Life on the Mississippi (1980) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Peter H. Hunt

Writers:

Mark Twain (book)
Philip H. Reisman Jr. (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 November 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Most mid-19th-century Mississippi River boys dreamed of occupying that pinnacle of power and glamour...

Plot Keywords:

Riverboat | Semi Autobiographical | Based On Book

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Robert Lansing	...	Horace Bixby
David Knell	...	Sam Clemens
James Keane	...	Mr. Ealer
Donald Madden	...	Mr. Brown
John Pankow	...	George Richie
Bill Holliday	...	Mr. Thornburg
Luke Reilly	...	Tom
Marcy Walker	...	Emmeline
Don Brady	...	Mr. Leathers
Jack Lawrence	...	'Paul Jones' Captain
John Kirk	...	Mate on 'Paul Jones'
Bill Atwood	...	Watchman on 'Paul Jones'
Thom Thomas	...	Clerk on 'Paul Jones'
Jim Babrowski	...	Preacher
Douglas Wells	...	Mr. Grogan

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Great Amwell Company

Trivia:

Donald Madden's final TV performance.

Quotes:

Bixby: There she is, boy, the Mississippi, 1200 miles of her, and the whole way is paving stones with the bones of dead steamboats and the reputations of dunderhead pilots!

Captures the essence of Mark Twain

Mark Twain (Samuel L. Clemens) loved steamboating. He said that the ambition of every boy in Hannibal, Missouri, was to become the pilot of a grand and mighty steamboat. He realized his dream. He became a cub pilot under master pilot Horace Bixby. This movie accurately represents the trials, dangers, and adventures of steamboating in America in the middle of the 19th century. Robert Lansing deserved an Academy Award for his portrayal of Horace Bixby. His gruff manner, tender heart, and deep-down love of the steamboat life comes through. If you have never read a book by Mark Twain, and don't intend to, the best thing you can do is watch this movie. It will tell you what Twain was all about.