The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939 Version) |
 |
This early version of Huckleberry Finn stars Mickey Rooney as Huck, however it vaguely followed the book, but it used actual quotes from the book! (there's a plus) It ignored the Family Feud in the book completely in fact it followed barely anything closely, but hey, at least it covered most of the Wilkes episode. Did I mention it stars Mickey Rooney?
However it had an awesome ending, Huck gets bit by a rattle snake, Jim takes him to a doctor, and Jim is arrested for murdering Huck. So Jim is taken back up the river where he stands trial for murder. Huck rushes back up the river in a steamboat, and in a crises moment Huck takes control of the Steering wheel, and comes up just in time to save Jim from an angry lynch mob of 1,000. Whew!
Stars: Mickey Rooney as Huck, Rex Ingram as Jim, and William Frawley (Fred Mertz from I Love Lucy) as the Duke. Directed by Richard Thorpe, made in 1939.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ( 1980's Version) |
 |
The movie started by quoting about 90% of the beginning paragraph, and that is roughly how close they cover the book, which it should, considering the movie takes roughly 4 hours. This version actually quotes the novel many times, which makes it cool, the only scene it misses is the Wilkes scene, where the Duke and Dauphin try and swindle the Wilkes daughters.
Patrick Day plays Huckleberry Finn, Saman-Art Williams plays Jim. The Movie was directed by Peter Hunt, and produced by Jim Iredale for American Playhouse Television show on PBS. Made in the 80's sometime.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960 Version) |
 |
This version gave a good effort to following the book, but well, to give you an example, take a deck of cards, shuffle them up, and that is what this movie did to the novel. It did it's own little twist on the Wilks, and at least made cameo appearances by the Shepardsons and the Grangerfords.
This version totally goes psychological too! This happens when Jim finds Huck's dead pap, and refuses to let Huck into the room. Huck persist in trying to get into the room, finally Jim pushes him violently away from the door, and Huck starts to cry and says, "Please don't hurt me....." real scary like.
Another cool scene happens just after the Duke and Dauphin take control of Huck's raft. The Dauphin successfully convinces Huck and Jim that they are the Duke and Dauphin, after doing so the Dauphin starts singing as says, "The world is full of suckers...."
But the fun of this version doesn't stop there, in the movie Huck becomes a cabin boy, steers the ship (Where we also get valuable tips in navigating the river) and the story continues where Huck joins a circus! (Buster Keaton plays a lion tamer) eventually Huck convinces the sheriff that the Duke and Dauphin are abolitionist, and also free's Jim into the free states! What an Exciting ending! Wait..... that's not in the book.
|
Lousy Job: Movie just uses book's name |
 |
OK. job: Book is partly followed |
 |
Good Job: Most of the book is followed |
 |
Perfect Job: Movie can be used in place of book |
