The 'Julia Belle Swain' is a steam-powered stern wheeler operating out of La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA as of 2015. Designed and built in 1971 by Capt. Dennis Trone, the 'Julia Belle' was the last boat built by Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works of Dubuque, Iowa. The boat's steam engines were built in 1915 by the Gillett and Eaton Company and originally installed on the central wheel ferryboat City of Baton Rouge. The engines have logged well over a million miles. The steamer was featured prominently in this movie (as the "River Queen") and in its sequel Huckleberry Finn (1974).
Originally developed at Warner Brothers who ultimately shelved the project. It was later picked up by Reader's Digest in conjunction with United Artists. This was to be the first film production from Reader's Digest in a quest to produce more family-friendly movies.
Actor Johnny Whitaker was a Mormon, which posed a problem for the scene in which Tom and Huck smoke a pipe, since tobacco was forbidden to Mormons. Instead, the pipe Tom and Huck smoke was filled with ground-up cabbage leaves.
Actor Johnny Whitaker revealed on the television series Oprah: Where Are They Now? (2012), episode: Spice Girl Geri Horner, Vee Jay Ed Lover & Family Affair Star Kathy Garver (2016), that he did not want to make Tom Sawyer, he wanted to go to summer camp instead. But his parents made him make the movie. They reached a compromise that he would shoot the movie for a few weeks and then go to camp. He said after shooting for 8 weeks he was picked up by a helicopter on location, and then flown to his summer camp. He said it was completely humiliating to have the entire cast of young boys see him fly off in this huge helicopter while everyone watched. Indeed the movie turned out to be a big deal; it did a decent box office, got great reviews and was nominated for a couple Oscars, and even spawned a sequel. But Whitaker said he still regrets not being able to spend all summer at camp.
Jeff East and Lucille Benson are the only actors who appear in this film and its sequel Huckleberry Finn (1974).