The Shape of the River: The Lost Teleplay About Mark Twain

by Horton Foote, Mark Dawidziak (History & Analysis)

(Applause Books). Published for the first time and reprinted from the only surviving copy of the script, which was discovered in the CBS-TV vaults, Applause is proud to present The Shape of the River , an ambitious television drama by Horton Foote. Mark Twain once remarked that inside every person, "there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy." However, tragedy was a dimension of Twain's life that was largely concealed from the public until The Shape of the River , starring Shirley Knight, appeared on the acclaimed series Playhouse 90 in 1960. Foote's play explored the misfortune and loss that characterized Twain's last 15 years. From his heroic (and successful) attempt to repay almost $100,000 in debt by lecturing around the world (which he hated), to the deaths of his wife and two daughters, this last phase of his life was marked by an incredible amount of sadness and pain. Not seen since its initial broadcast, The Shape of the River has long held legendary status for fans of both Twain and classic television. The play is accompanied by commentary by Twain scholar Mark Dawidziak, who examines the writing and production of the teleplay, and considers its meaning for students of Twain and television. Also included are rare photos from the original Playhouse 90 taping.

Genres: Plays

203 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Albert Horton Foote, Jr. was an American playwright and screenwriter, perhaps best known for his Academy Award-winning screenplays for the 1962 film To Kill a Mockingbird and the 1983 film Tender Mercies, and his notable live television dramas during the Golden Age of Television. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1995 for his play The Young Man From Atlanta.

Reviews

[Peter Talbot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horton Foote's 1960 script for the CBS Playhouse 90 live on tape broadcast was fascinating. Forward, acting, directing, production and scriptwriting details and a useful Twain bio timeline most welcome. Includes text of Twain's "The Death of Jean" fulsome notes and Twain resources as well as a good photography sampling. A worthy addition to any Twain collection, alongside Hal Holbrook's Mark Twain Tonight in any of his varying versions.

A great read, a good script covering difficult terrain that actually suffers from brevity.

The whole book is a four hour close reading, a mere hour for the screenplay.