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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Overpriced, but Wonderful, if Fanciful Twain Biography...,
By
This review is from: The Adventures of Mark Twain (DVD)
1944's "The Adventures of Mark Twain" is, admittedly, available from another website for almost $10 less than here, but if you prefer purchasing from Amazon (as I usually do), this is a terrific film with a fascinating backstory!
Warner Brothers had high hopes with this lively film biography of America's most beloved author/humorist, casting Academy Award winner Fredric March in the lead. With a first-rate supporting cast (including Alexis Smith, Alan Hale, Donald Crisp, John Carradine as Bret Harte, and C. Aubrey Smith), strong production values, a flavorful Max Steiner score, and "Now Voyager" director Irving Rapper helming the production, the studio was confident the film would be a box office smash, and 'Best Picture' Oscar contender. Sadly, the film bombed! The fault wasn't with the production, or with March's performance (he is superb, unmatched in the role until Hal Holbrook's heavily researched portrayal, twenty years later). The problem was audience tastes, in the war year of 1944 (which saw Oscar winners Bing Crosby and "Going My Way" dominate the box office). Another major problem was the involvement of Samuel ("Mark Twain") Clemens' last surviving daughter, who had final approval on every aspect of the film. She was concerned that her father's depression and bitterness after the loss of his wife (he publicly proclaimed "There is no God" and denounced religion), would present a negative image, and demanded the story avoid any controversial aspects of his life. The result of her tinkering would be a film biography that strayed so far from Twain's actual life story that critics heavily panned it in their reviews, and audiences avoided it. The studio quickly pulled it from release (except for overseas markets), and wrote off the expensive production as a loss. With the passing of time, the film has gained greater appreciation, not as a biography, but as a very entertaining tale of life in 19th century America, as seen through the eyes of an American 'original'. Riverboats, the Civil War, the Wild West, the Age of Invention, touring the world as a humorist (to stave off bancruptcy), being honored at Oxford (an actual event that actor C. Aubrey Smith attended, as a boy), are lovingly recreated, laced with Twain's very funny observations and quips. It's a very enjoyable ride! Wherever you purchase it, you won't be disappointed!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
PLEASANT NOSTALGIA.,
This review is from: Adventures of Mark Twain [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Twain was someone who lived a full life in his 75 years. He was a Mississippi riverboat man in his early years, and he experimented with gold mining in California. As a writer of growing stature, he courted and won the well-bred Olivia Langdon who traveled with Twain around the world. Twain was in deep bankruptcy after publishing disasters and he became exhausted by work in order to clear his debts. Entertainment derives from Twain's epigrams and comments on humankind; in later years, he became a kind of performing pundit: rather like a nineteenth century version of Will Rogers. Fredric March gives a genuinely spendid performance as the beloved American writer who lived from 1835-1910. A trivia note: Because he was born while it was in orbit, Twain once remarked that he expected to "go out" with Halley's comet when it reappeared in 1910 - and - amazingly, he did! Warners tried to cover too much territory in this film; THE ADVENTURES OF MARK TWAIN were too many, and the picture is forced to montage too much of his life. What saves this film is the uncannily brilliant performance given by March. In the episodes showing him as the elderly Twain, March achieves a truly remarkable portrayal; he was indeed a dedicated and convincing actor!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Twain Bio for forties Hollywood,
By
This review is from: Adventures of Mark Twain [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I especially enjoyed the early scenes which were wonderful and seeing Twain on the riverboat was thrilling. For a forties Hollywood bio, this film does remarkably well. There are factual errors here and there but on the whole, it was a pleasant surprise to see that they got much of it right. I've read that his daughter Clara was a consultant on this movie. Of course it also contained a typically overly sentimental death scene which all films of that era included. I've only been able to see this movie on TCM. Unfortunately, it is unavailable on VHS or DVD.
I don't understand why they have recently issued the Max Steiner score on CD but the DVD is still not available!
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