Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is showing THE ADVENTURES OF MARK TWAIN (1944)
at 6:00 am, eastern time, Sunday morning. TCM airs programs throughout the
entire country at the same moment, so the film will start at 5:00, 4:00, and
3:00 am in time zones to the west.

As biography, AMT is a travesty, but it nevertheless has many fine moments,
such as Mark Twain's speeches, including the Whittier birthday speedy.
Fredric March is terrific in the lead role, and Max Steiner's musical score
is excellent. If for no other reason, the movie merits watching as a
cultural artifact reflecting mid-20th century public perceptions of Mark Twain.

Those of you fortunate enough to have read Joe Csiscila's brilliant essay
about Langdon Clemens and the writing of TOM SAWYER in MARK TWAIN AND YOUTH
(which Kevin Mac Donnell and I edited), should carefully observe what Livy
(Alexis Smith) says to “Youth” after Langdon dies. You will find an echo of
Joe's innovative thesis in her remarks.

Do try to watch the film if you haven't already seen it. Whatever else you
think of it, you'll enjoy many laugh-out-loud moments as you take in its
often ludicrous depictions of Mark Twain's life. An example: Mark Twain
meets Charley Langdon while piloting a steamboat on the Mississippi. When he
sees Charley's ivory miniature with Livy's portrait, he falls in love with
Livy and determines to marry her. He then uses a fishing pole to steal the
miniature through Charley’s cabin window and heads west, hoping to become
rich enough to deserve Livy's hand. Silly, huh? But wait ... it gets even
sillier. After writing the jumping frog story while working as a reporter in
Virginia City, he's so ashamed of the story, he invents the pen name "Mark
Twain" so no one will know who wrote it. Shortly afterward, he learns the
Civil War has started and rushes out of Virginia City to fight for the
South. Moments later, lecturer impresario James Pond arrives in Virginia
City, looking for the author of the jumping frog story,  but can't find
anyone who has ever heard of "Mark Twain." Mercifully, we're spared the
details of Mark Twain's Civil War service, but we learn that the jumping
frog story has kept the nation laughing through the national ordeal.

Never mind that Mark Twain didn't meet Charley Langdon and never heard of
Livy until several years after leaving the West. Never mind that the Civil
War started before Mark Twain went west. Never mind that he wrote the frog
story after the war ended. Never mind that Mark Twain didn't return east
until well after the war.

Yes, the film's biographical facts are a travesty! Still, the movie is full
of genuine fun and often evokes convincing images of the real Mark Twain.
It’s well worth watching.