Friday, January 14, 2011

Radio review – CP#54 – “Huckleberry Finn” (1940) ***

Charming version of the classic tale, with Orson Welles thankfully not playing the title role – that’s given to Jackie Cooper – although he does narrate some of it as Huck (they make a joke out of it, Welles joking: “see, I’m aware I have an ego but I'm pulling back - see, I can make fun of myself - see, see!”). He also pops up as a pompous actor, an entertaining section perhaps given a bit too much time in this adaptation in order to accomodate the star. It's still a fairly lively adaptation, another example of Welles' interest in Americana. Clarence Muse plays Jim.

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