Roughing It

Roughing It is my favorite Twain novel and it has never been filmed before. After nine plus film versions of The Prince & the Pauper, what a delight to finally see Roughing It. This is a big sprawling novel, so a lot is missing, but I am still grateful.

Mark Twain's Roughing It is a charming miniseries featuring vignettes from young Twain's life. Told in the perspective of a giant flashback as old Twain (played by James Garner) gives a commencement speech at his daughter's graduation. He mostly just narrates, though, and the rest of the three hours is given to young Twain (played by Robin Dunne.) Just as you would expect from any bit of Twain Americana, there are equal parts of sentimentality, hilarity, exaggeration, and adventure. In one scene, he carries on a poker game while the dwelling floods in a storm, so much so that the players are up to their elbows in water and the table nearly floats away. In another, he and his buddies believe they're going to freeze to death in the snow, so they say a little prayer and then say goodbye to each other. Adam Arkin's segment is particularly emotional, and Robin finally gets to show off his acting.

If you like these types of sagas, like Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man, try out Mark Twain's version. Bruce Broughton's sentimental western music helps the scenes flow along together. There's nothing like a good western theme to make you feel immersed in the olden days. I ended up liking it better than I thought I would, since I had no idea it was going to focus on the younger cast and I was looking forward to Garner as the bushy-haired Twain. Surprisingly sweet, I'm looking forward to picking a copy of the book!

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. About seven minutes before the end, young Twain staggers around and the camera tilts from his POV, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

Of the (usually 3 hour long) made-for-TV miniseries/movies released on DVD under the "Hallmark" imprint, this is the only one worth watching - and it is VERY worth watching.

Yes, it is overlong, and the faithful-adaptation approach to the source material loses inspiration toward the end. But on the whole this is humorous, touching, and as enigmatic in parts as Twain's original narrative. Twain came from a small town in a part of the country already proud of its traditionalism - he discovers the American West to be substantially a different planet, and we see this through his eyes - partly thanks to some marvelously cinematic camera-work.

Twain's character - among the greatest of the enigmas in the narrative - is also at issue, Was he cowardly lion? Brilliant poker player? Prospector kept from realizing dreams of wealth by pure dumb luck - or just dumbness? Or was he indeed one of the wisest of 19th Century writers, learning from experience and brave enough to present it 'warts and all'? Allowing the story to be about both Twain himself and the American West he discovered is the chief among many charms of this film.

Recommended.

Have you ever taped a show because you didn't really think you'd like it but wanted to be sure...and then when you started the tape, you found yourself watching it straight through. That's how this movie (actually a two part mini-series) caught me. James Garners' excellent voice overs and interludes as Mark Twain allow us to watch as if we were reading the book. Garners' performance and Adam Arkins' small but Emmy deserving turn as a man our hero Sam Clemmens meets in his episodic journey to find himself are the two best out of several good performances which brings this story to life and to heart.

While certainly not one of the great works of modern television, Roughing It isn't as bad as some people might lead one to believe. I must admit to not having read much Mark Twain and if you are looking for something which is completely faithful to one of his works Roughing It probably isn't for you.

I watched it with few expectations but generally like Twain's style and James Garner has never let me down before. The story was witty and lively enough to keep my interest and seemed to capture at least some of Twain's style. I gave it a 7 out of 10.