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Author Samuel Langhorne Clemens, also known as Mark Twain, in 1900. (Getty Images)

 

The Only Footage of Mark Twain in Existence

The silent film footage was taken in 1909 by Thomas Edison at Mark Twain’s estate.

Mark Twain was one of the most famous Americans who ever lived, yet the iconic film of him walking around his home in Connecticut is the only footage we have of him. Now, thanks to the restoration efforts of TFG Film & Tape, this invaluable footage has finally been given the treatment it deserves.

The silent film footage was taken at Stormfield in 1909 by the Thomas Edison Company. Twain died the following year at the age of 75.

Here’s what the footage looked like prior to the TFG restoration:

Mark Twain at Stormfield, 1909 (Edison film)

And here it is after the restoration:

Mark Twain | Edison Film | Digitally Restored

To do it, the TFG restoration team flipped the image from left to right to correct the camera-to-subject orientation. The speed has also been corrected; frame-rates at the time made the footage appear faster than normal. The detail was enhanced to bring out previously obscured visuals, and the fluctuations in the exposure have been reduced to make the image easier on the eyes.

 

 

Bonus:

 

15 Interesting Facts about Mark Twain

Interesting Facts: 1. Mark Twain was one of seven children; however, he lost three of siblings in childhood. 2. With very little formal schooling, Mark Twain spent evenings in libraries educating himself where school had left off. 3. Before 13, he nearly drowned 9 documented times. 4.

 

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