*POWERFUL* Mississippi Burning (1988) FIRST TIME WATCHING Movie Reaction 

I worked as a production assistant (one of many) on this film while they were shooting in Jackson, MS. When we went to Philadelphia, MS which was about an hour away, the residents were pissed that we were even there. They said were stirring up trouble. Messing with things best left forgotten.

Philadelphia, Mississippi - June 1964 saw the murder of civil rights workers 20-year-old Andrew Goodman, 24--year-old Michael Schwerner and 21-year-old James Chaney. They were buried in a pond dam under construction. But the outrage it caused saw the passage that year of the Civil Rights Act and the following year, the Voting Rights Act. Of the 21 members indicted by the Feds (the state refused to charge them), those 6 convicted actually served minor time and were back walking the streets of Philadelphia. I'm glad you chose to react to this movie. Things in Philadelphia have changed a lot, but this is history and needs to be told so it can never be allowed to creep back into society.

Before I even start the reaction, I just wanted to say that I appreciate you doing movies that don't get covered as often. Please don't be afraid to stray from the norm. While I know there will always 'popular' movies pop up, seeing people do ones like this means a lot. I went ahead and subbed because it's a nice change of pace.

I agree "A Tine to Kill" is also fantastic. There are others too. I'm also thankful, on this Thanksgiving, that I wasn't raised to hate.

Them feds should've given that deputy's wife federal protection after she told them where the bodies were buried.

This movie is beyond all doubt my favorite movie of all time. It’s not a “feel good” movie nor does it cheapen the dark history it covers by turning it into a tacky horror movie. It presents the events EXACTLY as they should be: raw, emotional, infuriating,and saddening. The actors are all incredible. And the story of piecing together the timeline of events is engaging. I’ve watched this movie at least a dozen times and every time it’s as good and as devastating as the first

This was no doubt a serious movie, but Gene Hackman still made me laugh. There is just something about his disposition that humor just ooozes out not deliberately.

More reactors need to react to this movie. All time great.

Enjoyed your reaction very much. History is important. Ignorance is a tool for evil.

One of Gene Hackman's BEST films.

The single most powerful film I've ever watched. And a great reaction

"What's the point of burning your own community." There isn't one. But, when you've been tormented by the powers that be and can't fight back without facing something even worse, you're going to reach a breaking point. Something has to break and that frustration needs somewhere to go.

Thank you for this. Far too few reactions to this one. I can tell you I've lived around this all my life, and none of the views have gone away. All that's changed is how easy it is for them to get away with it. The hate is very much still alive. The fight against it is nowhere near through.

This is such an intense retelling of true events. Definitely one of my favorite movies.

I think you're the second one to react to the film, congratulations. I hope you'll be the first to react to another Alan Parker's masterpiece: "Midnight Express".

Some schools taught this history but many did not, which is a disservice to children and the educational system. I watched this film many years ago and I read about the murders of the three students. What I did not learn in school, I was intrigued enough to spend endless hours in the public library. I discovered so much reading about the Civil rights movement , segregation, as well as the atrocities of the Holocaust and Japanese interment camps in WWII. I was fortunate to have good teachers but I was interest in learning more on my own. Sometimes history can be uncomfortable but it can make us better people. Thanks for your great reaction.

I had an entire section in US history about civil rights during this time. Our history teacher actually let us watch this movie in class with our parents permission.

Gene Hackman is him. One of the best movies ever made.

For another related film, you should do "In the Heat of the Night" (1967) which won 5 Oscars and a movie you would enjoy as well. Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger are _awesome_ in it, and the supporting actors deliver great performances. ✌😎

Mississippi Burning is available to watch for free with adds on RU-vid. I highly recommend watching this masterpiece before it gets rotated out of RU-vid free movies.

A brilliant film with a great cast, Gene Hackman is superb

There’s an episode of FBI files that digs heavily into this Mississippi burning.

Hello from Ontario Canada I am 44 I was a kid when this movie came out its a great movie that is based on a true story fun fact the FBI solved the case of the missing civil rights workers with the help from a Capo in the Colombo crime family in New York the Colombo Crime family is one of the five New York Italian Mafia Families the Interrogator in this movie they called in was actually based on an actual character by the name of Gregory Scarpa whom as I mentioned previous was a Capo and hitman in the Colombo Crime family not only was he in the Mafia he was also an FBI informant snitching on his own men and Crime family and the rest of the New York Mafia families . If you want too see more movies like this I suggest Ghosts of Mississippi its about the assassination of civil rights leader Medgar Evers , A time too Kill staring Samuel Jackson and Matthew McConaughey and the movie Panther its about the 60s civil rights group the Black Panthers in 1960s Las Angeles .

In north Alabama that doesn’t happen today. We live side by side and take care of each other.

Kudos to you for stepping outside the normal reaction lanes. Well done friend.

Watched this properly for the first time last night and ... daaaaamn, what a film. When Hackman OWNS those hee-haws in their own bar, I got goosebumps.

The graveyards were segregated since before the Civil War. Plantation slaves were buried in the back of the graveyards sometimes without a head stone. Racism is taught. I was raised in the 60's-70's saw alot and remembered it. Always thought it was wrong, older family didn't feel the same. I hope we are careful who we elect so they don't spread a culture of hate. I've seen it more in this time of pandemic that rivaled the 60's

Excellent decision to react to this great movie. More people should react to it, it's superb.

What blows my mind now, but at the time being around 7 when this came out, is that 1964 in 1988 to me seemed like a lifetime and another world ago. But that would be like showing the film today and telling a story that took place in the year 2000. Its not as long ago as it seems.

Amazing film i saw it when it came out. Hackman is a favorite of mine. I've seen most of his movies.

Watch, Ghosts of Mississippi. Same state 20 years later. Just as powerful.

One of the best historical movies ever made. Racism is still there, institutional racism and individual racism. It's easy to understand this fact when you see people get rejected routinely for jobs, apartments etc. just based on their names. There are many examples of people getting rejected, then changing only their name on an application, and getting job interviews instantly. These are experiences people have had in Norway where I come from, and I'm guessing it's the same in the U.S. Then there's police brutality, and people getting murdered by neo-nazis just based on the color of their skin. This has also happened in Norway, even if there are very few such instances here. Correct me if I'm wrong but I read somewhere that some law students studied the case of the murders of the civil rights workers , and quite recently made a breakthrough. The break in the case was in part based on "Mississippi burning" and led to the jailing of another klan member.

The "specialist" was played by the late Badja Djola, a seriously underrated actor who died way too soon.

By no means, is this an easy movie to watch (especially if you're offended (easily) by racism). But it tells an important part of history (when the civil rights started to become known to the people of Mississippi), and it has an incredible 1,2,3 punch of performances from Gene Hackman, Willem Dafoe and Frances McDormand.

One of my favorite movies ever. So powerful. I don't understand racism. What makes another human being hate another human being just because he is different than they are. I just don't understand. Watching this and other movies you definitely see one thing it's taught in the home passed on thru the generations. Sad just Sad. The worst thing is we still live with it today and we're regressing backwards.

We was watching this movie in school, great reaction blessings from Germany

Great pick dude, love this movie! Angel Heart is another great one that Alan Parker did in the 80’s, definitely worth a watch

If you 'enjoy' (not the right word, I know) the more difficult side of cinema, I'd check out "The Killing Fields" about what happened when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia, in the aftermath of the Vietnam war. Nominated for seven Oscars, you have to watch it knowing that it was toned down to be acceptable for release.

Greatly appreciate your comments during the outro. Keep learning, watching movies less popular among reactors, and having kindness in your heart.❤

Always loved this move , amazing acting , amazing actors , amazing music , amazing story , powerful message

I just will never understand the evilness in this world😭

Whenever you hear people talk about "the good old days", that they'd like to see society go back to while waving a confederate flag and talking about "their heritage", just remember that these are the times they're talking about. Even the rhetoric is the same. This isn't the reality of the past. This is the reality of today. People like this still exist, and they are voting as a block. This is a reality that America is still dealing with, generations later. One person involved in this crime who isn't mentioned in the movie is the local pastor, who also participated in the cover up of the murders and was likely directly involved in not only the disposal of the bodies but also may have been present during the murder itself. I can't recall if he ever actually faced charges; I think I read somewhere that he eventually did, but he was in his late 70s by the time and he never faced prison.

Love what Hackman does at the end. True, where does all the hate come from?

"Do you like baseball, do you, Anderson?" "Yeah, I do. You know, it's the only time when a black man can wave a stick at a white man and not start a riot." Fun Fact: This was Roger Ebert's selection for the best film of 1988. Historical Fact: The film is inspired by the outrageous murder of voting rights activists James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman by the Ku Klux Klan. Location Location Fact: During the filming of the racists versus reporters scenes on a bridge over the Big Black River near Bovina, Mississippi, two extras were nearly killed by a train when they ventured from a holding area onto a tall concrete-arch railroad bridge. They narrowly escaped injury by huddling on a tiny pedestal on the bridge's edge. Interior shots in the Sheriff's office, courtroom, and stairs from the courtroom were filmed in the old Carroll County courthouse in Vaiden, Mississippi. Built in 1905, the building was in such disrepair that crew and extras had to dodge falling bricks during filming. Though slated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the courthouse has since been demolished.

I just watched it again for the 10th time at least last night. This movie is powerful. It's a shame that the murderers only got 10 years in prison. Some got even less time, and none of them served their full sentences. They only served 6 years max.

Thanks for reacting to this. Some comments: The first political party in the U.S. to call for integration was the communist party. From that point on anyone who favored civil rights was suspected of being a communist. Many, many black folks were murdered, but it was not until these white civil rights work (and black companion) was killed that American really thought a crime had been committed. Look magazine published an article written by Emmett Till's killers. They had already been found innocent, so wanted to tell white America how they did it, sure that white America would understand that they were really "heroes" standing up for white American. The killers were shocked with other white Americans thought what they did was wrong. So much interesting history. So many positive changes in my lifetime.

This is why History is so important. People and society didn't come this far on its own. Sad how people want to go back.

To answer your question on why they burn the cross, I’ll give you a brief background on them: the burning of the cross was first a practice inaugurating the revival of the Ku Klux Klan in 1915 and afterwards became a common ritual/ceremonial practice during their private rallies and then eventually it became known as an intimidation tactic.

You're definitely right about education and teaching about nuance let alone actual darkness. Most schools were teaching a loose version of Lost Cause when teaching about the Civil War, even in the North when I was in school. About the scene where they let the young man go from the court house and he was bleeding from the crotch, they alluded to that when they showed the white woman with the mixed baby and the local cop saw it.

That era was frightening… Though My Parents made SURE we weren’t exposed to Racism as People of Color… We went to thoroughly mixed schools and lived in thoroughly mixed neighborhoods and played with each like the Little Rascals being Color Blind… I was alive during the Civil Rights Movement and I was Surprised!😕😔

30:27. Yeah, he's kind of a specialist. Damn, if that isn't the most epic line of any film I've seen in the last 50 years.

"What's the point in burning your own property?" Usually, it wasn't their property. It was rented or leased a lot of the time. Owned by the banks/land lords.

Excellent review. Now you have to do 'A TIME TO KILL' another movie alone these lines. Its a MUST SEE for sure. Not to worry that you haven't been exposed to a lot of our US history. It will come in time. Just keep watching and commenting on great movies.

It's a good movie, Gene Hackman was great in the part, strange why it isn't picked for more reaction videos.

A classic known throughout the world.

Watch that movie with the colors turned to black and white and it hits even harder.

The same director, Alan Parker, also made "Midnight Express", "Fame", "Shoot the Moon" and "Pink Floyd the Wall". All good.

I must commend Willem Dafoe. Anyone cast alongside Gene Hackman is likely to be outshone, but he brilliantly holds up as the stickler for rules. Reminds me of Guy Pearce alongside Russell Crowe in LA Confidential.

Not enough people have reacted to this or even seen it I’m sure!

The saddest part is when I hear them go on and on at rally's, it sounds just like a rally that would be held by a number of Americans today. And that breaks my heart that we haven't grown much at all in certain groups.

If you liked this, then "Angel Heart" would bu right up your alley. Same director. Same score-composer.

Hey brother, I appreciate your reactions, especially on films on topics that are rough or outside the box. If i may suggest watching In the Heat of the Night from 1967. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I think you said it best- "It's a nightmare".

Gene Hackman is in my top five male actors all time...this is one of his best.

That's the problem nowadays.....schools not teaching this part of history, which needs to be taught.

I don’t blame you for not watching this, and you are going to get “I can’t believe you haven’t seen this movie!” with every big movie, most are not really upset or blaming you for not seeing it, it is usually that they haven’t ever met someone that has not seen the movie and are excited.

That's amazing how you never saw it before.

I’m 53 and I live in Australia through my high school years we were taught what happened through slavery in the US I think it’s a shame it’s not taught in schools again I always say history should always be taught in school from slavery from war time like war one World War II so kids can understand how fathers our grandfathers that’s fought for our freedom and we should never ever stop talking about history to our children to get them to understand what has happened in the past and yes it’s bad it’s terrible and it’s evil but it’s gonna be taught so this stuffNever happens again

this is a great movie and thanks for reaction

Probably THE BEST race movie of all time. Stunned your the 1st one to react to it, shudda been reacted to loads of times already .Suspect there may be an avalanche now, lol

@31:03 SAW guy lol! Great video reaction man!!

I just watched this movie for the first time. It's very powerful! It made me cry just how horrible and degraded afriican americans were treated. Us american caucasian people have got to make sure that this kind of evil history in our country cannot ever happen again in the name of Jesus ! 🙏💕

This movie wasn’t factually accurate, it was emotionally accurate. It terrified the he!! Out of me when I was younger, first time I saw it. The black kid was hiding in the chicken coop after the feds talked to him because he knew the klan would come for him just for talking to them. It didn’t matter that kid gave up no info. In those days the whole town was klan: Judges, Cops, lawyers, everyone. You had an entire town beholden to a bunch of sociopathic vampires.

Brilliant film well directed and written actors were spot on for this role, and a brilliant reaction

Great choice! If you wanna react to more race themed films I'd definitely recommend Blackkklansman, Bamboozled, Sankofa, Do The Right Thing, Skin and Rosewood

You ain't wrong. It POWERFUL

The upsetting thing is that this was all my lifetime and attitudes still persist

This one of my favorite films. And this was Gene's best proformances. It stowed the world what it was like. Modern films take the truth out of how people spoke in the south. I was educated in NYS. And I went to a major university. We had some young men from down south. They tend to give a better understanding of what was the thinking. I got to feel like I was one of them. The meaning "good ole boy" has a whole world of difference. The one thing that I appreciate is not the deleting the English language when some word that may cause for concern. I've heard more harsh words used on hip hop music that were not deleted out. And they did not cause a riot.

After seeing your 1st reaction, I would have said, "be ready". It gets worse then a bullet in the head.

Tobin Bell - the main piece of the SAW series.

This was my grandpa's favorite movie

American History X and Ghost of Mississippi are couple other great movies

Thank you for reading to this.

Birth of a Nation (1915 & 2016) 1915 version is banned directed by D.W Griffin 2016 version produced by Nate Parker

Such an important movie and way to few people are reacting to it. Next one from Alan Parker that I can recommend is "Midnight Express".

“The women too?!” That reminds me of an interview I saw here on RU-vid. It was a family of racists; dad, mom, and a small child. And they were asking them about why they’re racist. At one point in the video, the mom says something about eradicating all non white children and even her husband looked shocked. It’s not just men. It’s entries families blinded by the most radical hatred imaginable and it still very much exists.

It hurts me that so few have reacted to this movie......

If you liked this movie. You should watch " Green Book".

So little has changed, right bro? So much has changed, and yet.....these scumbags followed us right into the 21st century. Unbelievable. Was surprised to see this one pop up in my feed. The thing that makes you sick is this is just one case. There are lots of stories just like this. The stories are so sickening, you can barely take hearing about them, much less make a movie about them. Man oh man, Gene Hackman is FANTASTIC in this movie. As usual! I don't know why I'm acting surprised! PS: Oh man, it makes me CRINGE to think that you have commenters being rude to you, saying "Hey, you didn't know this? You didn't know that?" Sorry you have to deal with that ageist bullshit. You're brave, you put yourself out there, sharing these reactions, it's not costing THEM anything.....and you have to have these little gnats pecking at you the whole time. Half of these people learned what they know FROM THE MOVIES. That you haven't seen yet! And at one point in their little dopey lives THEY hadn't seen the movies either, so what the hell are they crying about? 🤣

Another must is "In the heat of the night"

Fantastic and important movie to see and react to. Thank you for doing that...👏🏻

Powerful film. Probably Gene Hackmans best performance 👏. Crazy to think this kind of racism still exists...

Might I recommend the Soviet film “Come and See”? Soviet government denied production of the film for years calling it “too realistic”. Or perhaps “Cannibal Holocaust”, an Italian film that was seen as so realistic, the director was charged with murder.

another great court drama is CLASS ACTION with Gene hackman

5:50 and with CRT we are going back there...

Another great watch! I very much appreciate your eclectic and important review choices. I don’t know if you’re up for it, but if you really want to understand American racism, read “Caste” by Isabel Wilkerson (just out in paperback). It burns through the confusion, contradictions, and otherwise inexplicable nature of all that hatred, getting to what she argues is really behind it all. Until the problem is accurately diagnosed, we will never be free of it, and that book (in my opinion) finally nails it.

The practice dates back to Medieval Europe, an era the Klan idealizes as morally pure and racially homogenous. In the days before floodlights, Scottish clans set hillside crosses ablaze as symbols of defiance against military rivals or to rally troops when a battle was imminent. Though the original Klan, founded in 1866, patterned many of its rituals after those of Scottish fraternal orders, cross-burning was not part of its initial repertoire of terror. Nevertheless, Thomas Dixon included a pivotal cross-burning scene in his 1905 novel The Clansman; he was attempting to legitimize the Klan’s supposed connections to the Scottish clans. A decade later, D.W. Griffith brought The Clansman to the silver screen, eventually renaming it The Birth of a Nation. Exhilarated by Griffith’s sympathetic portrayal, Klansmen started burning crosses soon afterto intimidate minorities, Catholics, and anyone else suspected of betraying the order’s ideals. The first reported burning took place in Georgia on Thanksgiving Eve, 1915. They have been associated with racist violence ever since. Modern Klan groups are careful to refer to their ritual as “cross lighting” rather than cross-burning and insist that their fires symbolize faith in Christ. The days of so-called disciplinary burnings, they add, are long since over. Still, nearly 1,700 cross-burnings have been documented since the late 1980s, many of them in the front yards of African-American families-although, in all fairness, the majority have been carried out by lone racist yahoos, rather than by organized Klan groups.

Took me a long time to like michael rooker after watching this movie over 30 years ago.

One of the greatest movies of all time

You should watch Malcolm X with Spike Lee and Denzel Washington.