sunny adaptation, November 30, 2003

By 

Dennis Deems (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tom Sawyer [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Made at a time when the inclusion of songs was all but compulsory for a family film, this musical adaptation nonetheless manages to translate the best aspects of Twain's book to the screen. The movie does an impressive job of creating a dramatic shape out of Twain's material. The book is a collection of episodes which form a composite portrait of Tom's character, and, for adult readers, offer a glimpse into a lost world; but there really is no narrative drive. The murder and Tom's subsequent dilemma about testifying in court are simply two episodes unconnected to the other events. In the book, the boys simply decide one day to form a gang of robbers and go live on the island. In the movie, the retreat to the island arises out of the boys' fear after having witnessed the murder, and it is only the guilt they feel while spying on their own funeral that makes them return home. The songs are not especially memorable, but harmless enough. The performances by the supporting adult cast are strong, particularly that of Celeste Holm as Aunt Polly. A splendid scene at the dinner table is a masterful fleshing-out of Twain's prose. Full of nice photography and beautiful scenery, this movie sparkles with joy and youthful optimism.