Storyline
Genres: Documentary, Biography
Plot Outline: A biographical film about the acclaimed American humourist and author.
Plot Synopsis: Ken Burns, the premiere documentarian of Americana, tackles the life of Mark Twain, the first writer with a uniquely American voice. In this installment in Burns' "American Lives" series, the two 2-hour episodes explore a side of Twain that is unfamiliar to many. Widely regarded as the funniest person of the 19th century, Twain suffered through severe personal tragedies and lack of business sense that brought him to the brink of financial ruin on several occasions. Includes interviews with writers William Styron and Arthur Miller and actor Hal Holbrook (who has portrayed Twain in a one-man play each year for over 50 years).
Plot Keywords: Non Fiction | Mark Twain | Narration | (Show all plot keywords recommended by customers)
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Product Details
Actors: Keith David, Kevin Conway, Philip Bosco, Tim Clark, Blythe Danner, See more
Directors: Ken Burns
Format: Color
Studio: Paramount Home Video
DVD Release Date: September 28, 2004
Run Time: 212 min (original theatrical or airing runtime)
Average Customer Review: Based on 2 Reviews
DVD Features:
From IMDb: Quotes & Trivia
ASIN: B0002JP50Y
Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,543 in DVD
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Theatrical Release Information
US Theatrical Release Date: January 14, 2002
Production Company: Florentine Films, WETA Washington D.C.
Filming Locations: Center for Mark Twain Studies, Elmira College - One Park Place, Elmira, New York, USA| Elmira College - One Park Place, Elmira, New York, USA| Mark Twain Home Foundation - 208 Hill Street, Hannibal, Missouri, USA| Mark Twain House - 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford, Connecticut, USA| Mark Twain State Historical Site - State Highway 107, Florida, Missouri, USA
马克吐温
(Mark Twain l835~1910)
作者简介:
美国作家。本名塞谬尔·朗赫恩·克莱门斯。马克·吐温是其笔名。出生于密西西比河畔小城汉尼拔的一个乡村贫穷律师家庭,从小出外拜师学徒。当过排字工人,密西西比河水手、南军士兵,还经营过木材业、矿业和出版业,但有效的工作是当记者和写作幽默文学。
马克·吐温是美国批判现实主义文学的奠基人,世界著名的短篇小说大师。他经历了美国从“自由”资本主义到帝国主义的发展过程,其思想和创作也表现为从轻快调笑到辛辣讽刺再到悲观厌世的发展阶段。
他的早期创作,如短篇小说《竟选州长》(1870)、《哥尔斯密的朋友再度出洋》(1870)等,以幽默、诙谐的笔法嘲笑美国“民主选举”的荒谬和“民主天堂”的本质。
中期作品,如长篇小说《镀金时代》(1874,与华纳合写)、代表作长篇小说《哈克贝里·费恩历险记》(1886)及《傻瓜威尔逊》(1893)等,则以深沉、辛辣的笔调讽刺和揭露像瘟疫般盛行于美国的投机、拜金狂热,及暗无天日的社会现实与惨无人道的种族歧视。《哈克贝里·费恩历险记》通过白人小孩哈克跟逃亡黑奴吉姆结伴在密西西比河流浪的故事,不仅批判封建家庭结仇械斗的野蛮,揭露私刑的毫无理性,而且讽刺宗教的虚伪愚昧,谴责蓄奴制的罪恶,并歌颂黑奴的优秀品质,宣传不分种族地位人人都享有自由权利的进步主张。作品文字清新有力,审视角度自然而独特,被视为美国文学史上具划时代意义的现实主义著作。
19世纪末,随着美国进入帝国主义发展阶段,马克·吐温一些游记、杂文、政论,如《赤道环行记》(1897)、中篇小说《败坏了哈德莱堡的人》(1900)、《神秘来客》(1916)等的批判揭露意义也逐渐减弱,而绝望神秘情绪则有所伸长。
马克·吐温被誉为“美国文学中的林肯”。
伯恩斯兄弟制作。
相关资源:
《马克吐温小说集》