The Adventures of Mark Twain

G

Released Mar 1, 1985

1h 26m

Kids & Family

Adventure

Fantasy

Animation

List

80%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

81%

1,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

In this claymation film, celebrated author Mark Twain (James Whitmore), displeased with the state of humanity, sets off in a hot-air balloon to meet his celestial destiny: Halley's Comet. Stowed away on the craft are beloved characters from Twain's stories -- Tom Sawyer (Chris Ritchie), Becky Thatcher (Michele Mariana) and Huckleberry Finn (Gary Krug). As Twain's balloon ascends ever higher to its ultimate goal, his literary creations try to persuade him of the essential goodness of man.

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

Everything looks soft, squashy and sort of ugly.

Mar 3, 2019

Full Review

TV Guide

This is an imaginative work.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 3, 2019

Full Review

Craig Skinner

HeyUGuys

Such a wonderfully entertaining and rather charming film.

Rated: 4/5

Mar 3, 2019

Full Review

Brian Costello

Common Sense Media

Dry humor and scary scenes abound in Twain overview.

Rated: 3/5

Sep 17, 2013

Full Review

Scott Weinberg

DVDTalk.com

There's more than enough weird and wise material to keep you entertained -- especially if you're an animation buff or a Samuel Clemens aficionado.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 17, 2006

Full Review

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Steve D

I hate Mark Twain's stories. They look good in comparison.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/06/23

Full Review

Chris M

The claymation can be beautiful and a little terrifying at the same time. The stories work but sometimes with some odd or annoying parts. But overall, it's a flawed but still very good movie that needs to be seen to be believed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/13/23

Full Review

Kyle E

Amazingly for those who haven't seen it (and usually neither heard of it), this unknown animated masterpiece regularly makes it into the shortest short-list of best films of those who have - and i don't mean list of animated movies, but movies in general. Uncomparable to anything else - much like Twain himself - it's every aspect is just amazing. It will feast your eyes (as much as any claymation can), fill your heart (with a both joy, sorrow, warmth and eeriness), boggle your brain, and make your jaw hurt. And you'll still have to find time to enjoy acting (yes, _acting_ of the clay figures here is just amazing) and clever solutions. For example, Mysterious Stranger is the best visualization of Devil(?) i ever saw in film. Some have pointed out that it is "not necessarily a kids movie"; Not AT ALL a kids movie, i'd rather say. Nobody forgets seeing it, and as soon as one remembers it later, one starts to look for it. Alas, it is extremely hard to find - at least i never succeeded. I saw it only twice, on TV, no less than 10 and 14 years ago, and my filmometer jumps high every time i think about it. Find it. See it. Enjoy the ride. Copy it. Copy it again, for your grandchildren, and save the copy somewhere safe till they grow up.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/06/22

Full Review

Audience Member

"The Mysterious Stranger", my favourite part of the whole film! Dark and with a deep meaning!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Brianna L

I saw it as a child many, many years ago. Just saw it again today. I did not like the overtly religious content, and considering Mark Twain was an Atheist i am certain he would be rolling in his grave. The claymation made it passable, but the storyline was terrible, and the religious undertones made it less hard to stomach.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/22/21

Full Review

Audience Member

I loved this movie as a kid and now my kids like it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/23

Full Review

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Will Vinton

Director

James Whitmore

Mark Twain

Chris Ritchie

Tom Sayer

Michele Mariana

Becky Thatcher

Gary Krug

Huck Finn

Carol Edelman

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Synopsis

In this claymation film, celebrated author Mark Twain (James Whitmore), displeased with the state of humanity, sets off in a hot-air balloon to meet his celestial destiny: Halley's Comet. Stowed away on the craft are beloved characters from Twain's stories -- Tom Sawyer (Chris Ritchie), Becky Thatcher (Michele Mariana) and Huckleberry Finn (Gary Krug). As Twain's balloon ascends ever higher to its ultimate goal, his literary creations try to persuade him of the essential goodness of man.

Director: Will Vinton
Screenwriter: Susan Shadburne
Production Co: Atlantic, Will Vinton Studios, Harbour Towns
Rating: G
Genre: Kids & Family, Adventure, Fantasy, Animation
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 1, 1985, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 4, 2017
Runtime: 1h 26m

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