The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.0

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 9, 2018

The marketing for 1938’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” promises a throwback viewing experience for audiences looking to detach from the hustle and bustle of the modern age. Producer David O. Selznick follows this mission in the film as well, opening with a quote from author Mark Twain, selected to remind ticket-buyers that the material is meant to evoke the mischief and raw emotion of childhood. Selznick orders up a highlight reel of Twain’s novel, but his intended tone carries throughout, delivering a spirited take on “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” that’s big on gesturing, reaction, and episodic tangles with authority and danger.

Young Tommy Kelly stars as the titular troublemaker in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” giving a pitch-perfect performance for Selznick, who demands this version of the iconic character be as bold and cheeky as possible, playing into a larger assembly of creamy Americana as the young rebel romps around his Missouri homeland. Kelly’s co-stars are equally enjoyable, creating a sense of movement to the storytelling, which bounces around Twain’s novel, offering an episodic but propulsive endeavor, and one that, true to its title, lays on adventuring thick. There’s the whitewashing scam and the pirate journey on a Mississippi River island, and more compelling are Tom’s tangles with crush Becky (Ann Gillis) and his dangerous encounters with Injun Joe (Victor Jory), with the knife-wielding antagonist representing the lone bit of connective tissue in “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” More emotional ties are showcased in Tom’s relationship with Aunt Polly (May Robson), but there’s a distinct flip-book feel to the movie, which isn’t always a bad thing, only failing to secure a more cohesive picture.

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is presented in two versions: a 1938 cut (90:42) and a 1954 Reissue Cut (77:03).

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Boasting a viewing experience "Beautifully restored in HD," "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" isn't exactly reference material to begin with. The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation does have its moments, offering the Technicolor production satisfactory color representation, giving the feature a warmer glow. The nostalgic construction of the picture is retained, with skintones also keeping their intended look. Detail is reasonably tended to, finding some wide shots loaded with small town decoration to study, and the rare close-up supplies real skin texture. Costuming also has its highlights, with period outfits maintaining their silky appeal and, for the main characters, rough rural wear. It's a softer looking effort, with some element instability due to age, leading to some warping. Delineation is adequate, with blacks sometimes on the milky side, exposing some stretches of macroblocking as the action enters the evening. Scratches and speckling are present.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is a basic assembly of dialogue exchanges which fight age, emerging through some mild muffling and hiss. A few lines of dialogue are difficult to catch along the way, but the majority of the listening event remains passably intelligible. Scoring isn't sharp, but orchestral bigness isn't lost, carrying the spirit of the picture. Sound effects, including gunshots, are acceptable.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• A Theatrical Trailer (2:15, HD) is included.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is entertaining and successful with its goal to be a grand reminder of free-range childhood, with Tom often pursuing every whim possible, getting into trouble and occasionally coming out a hero. Production achievements are top-notch, creating a memorable big screen vision of Twain's world, with the climatic encounter inside a system of caves a true achievement in set design, while rural events are properly represented with the rose-colored-glasses approach Selznick is demanding. "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" sticks with small dramatic goals, preferring to lead with technical achievements and big personalities, hoping to appeal to readers and newcomers with a heightened take on Twain's ode to the pleasures and peril of childhood freedom.