http://www.shsu.edu/~eng_wpf/authors/Twa......nger.htm

Here's a source.

Yes, as I said, it's from "The Mysterious Stranger". Actually from the first manuscript (of three) entitled "The Chronicle of Young Satan". The other two that make up the book are "Schoolhouse Hill" and finally "The Mysterious Stranger".

Mark Raven says in his fine book "Raven's Tales" that you should read not only magic books, but everything. You never know where your ideas will come from.

"The Mysterious Stranger" is one of these books that may give you ideas.

Andy

It was cool.

Thanks for the link Spellbinder....I have just begun to read it.

Twain actually wrote multiple versions of this story, each unfinished and each involving the character of Satan. The first substantial version is commonly referred to as The Chronicle of Young Satan and tells of the adventures of Satan, the sinless nephew of the more familiar Satan, in an Austrian village in the Middle Ages. The story ends abruptly in the middle of a scene involving Satan entertaining a prince in India, suggesting Twain abandoned this piece before he finished writing it.

The second substantial version Twain attempted to write is known as Schoolhouse Hill which involves the familiar characters of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer and their adventures with Satan, and is set in America. Schoolhouse Hill is the shortest of the three versions.”

Here is a slightly clearer version on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UX3V4yla7gc

The Mysterious Stranger - Mark Twain

I think there are some amazing possibilities for Magic here.
I love the talking mask!

Walt

I knew this would be appreciated here! I must look up these Twain stories.

Definitely appreciated, Harlequin! Thanks!

Bill

Once again, various artforms show us how adult they can be.
But what about magic ? Are we condemned to live in a Disneyworld? It seems to me that the original purpose of bizarre magic was to do some kind of magic that looks less childish...

Very interesting. I remember seeing "The Adventures of Mark Twain" years ago and I guess they didn't show this scene. It's exactly as I remember, except that I didn't remember that part. You should all see the rest, it's excellent and much of it quite dark as well. The claymation itself is stellar.

Jeb

Thanks Jeb,

I assumed the rest of the claymation DVD would be innocuous, but after reading your post I found the "The Adventures of Mark Twain" on Netflix and kicked it at the top of my queue. Just means I'll have to wait awhile to watch "Sicko".

Andy

I saw a test Screening of "The Adventures of Mark Twain" and this sequence was included. It however strangely disappeared when the movie was finally released theatrically. It appears to be on the DVD however which means I should pick up a copy. A friend of mine worked at Will Vinton's studio and I believe he did the animation on the little clay figures in this sequence. We toured the studio with him years ago and saw many of the sets from this movie. Quite detailed and fascinating to see as everything was made out of clay.

I shall have to get a copy myself. I always liked the Noah sequence, which although not as dark as the above sequence, was very atmospheric. I say this with the memory of I think twenty or so years ago, maybe more, but the whole thing was well worth watching for anyone who likes Twain's darker side.

Jeb

The film sounds great I really must get myself a copy.....Payne seeing all the liitle sets and models must have been great - Lucky you

Hi Gang!

I am two-thirds of the way through Mark Twain’s original Novella,
and wow… just wow!

I am intrigued, enchanted, and pleasantly bewildered.
It is a marvel of dark, truthful, satiric writing.

And… there is Magic afoot!
I’m taking many notes, and ideas are bubbling forth,
for character development, and magical routining.

This will not be your mother’s magic show,
this will be jaw-dropping theatre,
if I can get a handle on it.

I’ll keep the group posted,
and THANK YOU sooooo much for the inspiration of this thread.

I think I’m onto something that can really make a statement,
and in my style and voice of Magick, as well.

Walt

'He vanished, and left me appalled; for I knew, and realized, that all he had said was true.'

Wow thanks for the link to the online story Spellbinder. I just spent a day and 1/2 reading it and I thought it truly wonderful.

I too want to thank you for letting me know about this narrative - I just got it...Now to read it with gusto... This should be made into a graphic novel.

You really should read the complete Mysterious Stranger. The online link is only part of the whole. The other parts as I mentioned earlier are "The Chronicle of Young Satan" and "Schoolhouse Hill".

The softcover copy which I have had for years was printed by The University of Southern California Press in 1970 and contains all three manuscripts i.e. "The Chronicle of Young Satan", "Schoolhouse Hill" and "The Mysterious Stranger".

Andy

http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/1165.html

Mark Twain's Mysterious Stranger Manuscripts
Edited with an introduction by William M. Gibson

$75.00,
£44.95

hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-520-01473-2

I paid $2.95 for my copy in the 70's. (Same Gibson edition in softcover.)

Check here for better prices:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/105-......=15&y=16

Andy

OK, I’m off the deep end again…

I've been in touch with a genuine Venetian Mask factory,
and am working with them to design a "Mysterious Stranger" Mask.

I'm working my way through the three extended fragments of the texts,
and I'm looking at the exact theme I want to portray
(it won't be the scene in the claymation video.)

I love, and agree with what Twain was saying here.
Dark maybe, but true, as the wisdom of his advanced years illustrates.
The theme of a moral code and the fragments which shape destiny are powerful.

Now I'm looking at effects to string together for this presentations,
perhaps "Sands of the Desert" or "Smoke in Goblet" or Lota Bowl or even perhaps a "Floating Ball".

My intention is to (as a ventriloquist does) act as narrator.
Then with the stick-mask held up, portray the other character
(he won't be as defined as being "Satan" but he'll be weird and powerful).

So, look what one thread and a few posts can lead to?

Now, off to seek a director, well, not quite yet...

Magically,
Walt