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Mississippi

  • 1935
  • Approved
  • 1h 13m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
628
YOUR RATING
Joan Bennett, Bing Crosby, and W.C. Fields in Mississippi (1935)
ComedyMusical

Crosby plays a Philadelpia Quaker engaged to a Southern belle. He becomes a social outcast when he refuses to fight a duel. Fields then hires him to perform on his riverboat, promoting him a... Read allCrosby plays a Philadelpia Quaker engaged to a Southern belle. He becomes a social outcast when he refuses to fight a duel. Fields then hires him to perform on his riverboat, promoting him as "Colonel Steel...the notorious Colonel Steel...the singing killer." The plot then follow... Read allCrosby plays a Philadelpia Quaker engaged to a Southern belle. He becomes a social outcast when he refuses to fight a duel. Fields then hires him to perform on his riverboat, promoting him as "Colonel Steel...the notorious Colonel Steel...the singing killer." The plot then follows a predictable course, but there are plenty of scenes featuring W.C. Fields.

  • Directors
    • A. Edward Sutherland
    • Wesley Ruggles
  • Writers
    • Francis Martin
    • Jack Cunningham
    • Herbert Fields
  • Stars
    • Bing Crosby
    • W.C. Fields
    • Joan Bennett
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    628
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • A. Edward Sutherland
      • Wesley Ruggles
    • Writers
      • Francis Martin
      • Jack Cunningham
      • Herbert Fields
    • Stars
      • Bing Crosby
      • W.C. Fields
      • Joan Bennett
    • 23User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins total

    Photos25

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    Top cast71

    Edit
    Bing Crosby
    Bing Crosby
    • Tom Grayson
    W.C. Fields
    W.C. Fields
    • Commodore Jackson
    Joan Bennett
    Joan Bennett
    • Lucy
    Queenie Smith
    Queenie Smith
    • Alabam
    Gail Patrick
    Gail Patrick
    • Elvira
    Claude Gillingwater
    Claude Gillingwater
    • General Rumford
    John Miljan
    John Miljan
    • Major Patterson
    Jan Duggan
    Jan Duggan
    • Thrilled Passenger in Pilot House
    Fred Kohler
    Fred Kohler
    • Captain Blackie
    • (as Fred Kohler Sr.)
    Edward Pawley
    Edward Pawley
    • Joe Patterson
    Paul Hurst
    Paul Hurst
    • Hefty
    Theresa Maxwell Conover
    Theresa Maxwell Conover
    • Miss Markham
    The Cabin Kids
    John Larkin
    John Larkin
    • Rumbo
    Libby Taylor
    Libby Taylor
    • Lavinia
    Stanley Andrews
    Stanley Andrews
    • Gambler with 4 Aces
    • (uncredited)
    King Baggot
    King Baggot
    • Gambler
    • (uncredited)
    Roy Bailey
    • Pianist
    • (uncredited)
    • Directors
      • A. Edward Sutherland
      • Wesley Ruggles
    • Writers
      • Francis Martin
      • Jack Cunningham
      • Herbert Fields
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    6.5628
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    Featured reviews

    Vincentiu

    nice. only at first sigh

    a nice film about South. beautiful music, high class cast, humor and honor. in fact, a wonderful work because it has charm and courage, a new manner to present delicate problems, a brilliant Bing Crosby, magnificent performance by W. C. Fields ( sure, that could not be a real surprise ) and a wise director who does more than honorable job. the mixture of naivety and ironic picture of society, the fight scenes and the cards play scene, the songs and the air of lost world, soft, bitter and refreshing are pillars of a film who , at second sigh, seems be more than a classic but image for a state of soul. a nice movie. but only at first sigh. because, after a short time it becomes a kind of experience.
    10Melmoth-9

    It's a wonderful movie on many counts

    Mississippi is truly a wonderful movie, Fields or otherwise. Foremost is the music itself and the wonderful depiction of the old south. Crosby's singing is delightful, and, in fact, many people felt he'd stolen the movie from Fields upon its release. Field's humor is great with many wonderful bits. Blowing cigar smoke, for example into the barrels of unshot guns to show he was the one who fired is truly wonderful. The tone of this movie is so light and airy, and the love for the subject matter is so apparent that it adds an additional dimension to a movie that can stand strongly on its own. The love story might be viewed as sappy by our current sensibilities, but, given the time, it is lovely to view. The Singing Killer indeed!
    9kevino-4

    One of Field's funniest

    I haven't seen Mississippi in years but would buy it if released to video. Sometimes less is more and that is the case with W.C. who is hilarious in a supporting role. I suspect the movie would raise the PC bar higher than it's owner cares to leap, but if you get a chance to see it and you are a Field's fan it is well worth the time.
    7mgunning

    A tricky aspect

    I loved this film when I saw it on TV as a child, and remember tape recording the sound track and listening to it over and over again. Crosby's voice is resonant and powerful, while still retaining the intimate crooner aspect that made him famous.

    I love W. C. Fields, who does some of his best bits ("Women are like elephants. I like to look at them, but I wouldn't want to own one"), and isn't as boozy as he later became. Everything works here, but the underlying racism is disturbing. There is a sort of Steppin' Fetchit character who is slow and drawly, and the Cabin Kids are referred to as pickaninnies. Maybe this is why I only saw it once in about 1967, and never saw it again on TV.

    I did just snag a DVD on EBay, but from the look of the primitive cover, and no label at all on the disc, I think it's bootlegged. It's watchable, but not really a good copy. I think there was a commercial disc many years ago, but it's out of print. I hope Turner Classics shows it, as in the past they've shown films with racist content in context, with commentary by a black sociologist. These references may be cringe-inducing, but they are also extremely revealing of a social climate that went uncriticized.
    10golsen

    I wish I could buy a copy!

    I've seen this about twice, but many years ago. Perhaps a corny, old fashioned melodrama, but you get the combination of a very young Bing Crosby singing sweetly, and a very funny W.C. Fields. In one scene, Fields' character is setting in the Cabin bragging (telling lies,of course) about his exploits as an "Indian Fighter". A "Cigar-Store Indian" is being carried along the deck, and as it passes his window, he does a double-take, and proclaims: "Of course now, the Red Man and I have smoked the pipe of peace". I believe that circa 2001 some people find this racist. I felt that scene actually MADE FUN of his blustering attitude, and gave all people of good nature a laugh on the character.

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    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)
    Musical

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The lead role was intended for Lanny Ross, but Bing Crosby was cast because he was the more popular star instead. In fact, the songs were also selected especially for Ross, even though Crosby sings them in the final cut.
    • 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.
    • Quotes

      Commodore Jackson: Even a dead fish can float downstream.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Fashion Side of Hollywood (1935)
    • Soundtracks
      It's Easy to Remember (And So Hard to Forget)
      (1935)

      Music by Richard Rodgers

      Lyrics by Lorenz Hart

      Played often in the score

      Sung by Bing Crosby

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 22, 1935 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Äventyraren från Mississippi
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 13m(73 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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