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Mark Twain
🎬 Movie

Mark Twain

2002 · 212 min Documentary
7.0 / 10 · TMDB

The Mississippi River, 1857. A young printer's apprentice with a restless mind and a sharp tongue boards a steamboat. Ken Burns' documentary "Mark Twain" (2002) traces the turbulent life of Samuel Clemens from river pilot to literary legend. Through archival photographs, evocative narration, and insightful commentary, this biographical portrait explores the man who defined a uniquely American voice, capturing both his brilliant humor and profound darkness. A deep dive into the soul of a nation, as seen through the eyes of its greatest storyteller.

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🎬 MovieFinder's Take

Ken Burns constructs a portrait through the lens of American history, where archival footage and actor-read letters form a cohesive narrative. The atmosphere emerges from weathered photographs and a deliberate pace that mirrors the river's flow.

This appeals to viewers who appreciate biographical depth without dramatization. One gains intimate understanding of the man behind the myth, his contradictions and wit laid bare. — MovieFinder Editorial

Director: Ken Burns

🕯️

Best Watched

With a notebook nearby on a quiet Sunday afternoon.

🎭 Cast

Keith David

Keith David

Narrator (voice)

Kevin Conway

Kevin Conway

Mark Twain (voice)

Blythe Danner

Blythe Danner

Olivia "Livy" Langdon Clemens (voice)

Philip Bosco

Philip Bosco

(voice)

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Tim Clark

(voice)

Carolyn McCormick

Carolyn McCormick

(voice)

Amy Madigan

Amy Madigan

(voice)

Cynthia Nixon

Cynthia Nixon

(voice)

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John Boyer

Self (uncredited)

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Jocelyn Chadwick

Self (uncredited)

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