The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939)

Director:  Richard Thorpe
Cast:  Mickey Rooney, Walter Connolly, William Frawley, Rex Ingram

Y'know, ever since I read this book junior year of high school, I've wondered what kind of idiot hick would name their kid Huckleberry.  You all have probably read the book already (and if you haven't, why are you on the Internet?), so I'm not going to give you the plot because I don't tolerate and cannot stand lazy/failing students/people, and also because that is what the book is for.

REVIEW:  The first time I saw this movie, I was stricken by Mickey Rooney.  I love his Huck Finn, so innocent and charming to the naked eye, but mischievous, like the Huck in the novel, underneath.  Speaking of the novel, the movie follows it closely, which is rare of book-movie adaptations.  The characters, brought to life, are as funny and charming as they are in the book.  If you're one of those weirdos that finds this book/movie racist, yes it is slightly, but more importantly, it is one of the greatest American novels by one of the greatest American authors, and I highly recommend it.

Trailer:

Silent Sunday: The Racket (1928)

Director:  Lewis Milestone
Cast:  Thomas Meighan, Marie Prevost, Louis Wolheim

Welcome to another Silent Sunday!

PLOT:  Nicholas Scarsi and his gang are arranging a bootlegging scheme, and it is up to police captain James McQuigg to stop them.  A big shootout breaks out and the news gets to the papers, as always.  McQuigg arrests Scarsi's man, Chick, who looks absolutely scary.  Nick invites McQuigg to a party and a series of death stares ensue before a gunfight.  One man dies and Scarsi is searched and arrested by McQuigg.  Unfortunately, money was just as big an influence of whether a criminal should be released in the 20s as it is today, and Nick is released.  


Nick goes to Spike Corcoran's funeral.  Nick's brother Joe is picked up and so is a woman.  A bunch of problems arise which pressure the cops to release Joe, but they don't budge.  Nick comes to get the woman, Hayes, out, and instead finds himself at risk of being arrested.  Hayes tricks him into admitting he killed the man at the party.  He is questioned and refuses to answer.  He is shot when he tries to escape.       

REVIEW:  The opening credit music is very misleading; they sound like they're preparing you to watch a movie about 1776.  Honestly, they should've held off on making this movie until sound became a dominant staple in Hollywood, which would've been the next year, 1929.  I feel like I can't enjoy a gangster film unless it has sound.  This didn't even have the fast action that we associate with silents; it had all the features of a sound film.  The only really good thing about it is that the swearing and other gangster life amenities make it authentic. 2.5 out of 5 stars because it did have good action.    

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