Huckleberry Finn (1974)

In this delightful musical adaptation of Mark Twain s most famous novel Jeff East (Tom Sawyer) returns as the lovable scamp Huckleberry Finn while Oscar® nominee* Paul Winfield (Sounder) shows "considerable strength" (Cinema) as Jim the runaway slave who joins 15-year-old Huck for an unforgettable raft ride on the Mississippi River.Strong-willed and self-raised Huck decides to flee his hometown of Hannibal Missouri when his cruel absentee father tries to kidnap him. Accompanying him is the sharp-witted Jim who fears he is about to be sold. As this unlikely pair journeys north to freedom the two develop a bond of friendship and mutual respect that will help them brave a series of narrow escapes thrilling adventures and characters so colorful only Mark Twain could pen them!*1972: Actor SounderSystem Requirements:Running Time 114 MinsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating: G UPC: 027616927415 Manufacturer No: 1008750 Product Description

It's Huckleberry's Turn to Sing

After the success the Sherman Brothers had turning Mark Twain's classic Tom Sawyer into a musical, they set their sites on Huckleberry Finn. While it is enjoyable, it has some serious flaws as well.

The movie follows the story pretty closely. Huckleberry Finn (Jeff East) is being raised by the Widder Douglas (Lucille Benson). When his abusive Pappy (Gary Merrill) returns, Huckleberry decides to run away. He's joined by Jim (Paul Winfield), a slave who is running away to freedom before he can be sold. As they try to make it to freedom, they encounter two families caught in a feud and the conmen known as the Duke (David Wayne) and the King (Harvey Korman).

For the most part, the movie manages to capture the spirit of the book with the right mix of drama and comedy. The Duke and the King especially steal the show, and their songs are the most memorable. The rest of the songs are a mixed bag, nothing too exciting but nothing that horrid, either. My biggest surprise is that the ballad "Freedom" which starts the movie was more power on the reprise at the end than the first time it showed up.

The book is very episodic in nature, yet somehow manages to tie it all together. The movie never quite does that, however, really helping that feeling that few of these events aren't connected.

But the worst problem in my opinion is the ending. They leave out my favorite episode, the attempt to rescue Jim. In stead, they change the ending to make it bittersweet yet powerful. Still, I think the book's ending was better.

For those keeping track, Jim is still the real sympathetic character he is in the novel. But we do get a couple uses of the "N" word, which are fitting for the time period and the original novel.

This isn't really a bad musical, but it's not outstanding either. It's a good way to be introduced to a classic American novel, but it will never replace that work. June 2, 2008

these reviewers are retarded

Seriously, this is the best Huck Finn movie available. The songs are wonderful, the characters are interesting and funny, and the actors are tremendous. You get a true feeling of solidarity between Huck and Jim and if your like me then you might have a tear in your eye at the end.

The transfer is really good, but I did notice some video distortion (snowflakes) during the "a matter of honor" scene. If it didn't have the distortion and there was some special features I would have given it a 5 April 25, 2006

"Huck Finn" always a tough tackle on film

The musical version of Mark Twain's classic is enjoyable, but does not capture the depth of the book. Literary satire is hard to capture on film. The score is nice but actually seems uneven. Harvey Korman is fey beyond belief, but the rest of the cast does a nice job. Jeff East makes a great Huck. I wish East did more in the 1970's, except the young Clark Kent in "Superman". Paul Winfield is always great, and plods along with a simple script, unworthy of this great talents as an actor. The big disappointment is that MGM released this DVD in pan and scan. What's the point of DVD technology, especially with the growing number of widescreen TV's available today, to replicate what's already been done on VHS? I think it's pure laziness. Disney is doing the same thing to new releases like "Boatniks", and "In Search of the Castaways". That is a crime! Even laserdisc technology of 10 years ago had all this stuff in widescreen. Hopefully, MGM will get on the bandwagon soon! August 12, 2005

NOT PAN AND SCAN , AGAIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is wrong with MGM/UA ????? THIS WAS A PANAVISION FILM. THE LASERDISC WAS RELEASED IN LETTERBOX WITH THE OVERTURE. WHY IS THE DVD IN PAN AND SCAN, WITH THE OVERTURE CUT ?????? STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE. TRY TO LOCATE A COPY OF THE LASERDISC VERSION. IT SEEMS THAT MGM/UA USED TO GO ALL OUT ON LASERDISC, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO DVD, THEY SHORT CHANGE US !!!!!!! BAD CALL, MGM/UA!! August 5, 2005

BEWARE!! This DVD is NOT widescreen

According to a picture from the BACK OF THE DVD box, this and the musical of 1973's "Tom Sawyer," are PAN & SCAN. What MGM did to "Hawaii," they have done to "Finn" and "Tom Sawyer." I hope NO ONE BUYS THEM TO SHOW MGM! August 4, 2005

More reviews at Amazon.com ...