Original subtitles

(bright music)

♫ Now listen here folks, my name is Tom Sawyer

♫ I don't wanna be no doctor or no lawyer

♫ Fishing by the river that's the only place to be

♫ I wanna be free, sitting under a tree, that's me

♫ These are the stories of Tom Sawyer

♫ Me and Huck Finn just playing by the river

♫ Chasing that steamboat

♫ Teacher let me be

♫ I wanna be free, sitting under a tree

♫ That's me

(playful music)

Many's a day I'd be sitting in our schoolhouse

just counting the minutes

'til the bell rang out sweet liberty

and we'd all head outta there like a swarm of bees.

Yee-haw.

- [Boy] Where we going Tom?

(kids all talking at once)

- Hey you guys, come on, follow me.

- [Boy] Hold up Tom.

You got a head start on us.

- [Boy] Last one there's a rotten egg.

- I was leading 'em all down to the banks

of the Mississippi.

(kids all talking at once)

I was hoping we might spy a steamboat passing by.

(kids laughing)

Hey, steamboat coming.

(kids exclaiming)

- [Boy] That's the River Queen heading for Quincy.

- You're sure enough right Ben,

and she's loaded with cargo.

- Yeah, and I heard she's gonna dock

and load up with a lot more cargo tonight after dark.

Then she'll cast off and be on her way again,

long before sunup.

- How do you know that?

- 'Cause a river man came into my daddy's shop

and told me so.

- So, we could all get

an up close look see at her then, huh?

- [Group] Um hmm.

- You wanna do it?

- [Group] Um hmm.

- You know what, I figure I might just sneak on board

that River Queen and take me a tour

of everything that's on her.

- [Group] Hmm?

- T'ain't hard at all.

Lessen you're afeared.

You boys feel up to it?

- [Boys] Huh?

- Well I sure wanna go along with ya

and that's a fact.

- We're agreed then.

And anybody who don't meet me on the dock at midnight

is a yeller dog.

- I'll be there Tom. - I'll be there for sure.

- This'll be a grand adventure.

- It sure enough will Tom. - You can count on me Tom.

(bright music)

(suspenseful music)

- Quiet.

(clattering outside)

- Huh?

Who's there?

- Meow.

- Oh, so it's just you Peter.

- [Tom] Anytime you've got sneaky business to do,

you can't find a better accomplice than a cat.

- Hey Ben, where are you going son?

- Oh well I was just gonna, uh.

- Those clothes aren't for wearing at bedtime.

- I just thought I'd, uh.

Oh, um.

- Ben!

I think you're half asleep son.

I think it's a good thing I caught you when I did.

Now you get on upstairs to bed boy.

- Yes sir, Pa.

(bright music)

Well goodnight.

- And don't forget to get undressed.

Do ya hear me?

- [Ben] Yes sir.

- [Boy] Oh.

- 'Course I didn't know about these goings on.

So at the stroke of midnight I was down at the dock

waiting for the others to show up.

Like Ben said, the crew of the River Queen

was spending the night loading cargo,

preparing to cast off at the break of dawn.

Hmm, I reckon they ain't gonna show up.

Well, this'll just be a one man adventure.

(tense music)

- Coming aboard.

(bright music)

(Tom exclaims)

- [Men] Huh?

Hey!

- There's something under there.

Looks like we've got a stowaway.

Come outta there boy.

Got him.

Well now. - You brat.

- What you trying to do here boy?

- Yeah. - Steal something

offa this here boat?

- Now you get off this boat and stay off.

And if you come 'round again it's into the river with ya.

Get!

(exclaims)

- Howdy Tom.

- Howdy Huck.

What are you doing down here so late?

- Setting some drop lines for catfish.

Over yonder's a good hole.

All kinds of fish just for the taking.

You've been on a trip?

No, hey, you in the mood for an adventure?

I'm planning to sneak on board the River Queen

and do some exploring.

- Really?

- Yeah.

Wanna join me Huck?

- Yeah, well what about all them catfish?

- They'll keep.

Now what you say we steal aboard this here paddle boat

and have us a good old time?

- [Man] Hey!

- [Both] Huh?

- You boys get on home or I'll whoop the both of ya.

- We were just gonna leave anyway.

Huck come on.

- Confound those mischief makers.

- [Man] Hey, have you men fished loading yet?

- [Man] We'll be finished in a minute Captain.

- [Captain] Well, be quick about it.

- [Man] Yes sir.

(suspenseful music)

- As the saying goes,

there's more than one way to skin a cat.

And there's more than one way

to sneak on board a steam boat.

- [Huck] Look, he's firing up the beacon lights.

Now's our chance Tom.

- Yep.

- You go ahead and take a quick look see Tom.

I'll stay here and keep a sharp look out.

- Huh?

What you talking about?

You come this far, don't you wanna look around?

- Nah, you go ahead.

I don't wanna get caught.

- Come on, don't worry so much.

You stick with me

and I'll guarantee you're not gonna get caught.

Huh?

Here comes somebody.

Hurry, let's hide behind these cotton bails.

(Huck grunts)

- Hmm? (Huck gulps)

Just a catfish.

- [Huck] Aw shucks Tom, I lost the boat.

- [Tom] Don't fret about it Huck, we can always swim back.

Now come on.

Follow me.

- [Man] We finished loading in the stern, Captain.

- Look.

They must be heating up the boilers to leave.

Huh?

Who are they?

- Yeah, them's the stokers.

They're plumb tuckered out

from having to stoke the boiler with wood all day long.

- Hmm, they must be tired.

Hey!

Rock candy.

That ain't sugar, it's salt!

Blech.

- The stokers have to eat a lotta salt

on account of they sweat so much.

- You're a lot smarter than I thought.

- Um hmm. (laughs)

Say, let's take a look over yonder.

- Alright.

- Hold it Tom.

Those stairs there lead to the upper deck.

Whoa.

- I admire your skill in dodging that sandbar earlier.

But you know we still have

the rapids of Alabam a head of us Brad.

- [Brad] I can handle it captain.

- Um boy, I'm hot.

- That's 'cause we're under the boiler.

- [Brad] Without those extra stokers feeding the boiler,

we'd most likely scrape bottom.

We have to keep the old girl running at full speed

or else we get stuck on the shoals

and that could spell shipwreck.

Just like the old Brandywine.

You remember that disaster don't ya Captain?

- [Captain] I most certainly do.

- We better be getting outta here pretty soon.

- Yeah, good idea.

Before we get barbecued.

- Right.

- [Captain] But Brad, you're a good pilot.

I trust your ability.

- Ah. - Ah.

- Boy, what a relief.

What'll we do now?

Ooo, look.

There's the pilot house.

Wow. - Say, I sure would

like to take a look on the inside.

- Well let's go.

- Um hmm.

(frenzied music)

- Hey, there's nobody there.

(boys laughing)

- [Both] Oh boy!

We made it.

- Wow.

- Pilot Huck, prepare the ship to get underway.

- Aye aye sir.

- Cargo's loaded and stowed away.

- Now take up the gangplank.

- Stoke the boiler and cast away.

All hands ready to clear port.

- Yes sir, ready to shove off.

- [Captain] Prepare to cast off.

- [Boys] Huh?

Did you say that?

- [Captain] Prepare to get underway.

(suspenseful music)

- Let's get.

(both exclaim)

Huck, they're here.

Get down.

Hide.

Here.

- [Captain] You take the wheel Brad.

- [Man] Ready to get underway.

Awaiting your orders Captain.

- We're ready.

So, tell me Brad.

Where's that young apprentice of yours.

- [Brad] Mike hasn't come back aboard yet.

St. Petersburg's his hometown. - Now's our chance.

- And he's most likely visiting some of his kinfolk.

I allows he'll be scurrying back any minute now.

Fact, I think I hear him coming sir.

(boys exclaim)

Now confound you Mike,

I told ya to get back here on time, didn't I?

You're never gonna get your river pilot's license

at this rate boy!

- I'm awful sorry.

- So you say.

Well sorry ain't gonna wash it next time

'cause you'll be through here.

You understand me boy?

- [Mike] Yes sir.

- Um hmm.

So did you get a chance to visit with your kinfolk?

- I, well I tried to but I couldn't sir.

- Umm, well now that is a shame.

Now you get back to work boy, we're shoving off.

- Yes sir!

Take off the gangplank.

Lift the anchor.

Take off the bombast.

- [Captain] Take her out Brad.

(bell tolls)

- Huck, we're leaving port, what should we do?

- Dogged if I know.

- [Captain] Slow astern and steady.

- [Mike] Go astern a slow speed.

- [Captain] Left 30 degrees at the port paddle.

- [Mike] Stop the port paddle.

- [Captain] Okay, you can stop the starboard paddle now.

- [Mike] Stop the starboard paddle.

- [Captain] Retermit ships and ahead at speed number two.

- [Mike] Ahead at speed two.

- We're gonna have to swim back, Huck.

- [Huck] If we can ever get outta here.

(pensive music)

- [Tom] And so we left home behind us.

- Rapids of Alabam are coming up.

Here's where you need your skill Brad.

I'm going below now.

- [Brad] Listen Mike.

- Yes sir?

- What are you gonna use as a guide over all rapids?

- Well sir I turned bow to plum point

and the stern to crow rock.

- Hmmph, but you ain't gonna be able to see

the shore clear enough at nighttime.

Better check them notes I gave ya boy.

- Oh it says here advance along at four fathoms,

stay that deep and starboard the helm.

When it goes to three fathoms deep

while headed towards plum point

- [Brad] You're sure of that now?

- Yes, Mr. Brick.

- [Brad] Alright then, cast the lead.

- Yes sir.

Leadsmen, cast the lead.

- What's he mean cast the lead?

- It so's the captain'll know

how deep the bottom is.

Otherwise the boat's liable to get stuck up on the sandbar.

- Four fathoms!

Four fathoms.

- You know Huck, I'm almost positive

I know that feller Mike from somewhere.

- [Man] Four fathoms.

- Anyhow, his voice sure does sound powerful familiar to me.

I wish I could remember who he is.

- [Man] Three Fathoms

- The shape of the shallows has changed sir.

It should still be four fathoms.

- Glad to see ya taking good notice Mike.

The shallows musta changed shape

from the heavy rains this season.

So we're gonna have to change our course

as we're going through them rapids.

Remember, the Mississippi's always changing,

so's in a case like this, you really better know

how to read from the surface of the water.

Now you take a good hard look out there.

See that bright line of water?

Under that's a sharp cut reef.

If a boat runs against that line, it'll run aground.

You see there's a rapid current just on the other side

of that line.

So you gotta run the ship at a right angle to the reef,

then you cut over it at full speed.

And then the current'll push you right through.

Now get ready Mike, we're about to do it.

First stop the starboard paddle wheel.

- Stop starboard wheel.

- Turn the starboard wheel hard rocker.

- [Mike] Turn starboard wheel.

- Okay now, boiler room full steam ahead.

- Stoke the boiler, full steam ahead.

- [Brad] We need more steam, we're losing speed.

- [Mike] More wood.

Full steam ahead.

- Mike. - Yes sir.

- [Brad] You just learned a valuable lesson.

You learned to watch the surface of the water.

Sometimes it'll tell you 100 times as much

as that notebook in your hand.

Learn to read that surface like you'd read a book.

Understand?

- Yes sir.

- Now take the wheel.

It's a straight path from here.

No more shallows to steer through.

How time flies.

It's been three years since you joined up with us.

You were so skittish I didn't think you were gonna pan out.

You used to whine and whimper just like a baby.

But you've grown up considerable son,

and you'll make a fine pilot some day.

Yeah, you've come a long way.

And you've cut out all that sniveling.

- I got it.

Now I remember who he is.

- Do you remember a guy named Sniveling Mike?

He lived in St. Petersburg a few years back.

- Do I?

- [Brad] Well I'll leave it to you now.

I'm going below.

- Yes sir, Mr. Brick.

- I'm gonna tell him howdy.

I'm sure he'll remember me.

- You think he will?

- [Tom] Nobody can forget Tom Sawyer.

- [Huck] That's for sure.

(laughs)

- What?

- Hiya Mike!

(playful music) (Mike exclaims)

Remember me?

- What the?

Who are you?

- Come on now Mike.

It's Tom, member?

- Tom?

You mean Tom Sawyer?

Let go of me you prankster!

Oh why me?

- That's right, you always did call me a prankster.

That's 'cause I played so many tricks on him Huck.

- Yeah, you're the one who turned him into a sniveler Tom.

(laughing)

- Let's see if you're still ticklish Mike.

(laughing)

Goochie goochie goochie goo.

Goochie goochie.

I sure was proud that my old friend Mike

had become an apprentice pilot.

I figured me and Huck could learn an awful lot

about steamboating from him.

Mike obliged us by answering all our questions.

- Starboard, that's this way.

- [Tom] Let's see, this way?

- Yeah.

- [Huck] Give her a try Tom.

- [Tom] Okay.

- Okay, that's enough.

- That's hard.

- Hey, what's these things do Mike?

- Those are voice tubes.

You yell in those to be heard down below.

Hey!

Stop that.

Just look at that river down there.

You see?

- Yep. - Uh huh.

- You got to read that water like a book.

The surface water can tell ya which way the current flows.

- [Tom] Really?

Golly.

- For instance. - Yeah Mike.

- You see that bright line of water there?

Under that's a sharp cut reef.

- [Tom] Yeah, I can see it.

- [Huck] It's sure shining purdy.

- And if you run against that line you'll run aground.

(exclaims) What am I saying?

- [Tom] What's wrong?

- Whoa.

Leadsman cast the lead.

Hop starboard or she'll run aground.

Whoa!

(boys exclaiming)

Oh no, the reef is following us.

Somebody help me.

- Mike, what in blazes happened?

- I saw a black water line.

A sharp cut reef sir.

And I-- - Idiot!

I told you were were out of the shallows.

That's nothing more than wind reef boy.

- Sorry sir.

- [Brad] And who in tarnation are you two?

- [Boys] Huh?

- [Mike] They're just friends from my hometown sir.

- [Brad] Stowaways.

- What's wrong?

(boys exclaiming)

Who in blazes were they?

- [Brad] Stowaways Captain, don't let 'em get away.

- [Captain] Right.

(frantic music)

- Whew.

- [Captain] Why you.

- [Brad] Come back here you little rabscalions.

Hey. - Come here you.

- [Captain] Settle down now.

You really like to play tag.

Gotcha.

Hold it up. - Gotcha.

(men exclaiming)

Come back here!

(boys exclaiming)

- Huck, where are ya Huck?

Hey! - I'm okay.

- Hey, what's that line?

- Why that's a raft ain't it?

- I think you're right.

Say Huck, if we can catch a ride on that raft

we could get back to St. Petersburg by morning.

- Yeah, let's go. - Alright.

(bright music)

The raftsman turned out to be a right friendly feller.

And he took us on board.

Me and Huck was plumb tuckered out from our swim

and we fell asleep right away.

By daybreak the raft was approaching St. Petersburg.

- I reckon this must be it.

Hello, hey.

You on the dock there, fisherman.

- [Fisherman] What say?

- [Raftsman] What's the name of that town?

- Why this here's the city we call St. Petersburg, partner.

- Do you know a young boy name of Sawyer?

- [Fisherman] Reckon I do.

Young rascal by the name of Tom.

He lives here with his aunt, Ms. Polly Sawyer.

- Thank you kindly.

Appreciate your help.

Alright boys you're here now.

Better wake up.

Come on boys, it's time to rise and shine.

You've made it to St. Petersburg.

- [Boys] Huh?

- That's it over yonder ain't it?

- [Boys] Hey!

- Look at that would ya?

- We're home Huck.

Good old St. Petersburg.

Thank you for your help sir.

- Much obliged.

- You boys get on home to your families now.

And try and stay outta mischief from now on, you hear?

- We will, I promise.

- Bye now.

(bright music)

- We swam to shore and I got back just in time for school.

Lucky for me Aunt Polly thought I spent the night in bed.

At recess I gathered all my classmates around me

and told them about the grand adventure they'd missed.

It goes without saying they was all green with envy.

Mike was the one who ran off from St. Petersburg

way back when and there me and Huck

was right up in the pilot house, big as you please.

The three of us navigating that river

like it was easy as pie.

(snoring)

Now I was ever bit as tuckered out as old Huck.

But you couldn't have paid me no amount of money

to be sawing logs like he was.

Because the very next best thing to having a grand adventure

is telling about it.

Why as long as there was a body left to listen,

I was ready to stay in that school yard

bragging if I never slept a wink again.

(bright music)

♫ These are the stories of Tom Sawyer

♫ Me and Huck Finn just playing by the river

♫ Chasing that steamboat

♫ Teacher let me be

♫ I wanna be free, sitting under a tree

♫ That's me (laughs)