Hollywood legend Tyrone Power (The Mark of Zorro, Prince of Foxes) plays a high-stakes game for love and money in the Technicolor adventure The Mississippi Gambler. Mark Fallon (Power), a riverboat gambler on his way to New Orleans, meets Angelique Dureau (pitch-perfect Piper Laurie, Son of Ali Baba, The Hustler), a Southern belle who spurns his charm and advances. Using his winnings to build a casino, Fallon’s card skills make him a fortune, while his pursuit of the fiery Angelique leads to knife fights, family feuds and duels over personal honor. Written by Seton I. Miller (The Adventures of Robin Hood, Here Comes Mr. Jordan) and directed by Rudolph Maté (D.O.A., When Worlds Collide), The Mississippi Gambler is a rip-roaring western romance with a sparkling cast including Julie Adams (Bend of the River).

For thoughts on The Mississippi Gambler, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/8VuXnHIaTrw?t=1139]

Video Quality

The Mississippi Gambler debuts on Blu-Ray courtesy of Kino Classics with a digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer which is derived from a new 2K master, which looks decent despite some lingering issues. Instances of print damage such as nicks and scratches have not been completely eliminated, but there is evidence that the source has been cleaned up quite a bit. This transfer maintains the natural film grain of the presentation that never looks completely clumpy or swarming, only a bit on the thick side. The presentation can vary from looking good to a bit rough depending on the scene, leaving the presentation to feel a bit inconsistent.

Skin tones are slightly warm, but they are consistent with distinct facial features easily distinguished in closeup. Black levels hold up fairly well with no major instances of crush or banding apparent. The Technicolor colors are saturated admirably with the striking hues of the landscapes coming through. This presentation feels as if it could be more stable and robust, but it serves as a pretty good viewing experience.

Audio Quality

This new Blu-Ray comes with a lossless DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio mix that sounds fine but tends to show its age. Dialogue comes through clearly without being overshadowed by the score or sound effects. The environmental elements are delineated decently from the sounds of horses galloping and the chatter in the gambling establishments. The score sounds a bit thin as it emanates from the speakers, but it does not present any overt damage. The track only allows for the expected instances of age related wear and tear, hissing and distortion. While not the strongest we have heard from this era, the track gets the job done. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Film Historian Toby Roan delivers a really great commentary track in which he discusses how this film fits into the career of Tyrone Power, details about the sets and shooting locations, the background of various creative figures attached to the film, the change in deals for performers which led to the ending of the studio system, the history and reception of the picture and more.

Trailers: The minute-long trailer is provided for The Mississippi Gambler. There are also trailers provided for Rawhide, Son of Ali Baba, Horizons West and The Spoilers.

Final Thoughts

The Mississippi Gambler is a sprawling melodrama which attempts to establish itself as a multifaceted adventure-romance, but it never comes close to hitting that mark. The story itself is simply never that interesting, and there is not enough chemistry between the performers to get you invested in any unrequited love. The film does have a really good cast, but they are not utilized well with this one. Kino Classics has released a new Blu-Ray with a good A/V presentation and a useful commentary track. If you are a sucker for Technicolor melodramas or really love the cast, give this a shot, but most casual audience members are not likely to respond to this.

The Mississippi Gambler is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.