Mark Twain tonight featuring Hal Holbrook

[Droopy]

Have you ever seen that video or been fortunate enough to see the performance live? I just watched the DVD that a friend gave to me and I was very impressed. I was particularly impressed with the scene the actor performed from Huckleberry Finn where he chose to save the escaped slave Jim and go to hell for his choice. The scene in the book is classic and highly regarded in the civil rights community. To see it performed on stage was wonderful. What are your thoughts on Mark Twain and/or Hal Holbrook and/or Hucklberry Finn.

I read Huckleberry Finn whe I was just a boy of 11. It was the first "real" book that I read all the way through. It has certainly help shape me into the person I am today.

[auntAgonist]

1. hey Droopy!!

It was good wasn't it? :hug:

We must do dinner again soon.


:hi:

aA

[Droopy]

2. It was excellent

I posted a more in depth post about the film over at the portal gates. Tell Gryphon that I watched the film and that I'm currently sitting back listening to the music he gave to me.

[auntAgonist]

3. He's pleased

that you enjoyed it and will check your post over at the Portal Gates in a while :) He's currently working on the living room floor preparing it for the Pergo :woohoo:

gads I'll be glad when this house is done!

I hope you enjoy the music Droopy, .. It's all stuff that means a lot to him. :hug:

later...

kesha

[auntAgonist]

4. ackkk I killed yer thread.

:cry:

sorry.

aA
:hi:

[Droopy]

5. That's alright

It was doomed from the beginning. Not many people have an interest in Mark Twain, but I think he is worthy of study. You thought you killed my thread when in reality you may have gave it more life. We'll see. :)

[trof]

6. Seen some clips. Twain/Clemens was a giant.

His War Prayer is a classic and too true.

[Droopy]

8. It's well worth checking out if you have access to it trof

I think of Twain as a man who should have had it easy until his dying day, but that is not the case. He became a self-fulfilling prophesy. Somebody important who had a wise philosophy who was thrown away by his contemporaries. But thankfully he is documented enough that modern day folk can appreciate what he had to say.

[trof]

7. The War Prayer:

http://www.ntua.gr/lurk/making/warprayer.html

[Orsino]

9. Saw someone else perform it thirty-ahem years ago...

...and a few lines have stayed with me: "He had money, too...and hair oil."

[Droopy]

10. Oh, hell. I din't realize it was a re-do

What are your thoughts on the Hucklberry Fin out-take? I think that is the most important part of the performance. There are a lot of civil rights folks who offer that scene as influence. What do you say?

[Orsino]

12. I can't remember how much is in the show. n/t

[auntAgonist]

11. Hal Holbrook originally did this in 1967 ..

this taping, which originally aired on CBS, captures Holbrook in 1967 playing the role that launched his acting career.

I can't find it done by anyone else.

I'll keep looking.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain_Tonight

:)

aA

[skygazer]

13. Huckleberry Finn is one of my favorite books

One of the few that I read over and over again, usually about once a year, and always get something new from. I've always thought that particular scene was a very powerful one - when you realize the context, and how intensely religious people were at that time, how they truly believed in heaven and hell, and what a huge step it was for this boy to decide that his friend (and that was part of the step - the recognition that a black man could truly be a friend) was worth more than his everlasting soul... well, that makes for a pretty strong moment.

I love Twain, find his work brilliant, love his wit and wry wisdom and the way he could see the depth of situation and paint it in a way that made you laugh yet see the truth of it.

Have you ever read Life on the Mississippi? Fascinating look at the world of riverboats and the people who worked them. :hi:

[grasswire]

14. one of the big magazines has Twain on the cover this month

Newsweek or Time or US News. I meant to pick it up.

BTW, the Mark Twain house in Hartford is in dire need of donations at this time, to keep it going.

[auntAgonist]

15. yes .. July 14th here it is for you.