Tom Sawyer

Being a TV movie, this naturally has a cheap look about it, especially given the fact that it was made in 1973. The two lead kids who play Tom and Huck fail to convey any real sense of mischief, charm or good-heartedness. Their performances are flat and uninspired. Huck Finn is presented in a far less rebellious/courageous way which removes much of his charm. Not that the adults fare much better. Ebsen seems to be sleepwalking through his role as the town drunk. McGiver overdoes it as the sputtering, fussy judge and Morrow, who's supposed to be Injun Joe, talks in an unintentionally funny accent and has bizarre make-up and costumes. At least the film is short and uses a narrator to ensure that no one gets lost. It was shot in Upper Canada Village which explains the presence of Canadian veteran Chris Wiggins and the young Sue Petrie, who had done a few soft core Canadian porn films before this. Stick with the musical version of Tom Sawyer which came out the same year.