The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Synopsis
Mark Twain’s roguish boy hero Huck Finn came to the screen in 1939, as MGM presented its adaptation of the author's classic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Roguish boy star Mickey Rooney took on the title role, a perfect fit for the Andy Hardy star.

Twain’s story chronicles the adventurous journey of Huckleberry Finn and his friend Jim, a runaway slave, in the mid-19th-century American South. Huck runs away for two good reasons: 1) He can’t stand the smothering attention of his guardian, widow Douglas, and 2) He fears the wrath of his wicked Pap.

Huck and Jim float down the Mississippi on a homemade raft, encountering no small share of trouble on the way. Some of that trouble comes in the form of con men “The King” and “The Duke,” who get Huck and Jim mixed up in their schemes. Later, when Jim is arrested for Huck’s murder (the boy is still in hiding), young Huck must decide whether to save his friend or protect himself.

The novel was an adventure story with deeper issues of race and loyalty. MGM’s version stayed fairly close to Twain’s original, with strong performances from Rooney and from Rex Ingram as Jim to cement the relationship between the two.

The film performed well in theaters, and in the 1960’s, a thirty-minute version was released to schools, helping introduce thousands of schoolchildren to the escapades of these classic characters.

Release History 1939 - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Sub Categories live-action
action/adventure
drama

Studio MGM

Cast

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