While reading about the 1938 film _The Adventures of Tom Sawyer_ on =
IMDB.com, I found a review that had been posted in 2004 by a Chinese =
university student who evidently majored in the English language. The =
review is a total delight and should brighten your day, so I'm appending =
it below.=20
____________________________________
I think "The adventures of Tom Sawyer" I saw is an old old movie. And I =
ever thought that it must be a specific one for children. However, I =
found out the movie nowadays also has its own particular attraction. I =
still remember that Tom's aunt and half-brother Sid have not satisfied =
with him. But Tom is real a kind of clever boy. He can often get away =
with the punishment. In a brilliant scheme, Tom is able to con the =
neighborhood boy into completing the task for him. Besides, the episode =
which is full of children love is very interesting. Tom immediately =
falls in love with Becky at the first sight who is the Judge's daughter. =
He does everything just for winning her love even he asks for "get =
engaged." Of course, it is arranged funny in the movie that he broke his =
relationship with Becky because he accidentally blusts that has been =
engaged before. Sometimes I can't help thinking about the fact how =
really mature Tom is. Also a romantic boy, right? Mentioned about =
honesty and courage. Tom indeed is a good example for all the children =
even for most of us adults. Because Tom and Huck are extremely scared =
that Injun Joe who is real the killer will attempts to seek revenge on =
them. According to Tom's sense of justice Tom decides to be the witness =
in the court. I think Tom does not want to burden the guilty consciences =
and then make up his mind to tell the truth to the town. Maybe most of =
us could not do that like Tom in the real situation. Therefore on the =
other hand, The adventures of Tom Sawyer is for all the people including =
children and adults. In this sense, Tom is our good example in the =
modern society. Although our society is boomer than before, existence of =
conscience is more necessary than before.=20

Guangxi University of Technology=20
Foreign Language Department English Major Class022

(reviewer's name omitted--KR)

_______________

I especially like the film review because it reminds me of this 1875 =
letter from a Danish fan I included in _Dear Mark Twain_:

To
Mr. Samuel L. Clemens alias Mark Twain:

Please to excuse that I fall with the door in the house, without first =
to begin with the usual long ribble-row. I want to become the autograph =
of the over alle the world well known Mark Twain, whose narratives so =
apt have procured me a laughter.

If you will answer this letter, I will be very glad. Answer me what you =
will; but two words. If you not will answer me other so write only, that =
you do not like to write autographs.

Your
Carl Jensen
Ans.
C. Jensen, custom officer
Stubbekjobing in Falster
Denmark
Europe

Mark Twain's marginal comment: "Preserve this remarkable letter."
___________________________________

Lest I seem cruelly insensitive, I'll confess that when I lived in South =
Africa many years ago, I wrote a long note in Afrikaans to the mail =
carriers that I pinned to the front door of my apartment. When an =
Afrikaner friend read that note, his uncontrollable laughter convinced =
me what I had written was not for public consumption, so I instantly =
destroyed it. I have no doubt that the syntax of my Afrikaans note was =
probably at about the same level as the syntax of the Chinese and Danish =
writers' notes.

Happy new year to all!

Kent Rasmussen
in sunny Southern California

I