Mississippi Burning (1988)

Director:

Alan Parker

Writer (WGA):

Chris Gerolmo (written by)

Release Date:

27 January 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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.

Plot Keywords:

FBI | Sheriff | Mississippi | Investigation | Murder

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 15 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Gene Hackman	...	Agent Rupert Anderson
Willem Dafoe	...	Agent Alan Ward
Frances McDormand	...	Mrs. Pell
Brad Dourif	...	Deputy Clinton Pell
R. Lee Ermey	...	Mayor Tilman
Gailard Sartain	...	Sheriff Ray Stuckey
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Clayton Townley
Michael Rooker	...	Frank Bailey
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Lester Cowans
Badja Djola	...	Agent Monk
Kevin Dunn	...	Agent Bird
Frankie Faison	...	Eulogist
Tom Mason	...	Judge
Geoffrey Nauffts	...	Goatee
Rick Zieff	...	Passenger
Christopher White	...	Black Passenger
Gladys Greer	...	Hattie
Jake Gipson	...	Mose
Dianne Lancaster	...	Waitress
Stanley W. Collins	...	Hollis
Daniel Winford	...	Fennis
Marc Clement	...	Floyd Swilley
Larry Shuler	...	Earl Cooke
Stephen Bridgewater	...	Wesley Cooke (as Stephen Wesley Bridgewater)
Bob Penny	...	Curtis Foy
James F. Moore	...	Barber
Park Overall	...	Connie
Georgia F. Wise	...	Beauty Parlor Woman 1
Lois Allen	...	Beauty Parlor Woman 2
Barry Davis Jim Sr.	...	Choctaw Man
Dan Desmond	...	Television Commentator
Darius McCrary	...	Aaron Williams (as Daruis McCrary)
Lou Walker	...	Vertis Williams
Billie Jean Young	...	Mrs. Williams
Alisa R. Patrick	...	Church Soloist
Barbara Gibson	...	Church Soloist
Pat Funderburk	...	Pell Maid
Dawn Boyd	...	Interviewee
Dwight Boyd	...	Interviewee
Linda Fuller	...	Interviewee
George Isbell	...	Interviewee
Ethel L. Mayes	...	Interviewee
James Arnold Mayes	...	Interviewee
George Mason	...	Farmer
Charles Franzen	...	Interviewer & Reporter
Harry Franklin	...	SNCC Interviewer
Virginia Bennett	...	SNCC Interviewee
James Lloyd	...	SNCC Interviewee
Jesse Merle Speaks	...	Pecan Vendor
Simeon Teague	...	Obie Walker
Tonea Stewart	...	Mrs. Walker
Rev. Harry Quick	...	Doctor
Cullen Gilliland	...	Lawyer
Zeke Davidson	...	Lawyer
Robert F. Colesberry	...	Cameraman
Frederick Zollo	...	Reporter
Judy Sasser	...	Neighbor Woman
Mark Jeffrey Miller	...	Fire Bomber
Ed Geldart	...	Fire Bomber
Mert Hatfield	...	Fire Bomber
James Eric	...	Fire Bomber
Paul Savelis	...	Trooper
John P. Fertitta	...	T.V. Commentator #2
Ron De Roxtra	...	Reporter #3
Doug Jackson	...	Reporter #4
Gary Moody	...	Reporter #5
Robert Erickson	...	Reporter #6
John Brook	...	Reporter #7
Tobin Bell	...	Agent Stokes
Daniel Chapman	...	Agent MacMillan
Rick Washburn	...	Agent Brodsky
Robert Glaudini	...	Agent Nash (as Bob Glaudini)
Kenneth Magee	...	Agent Reilly
E.A. Thrall	...	Agent Tubbs
Bernice Poindexter	...	Grieving Mother
Brenda Dunlap	...	Mrs. Cowens
Lannie Spann McBride	...	Gospel Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ralnardo Davis	...	Willie (uncredited)
Paul Henderson	...	Local #1 (uncredited)
W. Mitchell Morgan	...	Angry reporter on bridge (uncredited)
Ralph Pruitt Vaughn	...	Peckerwood (uncredited)
Everett Thrall	...	Agent Tubbs (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan Parker

Writing credits (WGA)
Chris Gerolmo		(written by)

Produced by
Robert F. Colesberry	....	producer
Frederick Zollo	....	producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Peter Biziou		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Gerry Hambling

Casting by
Howard Feuer
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Philip Harrison
Geoffrey Kirkland

Art Direction by
John Willett

Set Decoration by
Jim Erickson

Costume Design by
Aude Bronson-Howard

Makeup Department
David Forrest	....	makeup designer (as David Craig Forrest)
Paul LeBlanc	....	hair designer

Production Management
Tom Razzano	....	unit production manager (as Thomas A. Razzano)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carol D. Bonnefil	....	second second assistant director
Brenda Kalosh	....	second assistant director
Aldric La'Auli Porter	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Steve Arnold	....	assistant art director
David Brace	....	lead person
E.W. Bradford	....	construction coordinator (as Bill Bradford)
Sharleen Bright	....	stand-by scenic artist
John Bromell	....	set dresser (as John T. Bromell)
Robert L. Cain	....	set dresser
Joseph Ciraolo	....	set painter
Roger Dietz	....	scenic artist
James C. Feng	....	assistant art director (as James Feng)
Daniel Fisher	....	art department assistant
Margery Z. Gabrielson	....	sign painter (as Margery Gabrielson)
John Harrington	....	construction gang boss
Jerry G. Henery	....	construction foreman
Wendell A. Bud Hill II	....	construction gang boss
David W. Howell	....	assistant props (as David Howell)
John A. Kelly	....	set painter (as John Kelly)
Gretchen Rau	....	assistant set decorator
Claude Riptoe	....	assistant props
Angela K. Salinas	....	art production assistant
'Polar Bear' Shaw	....	set dresser (as George Stewart Shaw)
Tim Short	....	construction gang boss
Michael J. Siver	....	greens consultant (as Mike Siver)
Ron Stone	....	property master (as Ronald Stone)
Carl C. Thomas	....	assistant sign painter
Dwain Wilson	....	key set dresser (as Dwain F. Wilson)

Sound Department
David Grannis	....	assistant sound editor
Pieter Hubbard	....	sound editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Richard C. Kline)
Bruce Lacey	....	sound editor
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Robert Litt)
Danny Michael	....	sound recordist
Bill Phillips	....	supervising sound editor
John Phillips	....	sound editor
Hal Sanders	....	sound editor
Anthony Starbuck	....	boom operator
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Roger Lifsey	....	special effects assistant (as Roger W. Lifsey)
Bill Gene Murphy	....	special effects assistant
Stan Parks	....	special effects coordinator
Kevin Quibell	....	special effects assistant (as Kevin S. Quibell)

Stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts (as Dick Butler)
Greg Wayne Elam	....	stunts (as Greg Elam)
Kirk Elam	....	stunts
Steve Kelso	....	stunts
A. Michael Lerner	....	stunts (as Michael Lerner)
George Robotham	....	stunts
John Robotham	....	stunt coordinator
John Robotham	....	stunts
Peter Stader	....	stunts
Kym Washington	....	stunts (as Kim Washington)
Richard Washington	....	stunts
Russell Saunders	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
David Appleby	....	special still photographer
Peter Bloor	....	lighting consultant
Jim Carroll	....	electrician (as James Carroll)
Brad Chelesvig	....	musco light operator
James Donahue	....	best boy (as Jim Donahue)
Robert Edesa	....	second camera operator
Clyde Allen Harrison III	....	grip
Don Humer	....	second assistant camera (as Donald L. Humer)
Bob Leitelt	....	grip (as Robert Leitelt)
Dennis J. Lootens	....	electrician (as Dennis Lootens)
Ian Lynch	....	second assistant camera
Willie Mann	....	best boy
Chris McGuire	....	electrician
Mike Moad	....	dolly grip
Eamonn O'Keeffe	....	first assistant camera
Richard Osborn Jr.	....	second assistant camera (as Richard G. Osborn Jr.)
Michael Papadapolous	....	electrician (as Mike Papadopoulous)
Les Percy	....	key grip
Mike Roberts	....	camera operator (as Michael Roberts)
Charles Smith	....	grip
Jack R. Thomas	....	grip
Michael Trim	....	gaffer
Richard Rucks Wilkinson	....	electrician
Peter Bloor	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Ron Kunecke	....	musco light operator (uncredited)
Merrick Morton	....	special still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kay Bostic	....	location casting assistant
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Elsie Julian	....	location casting assistant
Shari Rhodes	....	location casting
Charles Ivan Seybert	....	location casting assistant
Elyn Wright	....	location casting assistant
David Glanzer	....	location casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lisa Cauthen	....	wardrobe assistant
Elizabeth Feldbauer	....	wardrobe assistant
Cynthia L. Hamilton	....	assistant costume designer (as Cynthia Hamilton)
Cheryl Kilbourne-Kimpton	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Cheryl Kilbourne)
Ellen Lutter	....	wardrobe supervisor
Suzanne McCabe	....	wardrobe assistant
Ingrid Price	....	wardrobe supervisor
David C. Robinson	....	costume dyer/painter (as David Carl Robinson)
Ramona Ward	....	wardrobe assistant
Margaret Yule	....	wardrobe supervisor
Helen P. Butler	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Glenn Cunningham	....	first assistant editor
Mayin Lo	....	second assistant editor
John Marston	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Paul Hulme	....	music engineer
Lannie Spann McBride	....	consultant: gospel music

Transportation Department
Kevin Brune	....	picture car assistant
Richard A. Davis	....	transportation captain (as Rick Davis)
Michael Jackman	....	picture car coordinator (as Michael A. Jackman)
Jerry Jackson	....	transportation coordinator
Jeff Long	....	transportation co-captain (as Jeffrey Mark Long)
Chad Shuttleworth	....	picture car assistant
Caroline Korney	....	transportation dispatcher (uncredited)

Other crew
Alexis Alexanian	....	office coordinator
Jere Barrier	....	production assistant
Pat Beaupre	....	assistant location manager
Jon Bergholz	....	dispatcher
Michael Boonstra	....	assistant production coordinator
Beth Boyd	....	location assistant: Alabama
Chris Bromley	....	location assistant: Mississippi
Judith Lyn Brown	....	production coordinator
Joe Burns	....	set production assistant (as Joseph Burns)
Jane Callahan	....	nurse
Samuel L. Cauthen	....	animal wrangler (as Sammy Cauthen)
Lydia Dean Pilcher	....	supervising location manager
Cannon Fannin	....	production assistant
Kenneth Freed	....	production accountant
Tammy E. Freeman	....	production assistant
Peter Govey	....	film titles
Jim Griffin	....	production assistant
Patricia Grivetti	....	assistant auditor
Sabrina Guinness	....	assistant: Mr. Colesberry
Glenn Kaufmann	....	production assistant
Robert Langford	....	craft service
David Linck	....	unit publicist
Charles M. Lum	....	production assistant
Wilson Lyle	....	craft service
Ann F. Markel	....	assistant location coordinator
Sandra McBride	....	production assistant
Craig A. McCraw	....	location assistant: Alabama
Tom Moore	....	production assistant
Virginia Moore	....	production assistant
Sandy Nelson	....	location manager: Alabama
Alex Parker	....	set production assistant
Grant Reid	....	location assistant: Mississippi (as Grant H. Reid)
Riley Robinson	....	production assistant
Vicki Dee Rock	....	assistant auditor (as Vicki Dee)
Gilly Ruben	....	assistant: Mr. Parker
Alexandra Schwartz	....	assistant: Mr. Zollo
Erica Simpson	....	production assistant
Max Snow	....	production auditor
Robin Squibb	....	script supervisor
Annie Laura Stewart	....	location coordinator
Gay Thomas	....	production assistant
Joseph Williams	....	set production assistant
Kevin Beard	....	stand-in (uncredited)
John Jabaley	....	production assistant (uncredited)
John Marston	....	location projectionist (uncredited)

Thanks
Jay S. Harris	....	special thanks
John Horn	....	thanks
Ray Mabus	....	thanks (as Governor Ray Mabus)
Maida N. Morgan	....	thanks
Nicholas Paleologos	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (1989) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Avsar Film (1990) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (1989) (Australia) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1993) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Germany) (VHS)
• Flashstar Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1989) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (1998) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Orion Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  opticals
• For Stars Catering  catering
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Warner Hollywood Studios  sound re-recording

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | Ireland:18 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Braxton, Mississippi, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Many of the extras participating in Clayton Townley's speech scene were actual members of the Klu Klux Klan and used their clan membership cards as ID (according to Stephen Tobolowsky in Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party (2005)).

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.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Howard Stern on Demand: The Daniel Carver Roast" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Making Believe

The Best Film of 1988

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 ****.