Mississippi (1935)

A young pacifist after refusing on principle to defend her sweetheart's honor and being banished in disgrace, joins a riverboat troupe as a singer, acquires a reputation as a crackshot ... See full summary »

Director:

A. Edward Sutherland

Writers:

Francis Martin (screenplay), Jack Cunningham (screenplay),

Stars:

Bing Crosby, W.C. Fields, Joan Bennett

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bing Crosby	...	Tom Grayson
W.C. Fields	...	Commodore Jackson
Joan Bennett	...	Lucy
Gail Patrick	...	Elvira
Queenie Smith	...	Alabam
Claude Gillingwater	...	Gen. Rumford
John Miljan	...	Maj. Patterson
Jan Duggan	...	Thrilled Passenger in Pilot House
Fred Kohler	...	Capt. Blackie
Edward Pawley	...	Joe Patterson
Paul Hurst	...	Hefty
Theresa Maxwell Conover	...	Miss Markham
The Cabin Kids	...	The Inki Kids - Musical Ensemble
John Larkin	...	Rumbo
Libby Taylor	...	Lavinia

Storyline

A young pacifist after refusing on principle to defend her sweetheart's honor and being banished in disgrace, joins a riverboat troupe as a singer, acquires a reputation as a crackshot after a saloon brawl in which the villain of the piece accidentally kills himself with his own gun, falls in love with his former fianceé's sister and finally bullies an apprehensive family into accepting him.

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Plot Keywords:

riverboat | singer | sister | threat | song | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 March 1935 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

73 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Since Jan Duggan is credited in the opening set of credits, but not in the more comprehensive end set, the opening credits are listed first, followed by those in the end credits not yet in, as required by IMDb policy on cast ordering.

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Goofs

The bullet hole in Commodore Jackson's hat changes position between shots, first near the top, then further down, then off to the side.

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Quotes

Commodore Jackson: ...unsheathing my Bowie knife, I cut a path through this wall of human flesh, dragging my canoe behi
[wooden Indian passes by the door whose top half is open, startling him]
Commodore Jackson: ...
[cough]
Commodore Jackson: ... behind me. Since that time of course, the noble red man and his pale faced friends have smoked the pipe of peace.
[another Indian passes by - pause and cringes]
Commodore Jackson: Why I wouldn't of more think now of harming a hair on a red man's head than I would sticking a fork in my mother's back. Heh... why, some of my best ...

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Connections

Version of The Fighting Coward (1924)

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Soundtracks

"Roll, Mississippi"
(1935) (uncredited)
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Played on piano by Roy Bailey
Sung by a chorus during the opening credits, Queenie Smith and The Cabin Kids

User Reviews

Rare Crosby Action/Drama/Comedy - Plus Fields!

Have been trying for years to find a copy of this one. Saw it a few times and enjoyed it more each viewing when it was on TV back in 60s Los Angeles. Crosby playing the 'Killer' Col Steele/Tom Grayson is a totally different Bing at times, although he does manage to belt out a few tunes. If you liked Gail Patrick in 'My Man Godfrey' you'll also enjoy her in a very similar role here, as the sister who does not appreciate a good man. But the real treat is Fields as the riverboat captain. He's only a supporting character here but his scenes with wooden Indians and his recollection about shooting off a man's nose are hilarious. FIND IT IF YOU CAN AND ENJOY!