Mark Twain - A Film Directed by Ken Burns

Starring:Keith David, Kevin Conway, Philip Bosco, Tim Clark, Blythe Danner, Carolyn McCormick, Amy Madigan, Cynthia Nixon, Hal Holbrook, Hamlin Hill, Jocelyn Chadwick, Jean Clemens, David Bradley (XI), Mark Twain, Arthur Miller, Laura Skandera-Trombley, Ron Powers, Chuck Jones, John Boyer (III), Shelly Fisher Fishkin
Director: Ken Burns
Studio: Pbs Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Given the legendary life of its subject, it's not surprising that Mark Twain is perhaps the most entertaining documentary Ken Burns has made. The creator of The Civil War and Jazz achieves reverent harmony with the magnificent story of Missouri-born author Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain), encompassing legend and fact with an exhilarating sense of adventure. Hailed by Hemingway as the originator of American literature, Twain (a nom de plume taken from a riverboat pilot's term for "safe waters") viewed himself as the American. Burns's film backs that claim as it follows Clemens's literary odyssey around the globe, from unrivaled acclaim as a writer to near destitution and the devastating deaths of his wife and three children. As usual, eloquent writers and scholars (including longtime Twain performer Hal Holbrook) provide a wondrous flow of anecdotes and observations, recounting Twain's remarkable humor while acknowledging a darker side that felt anger toward an indifferent god. Like all of Burns's films, Mark Twain is must-see viewing. --Jeff Shannon
Description
He was considered, in his time, to be the funniest man on Earth. Mark Twain is the fifth film in Ken Burns's popular American Lives series and features interviews with Hal Holbrook, Arthur Miller and leading Twain scholars.

A popular humorist, philosopher and social satirist, Mark Twain was the well-known nom-de-plume of writer Samuel Clemens, the nation's first literary celebrity. One of the most quoted men of his time, he was born in 1835, the year Haley's Comet passed over, and vowed that he would not die until he saw the famous comet. He died in 1910 -- the day after the comet's return. Tracing Twain's rise from his humble birth in Missouri to his prosperous life in Connecticut as the nation's best-selling author, Mark Twain reveals a compelling portrait of the father of American literature.

Nearly three years in the making and drawing from 63 hours of material, thousands of archival photographs and nearly 20 interviews with top writers and Twain scholars, Mark Twain is the story of an extraordinary life-one full of rollicking adventure, stupendous success and crushing defeat, hilarious comedy and unbearable tragedy. Told primarily through the words of Twain himself and narrated by Keith David (the voice of Jazz), viewers of all ages will be personally introduced to this compelling yet contradictory genius, who said with some justification, "I am not an American, I am the American."

Customer Reviews:

Burns' Best.......2007-07-04

At least as good as Burns' other, more heralded works, the concision and love with which Twain's life is here presented make this a true masterpiece. If your local library doesn't have it, make them get it; every school and library in the land should have this at the front of their dvd collection.
If ever there was doubt as to Twain's status as one of the finest and most quintessentially American of American artists, it is laid to rest here. A stunningly tragic life filled with triumphant humor and wisdom is given gorgeous tribute; the deep and almost transcendant love of the interviewees for Twain is especially striking.
Burns' pet technique of panning over still photos is tailor-made for this story and era. I'm not sure if it was my deep childhood love of Twain's books or just how moving his life was, but I found myself crying more during these four hours than any other movie I have ever seen...and I haven't cried at a movie in years. By the tenth deluge I had to laugh through the tears and realize that this is the best biographical film I have ever seen.
If you love Twain's writing, you will be amazed at the sadness he lived through while writing some of the funniest words ever penned. Even if you've never read any Twain, you will marvel at the life he lived, and the strength he showed in the face of one tragedy after another.
This is the American Spirit writ large. Not the bs version sold on tv, but the truly intelligent, open-hearted, adventurous, pioneering spirit that has become so rare.
If only we could find a man of this depth today and make him president.
I can almost hear Sam Clemens laughing at the thought right now...

Superb biography, perhaps the best.......2006-08-21

To be sure, I am a student of literature and a fan of Mark Twain, but I had no idea, none whatsoever(!), of what a rich and inspiring life he lived. He was a comic genius as well as a man devastated by continual heartbreak.
I have always known PBS to do a wonderful job with their specials, and I have admired Ken Burns since the day I first discovered his work on the women's movement i.e. the Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton story (highly recommended as well!)...but in their retelling of Mark Twain's life, these two forces have outdone themselves.
From now on I will always think of Samuel Clemens as an intrinsic part of what we call Americana. Forget baseball and apple pie, Twain and his writings are (or should be) the true American pastime.
I have watched many biographies of American authors but none come close to this, NONE. My favorite author of all time is F. Scott Fitzgerald and not one of his many audio visual biographies can touch the completeness and depth that has been carefully devoted here to Twain. In the 3+ hours of this presentation I laughed outloud, and was moved to tears, outraged, entertained, and educated by this telling of Twain's life. There is no way it could be better or more complete and I defy any lover of Twain, or literature in general, to feel differently.
Go to your local library and borrow it first, once you see it, you will insist upon owning it...truly.

Excellent.......2005-01-18

Mark Twain was a master story teller, and Ken Burns does him justice. As for the racial overtones, this is the man that wrote Huck Finn. There was a racial under current in everything then, and almost everything now. Some people are naive.

Good even with the agenda.......2005-01-13

Ken Burns has done it again. He has presented a piece of American history meticulously researched, pleasantly presented and full of surprises and facts. He has also tied in his penchant for making race, if not the focus at least, the undercurrent of what would otherwise be flawless story telling. I deeply admire Mr. Burns and have always enjoyed his work. The story could have been told with less emphasis on the racial overtones.

Mark Twain - A Film Directed by Ken Burns

Average customer rating:

Burns' Best
Superb biography, perhaps the best
Excellent
Good even with the agenda

Mark Twain - A Film Directed by Ken Burns
Starring: Keith David , Kevin Conway , Philip Bosco , Tim Clark , and Blythe Danner
Director: Ken Burns
Manufacturer: Pbs Paramount
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All | PBS | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

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The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns
The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain: A Book of Quotations (Dover Thrift Editions)

ASIN: B0002JP50Y
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Customer Reviews:

Burns' Best.......2007-07-04

Superb biography, perhaps the best.......2006-08-21

Excellent.......2005-01-18

Good even with the agenda.......2005-01-13

Average customer rating:

THE American: a hero, an icon, a human being
Great introduction to a great writer
Excellent film
yet another Ken Burns ode to himself
Enjoy history while you're watching

Mark Twain - A Film Directed by Ken Burns
Starring: Keith David , Kevin Conway , Philip Bosco , Tim Clark , and Blythe Danner
Director: Ken Burns
Manufacturer: Pbs Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

All | PBS | Specialty Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Mark Twain Tonight
Thomas Jefferson - A Film by Ken Burns
Mark Twain: An Illustrated Biography
Lewis & Clark - The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
Ken Burns America Collection - Brooklyn Bridge

ASIN: B00005RDB0
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Amazon.com

Given the legendary life of its subject, it's not surprising that Mark Twain is perhaps the most entertaining documentary Ken Burns has made. The creator of The Civil War and Jazz achieves reverent harmony with the magnificent story of Missouri-born author Samuel Clemens (a.k.a. Mark Twain), encompassing legend and fact with an exhilarating sense of adventure. Hailed by Hemingway as the originator of American literature, Twain (a nom de plume taken from a riverboat pilot's term for "safe waters") viewed himself as the American. Burns's film backs that claim as it follows Clemens's literary odyssey around the globe, from unrivaled acclaim as a writer to near destitution and the devastating deaths of his wife and three children. As usual, eloquent writers and scholars (including longtime Twain performer Hal Holbrook) provide a wondrous flow of anecdotes and observations, recounting Twain's remarkable humor while acknowledging a darker side that felt anger toward an indifferent god. Like all of Burns's films, Mark Twain is must-see viewing. --Jeff Shannon

Description

He was considered, in his time, to be the funniest man on Earth. Mark Twain is the fifth film in Ken Burns's popular American Lives series and features interviews with Hal Holbrook, Arthur Miller and leading Twain scholars.

A popular humorist, philosopher and social satirist, Mark Twain was the well-known nom-de-plume of writer Samuel Clemens, the nation's first literary celebrity. One of the most quoted men of his time, he was born in 1835, the year Haley's Comet passed over, and vowed that he would not die until he saw the famous comet. He died in 1910 -- the day after the comet's return. Tracing Twain's rise from his humble birth in Missouri to his prosperous life in Connecticut as the nation's best-selling author, Mark Twain reveals a compelling portrait of the father of American literature.

Nearly three years in the making and drawing from 63 hours of material, thousands of archival photographs and nearly 20 interviews with top writers and Twain scholars, Mark Twain is the story of an extraordinary life-one full of rollicking adventure, stupendous success and crushing defeat, hilarious comedy and unbearable tragedy. Told primarily through the words of Twain himself and narrated by Keith David (the voice of Jazz), viewers of all ages will be personally introduced to this compelling yet contradictory genius, who said with some justification, "I am not an American, I am the American."

The DVD-18 edition of Mark Twain contains interview outtakes, twelve great Twain quotes and photographs, a "Making of" interview with Ken Burns and the short documentaries Ken Burns: Making History and A Conversation with Ken Burns.

Customer Reviews:

THE American: a hero, an icon, a human being.......2006-04-27

Being still a young man, 21, I can vividly remember my high school days, and my hateful relationship with the "dreadfully boring" Huckleberry Finn.

Cue, years later, my revived interest in literature. I pick up a handful of Kurt Vonnegut's work and absolutely fall in love. I then see, in Palm Sunday, his essay on Twain. I figure, "If he likes him so, I should give the old guy another try."

And I did, and I couldn't have been more glad.

I picked up Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn one night and shot through them like a train through a piece of paper. A new admiration and intense respect was born.

I went on to pick up Yankee, Prince and Pudd'nhead, only to delve deeper into the genius that was Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

This documentary is, by far, bar none, the greatest and most intimate documentary I've yet to see. You get the idea of what Twain was all about, be it a social critic, an absolutely devoted father, a quick tempered Missourian, or an eternally loving husband.

For all the absolute suffering that he went through, all people, be they great or seemingly miniscule, go through a great deal of suffering, but none in comparison seem to have gone through as much as Twain, the fact that he continued on joking and biting at politics the way he did is just astonishing.

I'd always been a bit hesitant to put my hands on anything by Burns, what with his reputation for being an over the top, boring, self gratifying pompous (fight censorship), but this was done with such finesse that all presumptions flew right out the window.

The excellent narration by Keith David need well be noted.

Now if only Burns would do documentaries on Thoreau and Faulkner.

Great introduction to a great writer.......2005-02-18

I use this film every year in my American literature class to introduce my students to Mark Twain before they read Huckleberry Finn. My students stay glued to the television during the week that we watch the videos. I find it to be a far more effective introduction to Twain than I could ever give. And I love rewatching it every year. It never fails to make me tear up! This film brings Twain to life in a way that allows students to see him as a human being rather than as just another author to add to our list.

Excellent film.......2005-01-18

I know I rated this picture just one star, but I just wanted to be next to those who rated it the same. Ken Burns is a master story teller. If you want "just the facts" go to the library. I don't know why he catches flack from some people, but I guess it's their lose. It's hard to believe you could be so wrapped up in a story about any historical figure. I only wish my teachers and proffesors could have kept me this intrested. Amazing.

yet another Ken Burns ode to himself.......2004-12-22

How many times can one man pan around a still photo? We do not know yet. Every K.B. documentary is as bland and self-glorifying as the last. The voice overs, the predictable music, the lack of insight, the glossing over the dark side of every single topic.
How much more can the American public take of this simplified, sanitized, sacchrine view of history? We do not know yet.

Enjoy history while you're watching.......2004-04-23

Note: This review is on Mark Twain: A Musical Biography ASIN: 630272001X, but somehow it is also appearing on another video for an unknown reason - the two videos are not related.

It's very clear that this "musical biography" has been extremely well researched. Famous people often have multiple biographies, but very few have them turned into musicals. It takes a tremendous collection of talent to put together history, poetry (lyrics), music, costumes, staging, and acting into something like this. This video was shot during a live performance and yet there are close-ups and different camera angles which make for good TV. It's apparent that meticulous attention was paid to many details and it makes for a wonderful viewing experience. I found myself enjoying the parts of Twain's life I already knew about and also learned a few new things. The large production numbers are very entertaining and some of the individual performances are spectacular -- some of the solos are captivating. The music itself is very well done and it's surprising that this musical doesn't find its way to production companies around the country. This is a very entertaining way to get some history about this amazing person without your typical "documentary" flatness.

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