MovieChat Forums > The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) Discussion > A Wonderful Film

A Wonderful Film

posted 16 years ago by Shadowman1
7 replies | jump to latest

*Spoilers*

My favourite movie of Hollywood's golden era - the film just never seems to grow old to me, and this is due largely to the acting of Tommy Kelly, who carries the movie gloriously on his young shoulders. His scenes with May Robson as Aunt Polly are unforgettably moving, particularly when after the boys have run away to be pirates, she believes he is dead and prays for his body to be found. What an incredibly moving scene that is, as he lays under the bed in tears, listening to her prayers for him.

Also, when Sid steals the sugar but it is Tom who is mistakenly punished for it by Aunt Polly - his feelings of being unloved by her are expressed so perfectly by Kelly and equally Aunt Polly's inner turmoil of knowing she is too harsh on him but that because she is afraid to show him any tenderness, she scolds him - Robson is wonderful in the film.

Tommy Kelly should have gone on to major stardom as an adult on the evidence of this movie, and sadly is yet another example of Hollywood letting a talented actor go to waste.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] specterman 13 years ago

I know we like to root for Tom and hate his cousin Sid. But remember Tom was the biggest liar, conniver and thief in town. He bought and stole all the Red tickets he needed to win the Bible in Sunday School that he should have earned himself, conned a bunch of kid's to do all his work then take all the credit for it, let the entire town of Hannibal in deep morning thinking him and few of his friends were dead and kept bulling his cousin Sid.
I know no one is supposed to like Cousin Sid but he didn't deserve what happen to him in the end!

[–] leroykevin 11 years ago

Mister specterman, I know I'm going to sound like a troll, but with all due respect, ARE YOU NUTS? You make Tom sound like a juvenile delinquent. The only reason he "Bought and stole all the Red tickets he needed to win the Bible" was to impress Becky Thatcher, if it wasn't for her he couldn't care less whether or not he got a bible. Okay so he conned the kids into doing his work for him, he's a kid for crying out loud. I half agree with you about letting Hannibal think he was dead, but remember, he originally left a note for Aunt Polly to let her know he was alive, until he heard about the funeral. What about when Tom took the rap for Becky when she drew the picture of the teacher? Hell, when I was his age I wouldn't be so noble*
Now as for Sid, he was a spoiled little brat. He ratted out Tom for playing Hooky, gloated at Tom for having to white wash the fence, he made sure there was some made so Tom would HAVE to paint the fence. He damn near killed Tom by opening the gate when he was showing off for Becky.
This is the way I see the ending, Tom is a hero to the town Aunt Polly is so Proud that she is bragging that Tom will become President, then here comes Sid whining, crying, I think she just slapped Sid to shut him up for the moment, but I do agree that what Tom did to Sid at the end was uncalled for.

* Imagine Tom having to stay after School, looking out the window and seeing Sid and Becky walking arm in arm, both saying "Goodbye Tom"

[–] Jrdmln 9 years ago

I agree. It is a good movie. I think that it is the best movie version of Tom Sawyer. I wish that they still made movies like that.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

Tom was the hero in the end but it seems he got himself and others into the situations he later had to get them out of.

Sid was THAT kid but he got his cues for how to treat Tom from the adults including Aunt Polly. There were some things he did 'to' Tom or taunted him later but most often Tom got himself into trouble. Also, as you said of Tom, Sid’s just a kid too. As kids we all taunt and tease each other. Sid got his fair share from Tom too.

Woman, man. That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] nocomputer1962 9 years ago

I don't like Sid either, but the end of the movie suggests that the remainder of his childhood will be sheer hell, bullied by the town hero and slapped anytime he objects to it. A bummer of an ending, if you ask me.

[–] Rueiro 8 years ago

I totally agree.
Tom was a rascal with no malice, doing things with no intention to harm but just for fun. He was inventive and humorous, shared everything with his friends and got along with everyone. He saved a girl's honour by taking responsibility for her wrongdoing, testified in court so that an innocent man didn't end up in the gallows, and saved the little girl's life when they got lost in the cave.
And what did Sid ever do? NOTHING but whining, spying on Tom and then rushing to tell Aunt Polly so that he would be punished, and always playing the model boy, impeccably dressed in ridiculous suits, his hair neatly combed and not a speck of dust on his whole persona. Aunt Polly's pet, and the boy that any mother in town wished they had... It stinks. He has no friends because no normal boy can stand him, he plays dirty tricks on Tom and he is a dirty informer only because he is jealous of his brother and rotting with envy. He had been asking for a good slapping for years, and it served him well. Aunt Polly should send him to a boarding school or, even better, to a military academy... The rotten, pompous and insufferable little brat.