A screen adaptation of Mark Twain’s 1884 novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was announced as the next assignment for director William Desmond Taylor in the 25 May 1919 Camera. Principal photography was scheduled to begin at Morosco-Pallas Studios in Los Angeles, CA.
       On 14 Jun 1919, Moving Picture World reported the 2 Jun 1919 start of principal photography. That same day, Var erroneously stated that scenarist Julia Crawford Ivers was to have a featured role in the production. The 6 Jul 1919 Camera noted that actress June Delight had been cast in the role of “Susan Wilks.” According to the 2 Aug 1919 Motion Picture News, Taylor saved money on hiring background actors by substituting some members of “King Solomon’s harem” with cardboard cutouts of young women, placed strategically around the set.
       The 8 Jun 1919 Camera noted that the company was expected to begin location filming within the next several days. Two weeks later, the 22 Jun 1919 edition reported that the company was in Northern California, shooting scenes along the Sacramento River. The 12 Jul 1919 Motion Picture News later explained that filming had begun at Morosco, which experienced a significant increase in activity while the company was on location, necessitating the move to Lasky. The close of production was reported in the 13 Jul 1919 Camera. Taylor was currently traveling to New York City to direct a film for Realart Pictures Corp., starring Mary Miles Minter.
       Following Taylor’s return to Los Angeles, he spent approximately three weeks editing Huckleberry Finn, based on articles in the 29 Nov 1919 and 20 Dec 1919 issues of Motion Picture News.
       As the film’s release date approached, the 17 Jan 1920 Motion Picture News announced that distributor Paramount Pictures had completed a cross-promotional deal with publisher Harper & Bros. for a “photoplay” edition of the source novel, illustrated with scenes from the film. A first printing of 100,000 copies was planned.
       Huckleberry Finn premiered on 13 Jan 1920 at the Sherman Theatre in Chillicothe, OH, and at the Loring Theatre in Riverside, CA. Record-breaking attendance at the latter location was reported in the 31 Jan 1920 and 7 Feb 1920 issues of Motion Picture News. The promotional campaign in Chillicothe, targeting schools, farmers, and “city folk,” was considered a success, with schools closing early on opening day so that children could attend matinee screenings.
       A general release followed on 29 Feb 1920, preceded by openings at Grauman’s Rialto Theatre in Los Angeles during the first week of Feb 1920, and at the Rivoli Theatre in New York City during the final week. The latter venue hosted a free showing for 500 schoolchildren, according to the 6 Mar 1920 Exhibitors Herald. As stated in the 20 Mar 1920 issue, the Rivoli also staged a prologue depicting the Southern U.S. following the Civil War. An item in the 6 Mar 1920 Moving Picture News revealed that the Rivoli attracted approximately 10,000 paying customers on 22 Feb 1920; the affiliated Rialto Theatre, which was also showing the film, drew 9,840.
       According to the Feb 1921 Picture-Play, lead actor Lewis Sargent attended screenings of the film every day during its Los Angeles run, usually accompanied by “some young friend along to be impressed.”
       Huckleberry Finn garnered enthusiastic reviews, several of which highlighted Sargent’s naturalistic performance. The 10 Apr 1920 Motion Picture News reported that Mark Twain’s daughter, Clara Clemens, known at the time as Mrs. Ossip Gabrilowitsch, also heartily endorsed the film. A somewhat negative review in the Apr-May 1920 Motion Picture Classic complained that the screen version was “episodic and jumpy” because the scenarist “attempted to crowd too much of Twain into the photoplay.”
       The 12 Nov 1921 Camera noted that the picture was recommended by the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures for the upcoming nationwide event, “Children’s Book Week.”
       For information on other filmed versions of Mark Twain's novel, see the entry the 1960 M-G-M release, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.