Great Performances (TV Series)
Life on the Mississippi (1980)
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- Not Rated
- 1h 55min
- Music, Musical
- 24 Nov 1980
- TV Episode
Most mid-19th-century Mississippi River boys dreamed of occupying that pinnacle of power and glamour, the pilot house of a riverboat. In a riot of local color, this film tells how, unlike many, Sam's dream comes true. A callow teenager, he...
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Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Robert Lansing | ... |
Horace Bixby
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| David Knell | ... |
Sam Clemens
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| James Keane | ... |
Mr. Ealer
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| Donald Madden | ... |
Mr. Brown
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| John Pankow | ... |
George Richie
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Bill Holliday | ... |
Mr. Thornburg
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Luke Reilly | ... |
Tom
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| Marcy Walker | ... |
Emmeline
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Don Brady | ... |
Mr. Leathers
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Jack Lawrence | ... |
'Paul Jones' Captain
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John Kirk | ... |
Mate on 'Paul Jones'
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Bill Atwood | ... |
Watchman on 'Paul Jones'
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Thom Thomas | ... |
Clerk on 'Paul Jones'
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Jim Babrowski | ... |
Preacher
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Douglas Wells | ... |
Mr. Grogan
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Barbara Chaney | ... |
Mrs. Thurlow
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Collins Bell | ... |
Mr. Thurlow
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Lyla Owen | ... |
Mrs. Pelligrew
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Don Lutenbacher | ... |
Mr. Pelligrew
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Harry Gorsuch | ... |
Ben
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Robert Borwick | ... |
Henry
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Wayne Dickson | ... |
Mate on 'Aleck Scott'
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Norma Schwied | ... |
Actress
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Thomas Kent | ... |
Actor
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Stanley J. Reyes | ... |
Captain Kleinfelter
(as Stanley Reyes)
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Robert E. Anderson | ... |
Kid in Tree (uncredited)
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Tim Gamble | ... |
Horse Trader (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Peter H. Hunt | ||
Written by
| Mark Twain | ... | (book) |
| Philip H. Reisman Jr. | ... | (screenplay) |
| John Hartford | ... | () (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Peter H. Hunt | ... | producer |
| Marshall Jamison | ... | executive producer |
| William P. Perry | ... | producer |
Music by
| William P. Perry | ... | (as William Perry) |
Cinematography by
| Walter Lassally | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Cynthia Scheider | ||
Editorial Department
| Jonathan Cohen | ... | associate film editor |
| Dow McKeever | ... | apprentice film editor |
Casting By
| Jane Iredale | ||
Art Direction by
| Bill Groom | ||
Set Decoration by
| Richard Lordi | ||
| Linda Mazur | ||
Costume Design by
| Vel Riberto | ||
Makeup Department
| David Forrest | ... | makeup artist (as David Craig Forrest) |
| Ted Long | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
| David R. Kappes | ... | production manager (as David Kappes) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Ellis Toney | ... | second assistant director |
| Jerry Ziesmer | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Peter K. Dunbar | ... | second props |
| Matthew C. Jacobs | ... | assistant art director (as Matthew Jacobs) |
| Christian Kelly | ... | property master |
Sound Department
| Jack Cooley | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Samantha Heilwell | ... | sound recordist |
| Larry Hoff | ... | sound recordist (as Lawrence Hoff) |
| Ron Kalish | ... | sound editor |
| Al Nahmias | ... | sound editor |
| Tom Nelson | ... | sound recordist (as Thomas Nelson) |
| Bitty O'Sullivan-Smith | ... | assistant sound editor |
Stunts
| Hubie Kerns Jr. | ... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| John D. Burkley | ... | gaffer |
| Don Cerrone | ... | key grip (as Donald Cerrone) |
| Phil Clark | ... | second grip |
| Thomas C. Dischert | ... | best boy |
| Tom Paul Hoppe | ... | first assistant camera |
| Briggs Palmer | ... | camera loader (as Briggs S. Palmer) |
| Robert Schulman | ... | electrician |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Roberta Favant | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Laurel Hargarten | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Robert M. Hines | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Wendy Hubschman | ... | wardrobe assistant |
Location Management
| Harrold Kappes | ... | location manager (as Harold Kappes) |
Music Department
| John Hartford | ... | music arranger: river songs |
| Richard Hayman | ... | orchestrator |
| Dan Pinsky | ... | music editor |
| Leonard Slatkin | ... | conductor |
| St. Louis Symphony Orchestra | ... | music performers |
Script and Continuity Department
| Janet Merwin | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Frederick Anderson | ... | scholarly advisor |
| Brenda Bareika | ... | assistant to executive producer |
| Walter Blair | ... | scholarly advisor |
| William M. Gibson | ... | scholarly advisor |
| Justin Kaplan | ... | scholarly advisor |
| Kimberly Myers | ... | production office coordinator |
| Henry Nash Smith | ... | scholarly advisor |
| Dennis Trone | ... | consultant: riverboat (as Captain Dennis Trone) |
| Laurie Zwicky | ... | director of research |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Great Performances
- Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1980) (United States) (tv) (original airing)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Most mid-19th-century Mississippi River boys dreamed of occupying that pinnacle of power and glamour, the pilot house of a riverboat. In a riot of local color, this film tells how, unlike many, Sam's dream comes true. A callow teenager, he talks the tough but consummate Horace Bixby into making him his apprentice on the "Paul Jones," eventually following him to the much finer "Aleck Scott." Meanwhile, he is already spinning fantastic yarns to everyone from awe-struck lads ashore, to fellow "cub pilots", to young lady passengers who catch his eye. Things temporarily take a turn for the worse when Bixby must attend a meeting and leave Sam to work under Brown, a dour tyrant with a grudge against him.
Written by Paul Emmons |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Donald Madden's final TV performance. See more » |
| Quotes |
George Ritchie:
Bixby and Ealer now, midnight's as good as daylight for them. If they ain't got a moon to steer by, they use lightnin' bugs. See more » |