Susy Clemens 'Graduation'

While the story that became the book was based on Sam's real-life travels to Nevada, the basis of Sam's storytelling in the film - Susy's apparent graduation from college - was not. In reality, all three daughters (Susy, Clara and Jean) received home-schooling from several tutors, and, while Susy did attend Bryn Mawr college in Philadelphia, it was for one semester only (1890), before withdrawing to accompany her family on an extended overseas trip (which amounted to a return to the lecture circuit for Sam, against his own desires) that became necessary for her Father, following financial problems that were largely due to Sam's considerable investment in the Paige Compositor, which failed to become the primarily printing tool in the America's thriving newspaper industry at that time.

Sadly, the film version is perhaps how Sam Clemens would have preferred the outcome to be, as would most Fathers, however, in truth, errors were made, as we all make them, that perhaps prevented his daughter's graduation day from become a reality.

Still, it was a good movie - one that would probably give Sam (and his beloved family) a chuckle or two...