The Mississippi

6.0

1983•1h

The Mississippi was a television series which ran for 2 seasons from 1982 to 1984. The series consisted of 27 episodes, 1 pilot, 6 first season episodes and 17 episodes in the second season. The series was written by Aubrey Solomon and starred Ralph Waite, Linda Miller and Stan Shaw. Ralph Waite played Ben Walker, a successful criminal attorney who after retiring his law practice, sought a more simple life on the mighty Mississippi river as a simple stern-wheel river boat captain. But at every port he would stop at he'd find someone who needed a good attorney and he would end up defending them. His "crew" consisted of Stella McMullen and Lafe Tate, both of whom was more interested in helping people, fighting crime and becoming attorneys than running the tug. Filming occurred in several cities along the Mississippi River including Natchez, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee.

Production

Seasons

6 Episodes • Premiered 1983

1. Murder at Mt. Parnassus

When Southern beauty Merilee Worthing is murdered, Ben comes to the defense of free-spirited Cal Woodley, a young activist whom the town would like to see disappear.

2. Edge of the River

Ben learns that justice in the bayou country for a girl from the other side of the tracks who opposes the town boss, is a feather in a windstormâ€”but it can be caught.

3. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

Ben is called upon to defend the accused killer of an old friend's wife and learns that things aren't always what they appear to be.

4. We Remember, We Revere

When Ben comes to the aid of a young cadet at a military academy, he uncovers some disturbing facts which indicate the cadet, an accused murderer, may have been the intended victim.

5. Mardi Gras

Ben is in for some surprises when he defends a longtime family retainer on jewelry theft charges and learns things are not what they seem to be.

6. Old Hatreds Die Hard

Ben and his black assistant Lafe face a bigoted deposed sheriff, and soon learn that almost two decades cannot heal the wounds suffered during the civil rights movement in the South.