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| Huckleberry Finn | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | J. Lee Thompson |
| Written by | Robert B. Sherman Richard M. Sherman |
| Produced by | Arthur P. Jacobs |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | László Kovács |
| Edited by | Michael F. Anderson |
| Music by | Songs: Richard M. Sherman Robert B. Sherman Score: Fred Werner |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 118 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Huckleberry Finn is a 1974musical film version ofMark Twain's 1884 novelThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
The movie was produced byReader's Digest andArthur P. Jacobs (known for his role in the production of thePlanet of the Apes films) and directed byJ. Lee Thompson. It starsJeff East asHuckleberry Finn andPaul Winfield asJim. The film contains original music and songs, such as "Freedom" and "Cairo, Illinois", by theSherman Brothers:Richard M. Sherman andRobert B. Sherman.
This film followed the previous year's highly successfulTom Sawyer, based on Twain's 1876 novelThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer, also produced and written by the same team and starring East in the role of Huckleberry Finn.
Huckleberry Finn (Jeff East) is a boy fromMissouri living with a kindly widow and her sister who has taken him in. One day his father (Gary Merrill), previously thought dead, shows up because he heard of treasure Huck had found. Huck's father essentially kidnaps the boy, wanting $1,000 for his safe return. Staging his own death, Huck escapes and meets up with the kindly slave Jim (Paul Winfield). Together they travel downriver, in search of Jim's freedom.
The film was a sequel toTom Sawyer, which was financed from United Artists and Reader's Digest. Even before that film had been released, producer Arthur Jacobs arranged for finance for a sequel based onHuckleberry Finn. The director wasJ. Lee Thompson, with whom Jacobs had worked several times, most recently on twoPlanet of the Apes films.[1]
Paul Winfield said he would only agree to the movie if the producer and director would guarantee there would be no "singing slaves".[1] "Gone with the Wind was one of the traumas of my life," said Winfield.[2]
LikeTom Sawyer, the film was shot inArrow Rock andLupus, Missouri. It was also shot inNatchez, Mississippi. Filming started 18 June 1973.[3]
Filming had only just began when Arthur Jacobs died of a heart attack in Los Angeles. Robert Blumofe was assigned to take over time. Filming resumed after the break of one day. Natalie Trundy, Jacobs' wife, had a role in the film and had to fly back to Los Angeles then return to location.[4]
Paul Winfield was arrested for possession of marijuana in his hotel room. (He claimed he had been sent it in the mail and was framed.) Thompson said the treatment of Winfield by the local police was "abominable" and that "I would never encourage a company to come to Natchez again."[1] This comment upset the Natchez media who wrote articles critical of Thompson. Thompson retracted his comments about the town but maintained the police had shown prejudice towards Winfield.[5]
Director J. Lee Thompson had problems with the synchronized musical direction. Another problem was the unfortunate timing of writer Robert B. Sherman'sknee operation.
Roberta Flack sang "Freedom" but insisted on having aguitar backing to her recording. She later threatened to sue if the original cast album was released with a dominant orchestral backing. Although the album was recorded and printed, it was never released.
Despite these setbacks, the film still achieved some success and some of the film's songs, including "Freedom", are still considered classics.[citation needed]
The songs and score were written by theSherman Brothers.
TheLos Angeles Times called it "hardly unpleasant but it is surprisingly dull."[6] TheNew York Times called it "a lavish bore".[7]