Perhaps the only exception to this streak of bad luck was Ann Gillis (Becky Thatcher) who found herself always in demand to portray a screen brat. Immediately afterwards, Moran's career plummeted into oblivion. Jackie Moran (Huckleberry Finn) soared briefly higher towards elusive stardom when he was cast as the energetic sidekick of Buster Crabbe in a "Buck Rogers" (1939) serial. David Holt (Sid) spent his early life as a child actor in poverty as he, much like Tommy Kelly, waited for star-making film roles which never came. Remarkably, the numerous child stars in this film were destined for unhappy lives. Australian-native May Robeson, who portrays Aunt Polly, is able to make smooth, believable transitions from harsh severity to tender leniency as the script demands. Brennan seems to infuse a perpetual helplessness in his inebriated character that epitomizes the small town bum of a forgotten America Jory makes Injun Joe the personification of evil and a red-faced Howlin is superlative as an authoritarian teacher who makes the audience cringe when he canes Tom. The grade-A performances of Walter Brennan as the likable Muff Potter, a make-up smeared Victory Jory as the menacing Injun Joe and Olin Howlin as the violent schoolmaster are highlights of the film. It is in the supporting characters, however, that this film truly shines. After watching this film and re-reading Twain's novel, it is impossible to remove the image of Tommy Kelly from one's mind as he or she remembers Sawyer's antics. His winning smile, visible freckles and bright eyes encapsulate the literary character to a tee. For the older generation of film aficionados, child actor Tommy Kelly was the definitive Tom Sawyer. Its sole objective is to return us once more to the naivety of youth when our life was far simpler and, in many cases, far happier. The novel itself is entertainingly superior to Huckleberry Finn in its lack of a political agenda or societal commentary. The acting is first class the directing often innovative, and the whimsical screenplay is respectful of the novel. Luckily, 1938 rendition is one of the select few that do. There have been numerous film adaptations of Mark Twain's beloved story, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," but few capture the boyish wonder and childlike bliss which permeates the classic yarn.
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