IMDb > Mississippi Burning (1988)
Mississippi Burning
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Mississippi Burning (1988) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 6 NEW)
Mississippi Burning (1988) -- Two FBI agents with wildly different styles arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of some civil rights activists.
Mississippi Burning (1988) -- Two FBI agents with wildly different styles arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of some civil rights activists.
Mississippi Burning (1988) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
Mississippi Burning (1988) -- MyMovies.Net - Trailer (WM9 - 56kbps)
Mississippi Burning (1988) -- MyMovies.Net - Trailer (WM9 - 128kbps)

Overview

User Rating:
7.8/10   20,136 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Alan Parker
Writer (WGA):
Chris Gerolmo (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Mississippi Burning on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 January 1989 (USA) more
Tagline:
1964. When America was at war with itself.
Plot:
Two FBI agents with wildly different styles arrive in Mississippi to investigate the disappearance of some civil rights activists. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 15 wins & 16 nominations more
User Comments:
The Best Film of 1988 more (127 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
128 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby SR
Filming Locations:
Braxton, Mississippi, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Don Johnson campaigned heavily for the role that went to Willem Dafoe. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: In one shot during the attempted lynching of Vertis Williams, the "noose" becomes detached on one side and flops from his neck while he is suspended in the air. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Driver: Uh, oh.
Passenger: What is it?
Passenger: [seeing the car behind them] What do they want?
Driver: I don't know... just pass me... pass me...
Driver: [trying to identify the following car] Is it a cop?
Passenger: I can't see.
[they are hit from behind]
Driver: What the fuck are these jokers playin' at?
Rear passenger: Oh, they ain't playin', you better believe it.
[they are hit again]
Passenger: What're we gonna do?
Driver: I don't know... OK, hold on, you guys.
[he veers to a side road]
Passenger: There's a truck, too.
[the car behind them turns on its roof light]
Driver: Shit, it *is* a cop.
Passenger: Better stop.
Driver: OK, sit tight, you guys. Don't say anything; let me talk... All right? We'll be all right; just relax.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Atomic Brain (#6.18)" (1993) more
Soundtrack:
Making Believe more

FAQ

How does it end?
more
47 out of 55 people found the following comment useful.
The Best Film of 1988, 19 June 1999
Author: DanB-4 from Canada

Great movies are ones that invoke a strong emotional response that lingers long after the movie is over. Mississippi Burning is that kind of film. You may love it, you may hate it. You may think that it is an accurate depiction of the south in 1964, you may think its pure fiction. No matter what you will respond strongly.

Director Alan Parker has been down this road before with Midnight Express, another crushing, gut-wrenching tale based on a true story. In both cases, a great deal of liberty is taken with the facts, but that doesn't matter. Mississippi Burning is not a docudrama or an A & E special, it is at its heart, a police drama, and a near perfect one at that.

It is criticized by some for its depiction of southerners of the time as a group of brain-dead racists with no moral fiber whatsoever. I don't believe that is the movie's intention, but it spends time showing this side of society to make us understand how hate breeds itself, and how it becomes a way of life and an accepted standard. As one character states, "When we were seven years old, they told us that segregation was in the bible. You hear that long enough, you start to believe it".

Mississippi Burning won a (well-deserved) Oscar for cinematography, but sat and watched Rain Main take home the majors. It was clearly the best film of 1988 and stands as one of the great works of American cinema of the 80's. Hackman and Dafoe are at their best, and Frances McDormand delivers a beautifully understated, powerful performance as the deputy's wife - a woman at war with her sense of right and wrong, struggling with fear and loyalty. Her character is the centerpiece of the movie.

This is not a preachy or melodramatic movie. You won't get a lecture on why racism is wrong. You will get an rich, engaging crime drama depicting a pivotal time in American History, and you will never forget it.

**** out of ****.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (127 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Mississippi Burning (1988)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
When Pell beats his wife... lisacamillek
best line in the film... HapppinessAZ
How loudly did you cheer... Governor_Sarah_Palin
What is your favorit e line from the movie kornbread2000
Casting question about interviewees stevem-26
In Appreciation of... Brad Dourif robhiphop
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
A Time to Kill A Bronx Tale Malcolm X In the Heat of the Night The Believer
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Crime section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.