Purists of Mark Twain will find fault with this adaption of Huckleberry Finn, but I like it and I think it captures the charm of Mark Twain and perhaps the lessons he was trying to teach.

Because the two are on screen for nearly the whole time, the actors playing the  parts of Huck and Jim have to be good. Archie Moore who was the reigning Light Heavyweight Champion when this was made delivers a great performance as the runaway slave Jim as does Eddie Hodges as Huck. Probably the most riveting performance in this film is Neville Brand as Huck Finn’s Father.

He’s as bigoted and narrow-minded man. In fact MGM put together an excellent supporting cast –  Eddie Hodges and Archie Moore. Tony Randall and Mickey Shaughnessy as con men King and Duke are a joy to watch.

I had not realised until I saw the poster above the veteran actor Finlay Currie the Scottish born actor was in this one as were Buster Keaton and Andy Devine.