Tom Sawyer?

[Gary]

What is the significance of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer in the film?
[e-mail]

[Kevin M]

When Clarence is drying off in the bridge keepers office, he is seen drying out a book, 'The latest from Mark Twain'.

[BIGFAN]

That's true as far as the film goes. However, it was in fact Twain's first novel, published in 1876. Thus, as far as the timeline goes, with Clarance being 292 years old (did I get that right?), it doesn't quite "fit", because it was not in fact Twain's latest when the film took place! Thus, not published when Clarence was "alive" and certainly not Twain's "latest" when we meet Clarence; hmmmm... I guess a little artistic license by Mr. Capra and his writers, eh? It's been some time since I read the book; was it purely a well-known book with-in which to leave the message to George at the end??

[BIGFAN]

I made a mistake in the above posting and did not catch it until I finally watched IAWL again last night. What Clarence actually says is words to the effect of "You should see what Mark Twain is working on NOW." Ie. within the confines of the Pearly Gates AND not referring to the book in Clarences's hands. Surprised nobody called me on that one. Still an interesting issue though, how did Clarence come to have a book that did not exist when he was alive??