Product Details

• Actors: Robert Lansing, David Knell, James Keane, Donald Madden, John Pankow
• Directors: Peter H. Hunt
• Writers: Mark Twain, Philip H. Reisman Jr.
• Producers: Peter H. Hunt, Marshall Jamison, William P. Perry
• Format: NTSC, Color, Dolby
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MCA Home Video
• VHS Release Date: March 1, 1992
• Run Time: 114 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300183653
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #192,635 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captures the humor and authenticity of Twain's tale., September 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Life on the Mississippi (Mark Twain Classics) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a wonderful adaptation of Twain's autobiographical tale of a young man learning the profession of riverboat pilot in the mid-1800s. Young Sam (Clemens) convinces veteran pilot Mr. Bixby to take him on as a "cub" to learn the Mississippi river and become qualified as a pilot (the man who really operates a steamboat, not the captain). Robert Lansing's portrayal of Bixby sets the tone and authenticity of the world of the riverboat pilot, a profession that is as much a calling as the clergy or medicine. Young David Knell does a remarkable job of portraying the well-meaning neophyte who grows from ignorant beginner to seasoned veteran during the course of the story. What makes this movie a joy, though, is the humor and storytelling that made Mark Twain one of America's best-loved authors. A perfect family movie.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Beware of shorter video versions!, April 13, 2008

By 

C. Marchand (Baton Rouge, LA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Life on the Mississippi (Mark Twain Classics) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The original PBS aired version (and original VHS release) runs 115 minutes. Later video releases cut it to 54 minutes and are awful - half the movie is gone, making it a real mess to watch. Check the running time BEFORE buying a video version -- if it's not 115 minutes, pass!

Hopefully all of Peter Hunt's wonderful Mark Twain adaptations will be put out on DVD complete and uncut.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life on the Mississippi, March 8, 2010

By 

Constance Blake (Citrus Heights, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Life on the Mississippi (Mark Twain Classics) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

All of the Mark Twain Classics are excellent and very unusual. I would reccommend them to anyone who is looking for a movie that is quite different and very entertaining. I have bought the whole set of six from Amazon and I truly treasure them. The actors are unknown to me, which is refreshing. They do a excellent job of acting; in fact, you feel it is Mark Twain, himself, up there on the screen. They only come in VHS and are getting harder to find. But definitely worth your time.
Constance Blake
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