1974 film by J. Lee Thompson
Huckleberry Finn is a 1974 musical film version of Mark Twain's 1884 novel "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".
The movie was produced by "Reader's Digest" and Arthur P. Jacobs (known for his role in the production of the "Planet of the Apes" films) and directed by J. Lee Thompson. It stars Jeff East as Huckleberry Finn and Paul Winfield as Jim. The film contains original music and songs, such as "Freedom" and "Cairo, Illinois", by the Sherman Brothers: Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman.
This film followed the previous year's highly successful "Tom Sawyer", based on Twain's 1876 novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer", also produced and written by the same team and starring East in the role of Huckleberry Finn.
Synopsis.
Huckleberry Finn (Jeff East) is a boy from Missouri 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.
Production.
The film was a sequel to "Tom 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 on "Huckleberry Finn". The director was J. Lee Thompson, with whom Jacobs had worked several times, most recently on two "Planet of the Apes" films.
Paul Winfield said he would only agree to the movie if the producer and director would guarantee there would be no "singing slaves". ""Gone with the Wind" was one of the traumas of my life," said Winfield.
Like "Tom Sawyer", the film was shot in Arrow Rock and Lupus, Missouri. It was also shot in Natchez, Mississippi. Filming started 18 June 1973.
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.
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 by Winfield of the local police was "abominable" and that "I would never encourage a company to come to Natchez again." 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.
Director J. Lee Thompson had problems with the synchronized musical direction. The third major problem was the unfortunate timing of writer Robert B. Sherman's knee operation.
Roberta Flack sang "Freedom" but insisted on having a guitar backing to her recording. She later threatened to sue if the original cast album was released with a dominant orchestral backing, and so 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.
Songs.
The songs and score were written by the Sherman Brothers. 
Reception.
The "Los Angeles Times" called it "hardly unpleasant but it is surprisingly dull." The "New York Times" called it "a lavish bore".
References.
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