Vintage Film Festival - Huckleburry Finn

Huckleberry Finn - (1939)

Cast

Mickey Rooney	Huckleberry Finn
Walter Connolly	The 'King'
William Frawley	The 'Duke'
Rex Ingram	Jim
Lynne Carver	Mary Jane
Jo Ann Sayers	Susan
Minor Watson	Captain Brandy
Elisabeth Risdon	Widow Douglass
Victor Kilian	'Pap' Finn
Clara Blandick	Miss Watson

Director: Richard Thorpe Trailer here

Review

By George Chabot

Recommended for family entertainment, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn showcases the talents of Mickey Rooney and shows why he has been such a beloved actor for so many years. In fact, Mickey Rooney has the longest career in film history, 81 years (1926 -2007) and still going strong.

Mickey Rooney stars as the title character, according to the book about 13 years old. Rooney was already past 18, but with his short stature and boyish face he looks exactly the part of young mischievous boy whom we see smoking his pipe and walking barefoot through the dust. When Huck gets home, that is, to the Widow Douglas' (Elizabeth Risdon) who has given him a home like the kindly soul she is, she presents Huck with a real Barlow knife, a present in anticipation for his promotion at school.

Huck neglected to tell the Widder that he had been playing hooky for quite a while and you can see his reluctance to take the knife as shame flickers across his features. Huck's clothing catches fire from a pipe he left smoldering in his pocket and he exits the room but the kindly widow gets him to confess and promise to stop smoking - and lying.

All of these plots suddenly become secondary because when Huck goes into his bedroom, his ne'er-do-well Pap (Victor Kilian) is waiting for him. The Widder hears the commotion as Pap busts the furniture up and Huck's Pap demands $800 compensation if she be allowed to keep the boy, else he will take him away. When Huck sneaks out later, Pap grabs him and takes him to his hideout and locks him in. Huck escapes when Pap locks him in for the day, but makes it look like he was murdered, escaping down the river in a canoe he found.

As Huck is hiding out on an island he comes across a sleeping Negro - Jim (Rex Ingram); the widow's slave has run off! Huck is all for turning Jim in so he goes into town dressed as a girl to scout the situation. He is surprised by a mob of men searching for the fugitive whom they believe murdered Huck! Driven by circumstances, the two decide to escape down the river on a raft Jim has salvaged. The rest of the movie plays out showing the adventures experienced by the fugitives as they pilot their way toward a free state for Jim and adult thinking for Huck. Both journeys come to satisfactory conclusions with plenty of fun and drama along the way.

Based on Mark Twain's book of the same name, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is as closely adapted as the time constraints and censorship would allow. The general substance of the novel is left intact with a few details changed for the sake of dramatic license; otherwise it is well adapted as my recent reading of the novel attests.

Mickey Rooney is perfect in his portrayal of Huck, with his mischievous ways and always with a twinkle in his eye. Rex Ingram makes a thoughtful Jim whose quiet dignity makes Huck learn to accept him as a man, not just a piece of property to be owned. As fine a morality play as it is, the supporting cast does a good job filling out the situations the two travelers find themselves in. There are the Widow (Elisabeth Risdon) and her Sister (Clara Blandick); the scalawags the Dauphin (Walter Connolly) and the Duke (William Frawley); Huck’s Pap (Victor Kilian); the Riverboat Captain (Minor Watson); and several other minor characters supporting Rooney, who carries the show mostly on his own and does it proudly. The direction and cinematography is not exceptional, but competent, by MGM journeyman director Richard Thorpe and cinematographer John F. Seitz (The Lost Weekend).Responsibility for the original music score rested with Franz Waxman.

The movie is quite funny and will become a favorite of the whole family with its wholesome characters and situations. The only downside to the storyline is it makes a lot of fun about smoking and lying, but it is very tongue in cheek, so I believe children realize it should not be done.