88 Days in the Mother Lode: Mark Twain Finds His Voice

20152015
1h 10m

150 years ago, Samuel Clemens spent 88 days in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties in the winter of 1864/65. While taking refuge from the rain in Angels Camp, he was told the story of a jumping ... Read all150 years ago, Samuel Clemens spent 88 days in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties in the winter of 1864/65. While taking refuge from the rain in Angels Camp, he was told the story of a jumping frog. That frog made him famous as Mark Twain.150 years ago, Samuel Clemens spent 88 days in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties in the winter of 1864/65. While taking refuge from the rain in Angels Camp, he was told the story of a jumping frog. That frog made him famous as Mark Twain.

8.1/10

Directors
- John C. Brown
- Bert Simonis
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150 years ago, 29 year old Samuel Clemens had to hide out from the San Francisco police for a few months. Virtually broke, traveled to Jackass Hill in the Gold Country where he spent the next 88 days doing a little mining, a little drinking, a little story telling and a little recuperating. He jotted a little story he heard tell about a jumping frog. Upon his return to San Francisco in February 1865 he developed that story and sent it East to be published. The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County launched the career of Clemens' alter ego Mark Twain and he went on to become America's most beloved author and humorist. In this film, we follow Clemens to the West from Missouri to Nevada, San Francisco and the Mother Lode. Re-enactments, interviews with Twain scholars and Twain's own words tell the story of what happened. —Bert Simonis

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Trivia
Mark Twain's first lecture in 1866 was at Maguire's Academy of Music in San Francisco. He also appeared on stage at Maguire's Opera House in Virginia City, Nevada. These, and many other opera houses were built by Thomas Maguire in the latter half of the nineteenth century. The actor that gives voice to Mark Twain's words in the film is Thomas Maguire. Apparently no relation.

Goofs
The actor playing the young Samuel Clemens, Matt Sweetland, was born deaf and wears hearing aids in both ears. The director always reminded him to take the aids out and put them in his vest pocket while shooting a scene. There is one scene where Matt and the director forgot to remove his hearing aids.

Top review

10/10

Great film, I learned so much.

Not only was I entertained by this film, I also found it educational. The producers have done a great of making Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain)come to life through his own words. From letters home, stories published in newspapers and his books, Mark Twain's stay in California's Gold Country comes to life. Using actors to portray his everyday life in the cabin and especially in the hotel during a non- ending rain storm gives a new dimension to this film. I also appreciate the beautiful scenery and it was great to learn that all the scenes were filmed at the actual locations that they took place. It makes we want to travel to Jackass Hill and Angels Camp! Interviews with experts in the Mark Twain field of study round out the film. Entertaining and educational, highly recommended.

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