Great Performances Life on the Mississippi
Not Rated
TV Episode | 115 min | Music, Musical

Great Performances

Life on the Mississippi

Not Rated

TV Episode | 115 min | Music, Musical

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...See moreMost 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 See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
27 cast members

Name	Known for
Robert Lansing Horace Bixby Horace Bixby See fewer	4D Man (1959)
David Knell Sam Clemens Sam Clemens See fewer	Pig (I) (2021)
James Keane Mr. Ealer Mr. Ealer See fewer	Apocalypse Now (1979)
Donald Madden Mr. Brown Mr. Brown See fewer	1776 (1972)
John Pankow George Richie George Richie See fewer	To Live and Die in L.A. (1985)
Bill Holliday Mr. Thornburg Mr. Thornburg See fewer	The Toy (1982)
Luke Reilly Tom Tom See fewer	Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Marcy Walker Emmeline Emmeline See fewer	Santa Barbara (1984)
Don Brady Mr. Leathers Mr. Leathers See fewer	Lolita (1997)
Jack Lawrence 'Paul Jones' Captain 'Paul Jones' Captain See fewer	Great Performances (1971)
John Kirk Mate on 'Paul Jones' Mate on 'Paul Jones' See fewer	Great Performances (1971)
Bill Atwood Watchman on 'Paul Jones' Watchman on 'Paul Jones' See fewer	Stingray (1978)
Thom Thomas Clerk on 'Paul Jones' Clerk on 'Paul Jones' See fewer	A Loving Gentleman
Jim Babrowski Preacher Preacher See fewer	Great Performances (1971)
Douglas Wells Mr. Grogan Mr. Grogan See fewer	Great Performances (1971)
Barbara Chaney Mrs. Thurlow Mrs. Thurlow See fewer	In the Heat of the Night (1988)
Collins Bell Mr. Thurlow Mr. Thurlow See fewer	Great Performances (1971)
Lyla Owen Mrs. Pelligrew Mrs. Pelligrew See fewer	French Quarter Undercover (1985)
Don Lutenbacher Mr. Pelligrew Mr. Pelligrew See fewer	The Big Easy (1986)
Harry Gorsuch Ben Ben See fewer	On the Right Track (1981)
Robert Borwick Henry Henry See fewer	Great Performances (1971)
Wayne Dickson Mate on 'Aleck Scott' Mate on 'Aleck Scott' See fewer	Great Performances (1971)
Norma Schwied Actress Actress See fewer	Great Performances (1971)
Thomas Kent Actor Actor See fewer	Grand Tour: Disaster in Time (1991)
Stanley J. Reyes Captain Kleinfelter (as Stanley Reyes) Captain Kleinfelter (as Stanley Reyes) See fewer	Obsession (1976)
Robert E. Anderson Kid in Tree (uncredited) Kid in Tree (uncredited) See fewer
Tim Gamble Horse Trader (uncredited) Horse Trader (uncredited) See fewer	The Breakfast Club (1985)