One of the problems with putting Huck Finn into a movie or on the stage is, you always make the white people stupid and racist. The point is, they don’t know they’re racist.
Meaning of the quote
The quote suggests that when the story of Huck Finn is adapted for movies or plays, the white characters are often portrayed as ignorant and prejudiced, even though they may not realize they are being racist. The point is that many people hold biased views without understanding or acknowledging their own biases.
About Hal Holbrook
Hal Holbrook was an acclaimed American actor who gained fame for his one-man show portraying Mark Twain. He won multiple awards, including a Tony and Primetime Emmys, and was nominated for an Academy Award for his film roles. Holbrook had a long and distinguished career in theater, television, and cinema, appearing in iconic movies like All the President’s Men and Into the Wild.
More quotes from Hal Holbrook
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We don’t have truth delivered to us very often, especially in this very commercialized world.
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You can go into Mark Twain’s material and prove anything you want. He was against war. He was for war. He was against rich people and he was for them. He was a kaleidoscope.
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I don’t have a director. The audience directs me.
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We live in a democracy. We have this extraordinary opportunity to use our mind and say what we think, speak as we think. Sometimes what we say is objectionable to other people. But that is part of a free society.
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