Classic Movies - Fabulous Films of 1939: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Today, let’s talk Classic Childhood Movies - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn! While his good buddy, Judy Garland, brought the fictional character of Dorothy Gale to life in MGM’s 1939 release of The Wizard of Oz, Mickey Rooney brought another beloved childhood favorite to the screen that same year with MGM’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Based on the character created by Mark Twain, the red-haired Rooney was perfectly cast as the barefoot, pipe-smoking, raft-riding imp of the Mississippi.

As a boy who has no use for civilized living, Huck Finn is forever trying to escape the “reforming clutches” of the good-intentioned Widow Douglass (Elizabeth Risdon). He is also driven to fake his own death to elude the drunken brutality of his own “Pap” (Victor Kilian). Together with runaway slave, Jim (Rex Ingram), Huck sets sail from northern Missouri on a never-to-be-forgotten raft ride down the mighty Mississippi in an endeavor to reach Cairo, Illinois and freedom for Jim. Along the way, Huck and Jim encounter many interesting, often shady, characters such as the King (Walter Connolly) and the Duke (William Frawley) who force them (by threat to turn Jim in) to assist in various cons involving the local inhabitants at different ports of call. (Rooney, disguised as a girl trying to thread a needle, is priceless.)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a wonderful motion picture and Mickey Rooney is amazing in the role. We understand that MGM actually bought the rights to Twain’s novel specifically for Rooney. Although the book and film may be considered childhood classics, some serious issues such as slavery and the rights of man are dealt with in the story. As Huck discovers on the journey, Jim is not just a piece of property to be bought and sold, but a human being with thoughts and feelings. This film does a lovely job in displaying the regard and respect the two traveling companions come to have for each other. We highly recommend this classic movie to young and old alike. It is timeless and another Fabulous Film of 1939.

**Trivia Question for Today: Although Huckleberry Finn’s hometown is given the fictional name of St. Petersburg in the novel/film, what is the name of the actual Missouri town that was Mark Twain’s inspiration for his Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer stories?

Trivia Answer for Previous Post: The Return of Frank James (1940) was the sequel to Jesse James. It picks up where the other one left off. Henry Fonda reprises his role as Frank James. The film also stars Gene Tierney, John Carradine, Henry Hull, and Jackie Cooper.