Mark Twain's
Roughing It
Starring
Robin Dunne ■ Ned Beatty ■ Jill Eikenberry ■ Eric Roberts
Adam Arkin ■ James Garner as Sam Clemens
(2002)
Mark Twain. Rebel. Writer. Legend.
| America's most beloved novelist, Mark Twain (James Garner), reflects on his life as a young Sam Clemens (Robin Dunne) and his wide-eyed, adventure-seeking days in the West in this inspiring and entertaining classic. Sam Clemens doesn't have a plan for the future, but when his brother, Orion, travels out to Carson City via stagecoach, he decides this might be the path for him. What ensues is an exciting journey—one filled with wild card games, treacherous snow storms, prospecting disasters and more. But when all else fails, Sam falls back on the one skill that the Wild West can't take from him—his power with a pen. Eric Roberts and Adam Arkin also star in this acclaimed, two-part miniseries. I ordered this movie in at the library on a whim. I've loved Mark Twain's stories since my Dad read Tom Sawyer to my brother and I when we were little. I really didn't expect much since it can go either way with Hallmark Channel movies and this was one of their made-for-TV specials. I was quite pleasantly surprised. The movie had some decent acting and definitely some hilarious moments, after all Mark Twain WAS a well known humorist. This movie is lighthearted and at times outrageous which is totally fitting considering the title of the show. But there are also some rather poignant moments, like the scenes where a bunch of grizzled disreputable looking trappers help a friend in a rather surprising and very touching way. This movie is watchable by the whole family with only a little relatively bloodless violence, the only blood I really noticed is when a rather large Territorial Statutes law book lands on young Sam's nose while he's snoozing in a stagecoach. Totally funny and very quotable Roughing it is a bit on the long side but if you are like my family you will find yourself going to the second half and just watching it all in one sitting.  185 Minutes | Principal Cast Robin Dunne...Young Samuel Clemens James Garner...Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) Adam Arkin...Henry Eric Roberts...The Foreman Ned Beatty...Slade Adam Storke...Seth Charles Martin Smith...Platt Jill Eikenberry...Livy Clemens J.D. Nicholsen...Higbie Wayne Robson...Mr. Ballou Blu Mankuma...Johnston Winston Rekert...The Stranger Greg Spottiswood...Orion Clemens Filming Location(s) CL Ranch, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Drumheller, Alberta, Canada Heritage Park, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada Quotes Mark Twain: So we were on our way, leaving everything we knew behind, while there ahead of us lay the wonderful world of the sweet unknown. Sam Clemens: I'd be happy to go to sleep. It's all this shivering that's keeping me awake. Higbie: I've killed us fellers, and I think it would be be wise if we got our souls ready to meet our maker. (After an explosion Mr. Ballou set off) Higbie: I thought you were just gonna use flour. I thought we was just gonna flush him out. Mr. Ballou: Well it looked like a pretty good site to me and I figured while we was at it.... Sam Clemens: Then I'm gonna to say that it's well known that the Constitution guarantees a man life, liberty, and a drink in peace and quiet after a hard day's work. Mark Twain: So it was that I found my calling. I took the long way to it, I suppose, but maybe that was the only way there was to it. it's part of the mysterious adventure of your life. Because that's what it is, an adventure. Where things happen when you least expect them and often while you are doing something entirely different. There are 1,440 minutes in every day. Your's to use as you see fit. To wander, to learn, to waste, to build. We didn't make this world but maybe we can make it a little better than it was when we came into it. It's all up to you. |
DVD
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