Review of Huckleberry Finn

This was the third of William Desmond Taylor's trilogy of films celebrating the adventures of Mark Train's famous Mississippi River lads. "Tom Sawyer" (1917), with Jack Pickford in the lead, was the first success. As Mr. Pickford's delinquent friend Huckleberry "Huck" Finn, Robert Gordon shared the good notices and made critics' annual best supporting actor lists. The sequel "Huck and Tom" (1918) reflected this it its title, though the film covered further events in Tom's book. Two years later, the "boys" were even more obviously too old for the parts, so Mr. Taylor cast younger Lewis Sargent in the pivotal role...

Gordon is missed, but Taylor wins you over by the time Mr. Sargent battles his deliriously drunken father Frank Lanning, who was striking as "Injun Joe" in the previous movie; their well-acted cabin scene elevates the film. Also making good impressions are "dancing" George Reed (as Jim) and Gordon Griffith (as Tom). Beautiful young Esther Ralston (as Mary Jane) has true grit. Sneaky uncles Orral Humphrey and Tom Bates are a lesser emphasized Duke and King. A top production of its time, Taylor's "Huckleberry Finn" was rescued from degeneration and restored by the good folks at the "George Eastman House".

******* Huckleberry Finn (2/22/20) William Desmond Taylor ~ Lewis Sargent, Gordon Griffith, George Reed, Esther Ralston