The Mississippi Gambler

"The Mississippi Gambler" is largely responsible for the downfall of Tyrone Power's marriage to Linda Christian. The film was originally developed as a vehicle for the two of them, but Universal Pictures prevailed and Piper Laurie was cast. As Laurie herself put it, "When I did the test, my competition was Mrs. Power!" Christian never forgave her husband. Add to that his affair with Anita Ekberg (who is uncredited in this movie), and you've got a recipe for divorce.

Needless to say, the role was tailor-made for Power - that of a handsome, honorable, gentleman-gambler who's in love with one woman, Angelique (Laurie) and has the love of another, Ann (Julia Adams). Power is magnificently handsome, if maybe a little too old for this part. He is meticulously dressed and has the opportunity to show off his sword play. It's an excellent role for him, and one he does beautifully.

The production values are sumptuous, including the sets, costumes, and a marvelous supporting cast which includes John McIntyre, Ron Randell, and John Baer, and the wonderful Paul Cavanagh, who plays Angelique's father. Laurie, once the President of her local Tyrone Power Fan Club, is exquisite in the ingénue role. The beautiful Julia Adams (who looks eerily like Connie Selleca in this film) does a great job of suffering from unrequited love.

Nearly twenty years of working at Twentieth Century Fox had taught Power a lot. This film was a huge hit and, with a percentage of the gross, made a ton of money for him. He needed it for the divorce settlement.

Excellent and a bit different action type story line. Great mix, of old world, upper echelon Mississippi River gambling life. Also the rift between "commoners" and the "rich elite" who like to make believe they don't have all the same feelings and faults like us average folk. It has a good supporting cast as well. Tyrone Power was a bit older by this move but we all age and he still looks darn good. He also is still a fine actor and personality and can command the screen too. It's has some excellent sword play and it also provides a bit of a real fencing education. Besides all that it's in color and It's got Julie Adams and Piper Laurie too!

Tyrone Power does a fine turn as a gambler who prevails at cards and life by playing honestly at both. Director Billy Wilder later used Power's talent at playing the honest-joe in Witness for the Prosecution. In the latter movie, Power's characterization is richer and more nuanced than here(but you'll need to see Witness to find out why!). Seton I. Miller, the chief screenwriter for Mississippi Gambler, worked with Powers in an earlier movie, The Black Swan. Both movies feature a dance sequence highlighting black "ethnic" musicians and dancers. Gwen Verdon provides the dancing talent in Mississippi Gambler. Worth watching for the lavish costumes, detailed sets, and excellent cast. Sadly, by the time this movie was made, Power had lost the aura that caused him to shine as a younger star.

Mississippi Gambler was Tyrone Power's first film since Darryl Zanuck loaned him to MGM for Marie Antoinette away from Twentieth Century Fox. Ty produced this one and filmed it under the banner of Universal- International. It got deserved good reviews.

No actor in the history of cinema was better suited to period pieces and costumes as Tyrone Power. If Power had been possessed of a good singing voice he'd have made the ultimate Gaylord Ravenal.

As Mark Fallon he's a gentlemen riverboat gambler who gets involved with a pair of women, the spoiled Piper Laurie from an aristocratic New Orleans family and Julie Adams, a down to earth person of few pretensions, but she comes to love Ty deeply. Who could blame her.

Ty with partner John McIntire set out to and succeed in owning a gambling palace where honest games of chance are the rule. They don't need to cheat because they're both the best at their trade.

Villain of the piece is John Baer, Laurie's weakwilled and spoiled brother. He becomes a truly hateful person in this film, the kind audiences love to hiss.

Making a film debut here is Dennis Weaver as a man who goes broke at Power's tables and then commits suicide. You could tell Weaver was going to have a big career from this brief role. You can also spot Guy Williams as one of Baer's aristocratic friends.

If Universal had used one of their contract players for Mississippi Gambler, the part would undoubtedly have been played by the fast rising Rock Hudson. But I don't think Rock could have touched what Power did in a role perfectly suited for him.

Hopefully Mississippi Gambler will come out on Video and DVD soon. Too many of Tyrone Power's performances are unseen by today's generation.

Seton I. Miller's script for the "Mississippi Gambler" is his masterwork. Ther film is beautifully directed, and for once at UniversalStudios, it even looks like an "A" budget effort much of the time. The costumes are stunning, the storyline continually enthralling and the characters frankly unforgettable. Tyrone Power is a few years too old for the part of Mark Fallon, prototype of many a later gambler in westerns; but his acting in my professional judgment in this film is the best he ever did. Lovely young Piper Laurie's and intelligence both serve her in her portrayal of a skittish young Southern belle running away from her attraction to Fallon. Others in the stellar cast include John McIntire as Mr. Polly, Ron Randell as Fallon's rival, Ralph Dumke, King Donovan, Julie Adams, Dennis Weaver and first and foremost veteran Cavanagh as Ms. Dureaux, notorious rake in his time who sees his sins visited on his uncontrollable son and daughter. The theme of the film is honesty; Power wants to be an honest gambler on the Mississippi where a jackal's code is the norm. Bue Fallon has one weapon on his side in his unequal battle,; he is the best swordsman in the world. He sets out to build a life with only those two weapons. Ther film's action sequences are unusually fine, and the dialogue is frequently superb, and the characters unforgettable. This film out of nowhere became a top ten hit in the busy film year of 1953, helped by Gwen Verdon's choreography, the serviceable music by Frank Skinner and the production values of sets, lighting and art direction that make the feature seem even more expensive that it was to create. A minor masterpiece, and a memorable romance; it is also that rarity, an historical film of ideas as well as sparkling adventures. One of the great movies by any standard.