Python Hyena The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960): Dir: Michael Curtiz / Cast: Eddie Hodges, Archie Moore, Tony Randall, Patty McCormack, Neville Brand: Family adventure about desires seen through our imagination. Young Huck Finn goes a step further when he fakes his own murder to escape his abusive drunken father but when their black slave Jim is suspected Finn takes him along. From there it is a series of events involving a steamship, a circus and a couple of thieves. Families will likely enjoy its charm but the ending is sudden and unsatisfactory. Director Michael Curtiz achieved stardom with Casablanca but his family films are lacking in the screen writing department. This film along with The Adventures of Robin Hood are well made but exist more for production than writing talent. Eddie Hodges as Finn is bumped about through numerous subplots along with Archie Moore as the loyal slave Jim. Both performers are charming and rise above plot conventions. The supporting work from the likes of Tony Randall and Patty McCormack are saving graces in an otherwise lukewarm story build around useless subplots. There is much that doesn't play into a realistic set of events, which results in shabby screen writing. Strong themes regarding adventure, courage, persistence, and friendship make this worthwhile fine viewing for families. Score: 7 / 10

kirk_bones From the opening scene of the sun setting over the Missisippi,this film takes you on a magical adventure that will stay with you long after the final credits roll.Eddie Hodges is perfectly cast as young Huckleberry Finn who sets off to find adventure along the Mississippi. He is joined by Jim,Archie Moore, a runaway slave who wants to get to the free lands and become a free man. This movie is filled with classic supporting characters from two con men who want to rob the rich to line their own pockets to a circus owner who paints a donkey black and white to make a fake zebra. There are many classic scenes,almost too many to mention, so i will name the most memorable.They include Huck and Jim finding the reason for feuding,Huck dressing up as a girl to rescue a captured Jim and Huck passing off Jim as the emperor of Patagonia. This film is also filled with beauty ,physical and spiritual including the two friends sitting on their raft talking about sin while looking at the stars . The thing that overrides the whole movie though is the vibrant colour that brings out the beauty of the river. At the end of this film you would have to have a heart of stone not to shed a tear as the adventure comes to an end. It may have a happy ending but hey don't we all deserve a happy ending. My score has to be 10/10

bkoganbing Purists of Mark Twain will find fault with this adaption of Huckleberry Finn, but I like it and I think it captures the charm of Twain and the moral lessons he was trying to teach.Small town America, it's strengths and weaknesses is a subject done to death in novels, plays and film. I myself just did a review of This Boy's Life which has some of the same themes as Huckleberry Finn. Hannibal, Missouri of the 19th century sure had more charm than Concrete, Washington of the 20th century. Yet Eddie Hodges as Huck Finn had to leave it to fulfill his destiny as surely as Leonard DiCaprio had to leave Concrete.In fact the most riveting performance in this film is Neville Brand as Huck Finn's Pap. He's as bigoted and narrow-minded, though more explicitly racist than Robert DeNiro in This Boy's Life. Today we would call someone like Neville Brand, trailer park trash.Because the two are on screen for nearly the whole time, the players essaying the parts of Huck and Jim have to be good and have good chemistry. Archie Moore who was the reigning Light Heavyweight Champion when this was made delivers a great performance as the runaway slave Jim. As does Eddie Hodges as Huck. One theme of Twain's that remains intact is Huck's growth as a human being after being thrown together with Jim who he now sees as a person instead of property. In fact MGM put together an excellent supporting cast for tyro players Eddie Hodges and Archie Moore. Tony Randall and Mickey Shaughnessy as con men King and Duke are a joy to watch. The whole movie is.

Richard Maurer (ram-30) From the man who directed "Casablanca" and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" comes a colourful, humorous video version of Mark Twain's timeless novel. The casting is superb. It's hard to think of any other actors from the early 1960s in these roles, they are so well chosen. Especially impressive is pro boxer Archie Moore as Jim. His scene where he's talking about his deaf child is heart-wrenching, quite a feat for a cross over athlete. The child actor who plays Huck is very good as well. My honourable mention goes to Tony Randall and Mickey Shaughnessy who make a great comedy team as the King and the Duke. They are simply hilarious. Although many of Twain's adventures are deleted, most of the better known and interesting characters and scenes are included. Many of these characters are played by Hollywood legends like Sterling Holloway(the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Jiminy Cricket), Judy Canova, John Carradine, Neville Brand, and Buster Keaton. All in all, a highly recommended family film.