The Adventures of Mark Twain: Collector's Edition

During the mid-‘80s, when animator Will Vinton was earning household-recognition status for his Claymation stop-motion technique—widely seen on TV ads and music videos (notably the California Raisins spots)—he also helmed this unappreciated feature that was given a shamefully low-key theatrical release in 1985. Not remotely condescending to a "G" kids crowd (not even festooned with musical numbers), the plot is a whimsical but deeply literate and thoughtful pastiche that draws from Mark Twain's (i.e., Samuel Clemens) lesser-known writings, including his unfinished final novel, The Mysterious Stranger, and the short story "Captain Stormfield's Visit to Heaven." In The Adventures of Mark Twain, the aged Clemens (voiced by James Whitmore) launches a fantastic dirigible/steamboat vessel for a twilight-of-life rendezvous with Halley's Comet (a true obsession of the author), but discovers a trio of stowaways: Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, and Becky Thatcher. Serving as a genial, cigar-puffing host (and his pessimistic alter ego), Clemens retells several Twain tales (presented with sublimely realized imagery—and almost no CGI trickery), while uttering aphorisms taken directly from the author's writings, fiction and non-fiction alike, boasting abundant wit and philosophy concerning the human condition, good and bad. Extras include an audio commentary by Vinton, a featurette on Claymation, a behind-the-scenes featurette, crew interviews, selected music tracks, and a stills gallery. Highly recommended. (C. Cassady)