I still think John’s was the better story but was not it self published. Would it be interesting if somebody got inspired to make a PBS special of it

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> On Sep 13, 2018, at 8:59 AM, Alan Kitty <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> I know of no instances in history where Scholarship or Greed were choices fo=
> r filmmakers. The choices are always =E2=80=9Cartistic value=E2=80=9D vs. fi=
> nancial gain. No one would understand this better than SLC himself.=20
> 
> An unbridled curiosity and uncanny awareness guided his steps, and brillianc=
> e certainly helped him arrive at his destination, but it was need that drove=
> Twain to write commercially. Fortunately for all of us, his natural talents=
> and personality merged with his need for commercial success.=20
> 
> Scholarship exists to discover, interpret and teach or inform.  Commercial f=
> ilm making exists to entertain. When I read about the Stead-Bird controversy=
> , I immediately thought =E2=80=9Ccommercially-minded=E2=80=9D author vs. edu=
> cation-minded author.=E2=80=9D You turn a scholarly discovery into gold only=
> if you understand or can create its market value and know who to work with t=
> o get the ore out of the ground.=20
> 
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Sep 13, 2018, at 10:01 AM, Barbara Schmidt <[log in to unmask]> wrote=
> :
>> =20
>> Unfortunately, the movie option for this story is not  for John Bird's
>> version.  But for the adaptation of the story made by Philip and Erin
>> Stead.  Kevin Mac Donnell reviewed that version on the Forum in August
>> 2017. That review is online at:
>> =20
>> http://www.twainweb.net/reviews/Oleomargarine.html
>> =20
>> There is yet unexplored potential for study regarding Twain's intent when
>> he penned this unfinished fairy tale. I have yet to see a scholarly
>> interpretation that really delves into the historical controversies at tha=
> t
>> time surrounding the invention of oleomargarine versus real butter.  Sort
>> of like Prince (butter) and the Pauper (oleomargarine). What happened to
>> John Bird and his work surrounding this manuscript is an example of concer=
> n
>> for $$ (greed)  taking precedent over scholarship.
>> =20
>> Barb