Customer Reviews

Tom Sawyer

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

The advertisment for this DVD on Amazon was incorrect. The ad stated that the DVD was in Wide Screen Anamorphic format. The DVD was not in this format, it was standard Pan and Scan, and it was a poor quality transfer from the film. I thought about returning it, but decided to give it as a gift. Motion Pictures that are filmed in anamorphic, or 2.35 to 1 format should only be transfered to a DVD in this format. The people that make the decision to use pan and scan to fill a standard television are ill advised, and poorly educated to artistic principles.

I just re-watched this film and wow, what a treasure of a film!

With songs written by the famous Sherman Brothers (the brilliant Disney songwriters who did "Mary Poppins" et al.) and the charm of Johnny Whitaker as Tom Sawyer (1970's tv show"Family Affair") this is the best version of the classic Mark Twain tale I've ever seen on film. You really feel like you're right there in Hannibal, Missouri.

Great casting all the way around and a fantastic musical as well.

I originally saw this when I was about nine and it completely caught my imagination both then and now. I'd never forgotten several catchy songs from the film, such as "Free Bootin.' Great stuff all the way around.

My only complaint is that this film is not currently available on DVD, as I'd love to see and hear this treasure of a film in full visual and audio clarity.

MGM issued this on laserdisc a few years back in letterbox format, and an audio commentary track with Johnny Whitaker. It takes them THIS long to get the movie out on DVD, and when they finally do they use a PAN & SCAN transfer, and don't include the commentary track! Thanks for nothing MGM, time to hunt down that laserdisc.

Although this movie has a town drunk in it, there is no swearing. It's just an old-fashioned movie that shows my kids of days when life was much slower paced. I loved this movie when I was a kid and now my kids love the adventure. There are a couple mildly scary parts, but once the kids learned what happened, they were no longer scared.

According to a scan of the DVD's back, this film is NOT letterboxed, but Pan & Scan. SHame on MGM, what they did to "Hawaii" earlier this year, they are doing to this title.

Just as many other reviewers have criticized MGM for this poor release, I will add my own. This is a great family film. It carries a top notch cast with Johnny Whitaker, Celeste Holm, Warren Oates, Jeff East, and Jodie Foster in one of her breakout films of her career!
MGM released this on Laserdisc in the 80's. That transfer was great for the limited medium of the laserdisc. It did include the original overture, and "exit music. It was also presented in the wide screen format. With the DVD format able to present programs with many different formats, why MGM pulled this transfer for release on dvd boggles the mind. I attempted to write emails to MGM home video to express my feelings about this release, however, no reply.
As a film, it is top notch entertainment. Filmed on location on the Mighty Mississippi River, I give the film 4 stars. This poor transfer is what is rated here. The film makers deserve much better, Especially Don Taylor and the cinematographer Frank Stanley. The Laserdisc transfer did have the film's audio remixed into stereo, as well as updated color restoration. It would be great to see this film transferred into wide screen, and "re-mastered" for the new dvd formats available. Ironically, cable network Turner Classic Movies broadcast this movie in the wide screen format (July, 2010).
The question as to who to write to is confusing. MGM/UA home video is distributed by 20th Century Fox Video, but they still keep the release label under the MGM/UA label. If anyone wishes to start "talking" with customer service here is the phone number....

FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR COMPLAINTS REGARDING MGM DVD RELEASES, CUSTOMERS (IN THE U.S. AND CANADA) MAY CALL 888-223-2369

Peace everybody!

I won't add much to the other reviews. But Jody Foster is quite cute as Becky Thatcher. Although the lovely songs are by the Sherman brothers, the incidental music is by some guy named John Williams - one of his early efforts. Completists might want to make a note of that. Therefore the music played when Tom is running through the field (mentioned in another review) is John Williams'.