GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI

US, 1996, 130 minutes, Colour.
Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, James Woods, Craig T. Nelson, Virginia Madsen, Terry O' Quinn, William H. Macy, Michael O' Keefe, Jerry Levine.
Directed by Rob Reiner.

This is territory seen in the 80s Mississippi Burning, murders of Civil Rights workers, cover-ups and FBI investigations. However, this is the story of the killing Civil Rights activist, Medger Evers, and the struggle of his wife to have the case reopened since his killer was free because of two trials resulting in hung juries. It is not as powerful a film as The Chamber. However, it raises issues of racism and justice and, like The Chamber, how guilt for murder needs to be acknowledged decades after the event. Evers' killer was found guilty in 1994.

The focus is on Jackson, Miss., lawyer Bobby de Laughter, who pursued the case in the 90s at some personal cost. He is played with sincerity by Alec Baldwin. The great strength of the film is the performance of Whoopi Goldberg as Myrlie Evers-Williams?, a woman of great dignity and courage (and now president of the NAACP). This performance is very different from her comedies but she is entirely believable. James Woods, in an Oscar-nominated turn, is the crassly bigoted murderer. Films which examine the conscience of recent history are often heart on sleeve, as this one is. But they warn us of how, eventually, history judges bigotry harshly.

1. The importance of this kind of dramatised story of true events? For the American south? Race issues? The history of slavery in the south, the civil rights movement of the 60s, the killing of civil rights leaders like Medger Evers? The boasting by the assassins, the right-wing groups like the Ku Klux Klan? No statute of limitations on justice, for murder? The true story of the 90s?

2. The settings of the Mississippi delta, the city of Jackson, Mississippi, homes, courtrooms? The countryside? An authentic feel? The musical score? The songs, especially "Dixie"?

3. The title, the little girl's story of seeing ghosts, the possibility of making ghosts go away? The ghosts that haunted Mississippi because of its stances on slavery and African Americans?

4. The tone of the film, the liberal view, the presentation of racists, the speeches about the past, about race issues? As delivered by Alec Baldwin and by Whoopi Goldberg? Persuasive - preaching? The opposite stances as dramatised by James Woods as Beckwith?

5. Audience knowledge of the 60s, the civil rights movements? De Laughter and his children, explaining the situation to them, their not understanding segregation?

6. 1963, Medger Evers arriving home, Beckwith taking aim, shooting him, the wife and children seeing the husband dead on the ground? His throwing the rifle away? The crime in the context of Mississippi 1963?

7. Bobby de Laughter and his work, in the court? His collaboration with Ed Peters? The raising of the issue of the Evers murder? Mrs Evers and her twenty-five years concern? The possibility of reopening the case? Bobby and his associates, Clara and her ironic remarks but help as secretary? Getting Charlie for the research? Burt and his research? His father having been a policeman? The amount of research to be done, looking at the papers of the past, the lack of evidence, the disappearing of the evidence? Travelling the countryside, the interviews, especially with the two eyewitnesses for Beckwith's alibi? The finding of the former member of the Klan, his testimony about hearing Beckwith boast? The weekly reports to Mrs Evers and her not trusting de Laughter? People's reactions, his father and his racist attitudes, the stronger racist attitudes of his mother? His wife and her being humiliated in front of her friends? His mother-in-law and her bridge players? His finding the gun in his father-in-law's chest? His children, the attacks by other children? The phone calls, the bomb threats? His perseverance? Mrs Evers and her not believing him, other black leaders - and their eventual denunciation of him?

8. The accumulation of evidence, the finding of the gun, his decision not to tell Mrs Evers and the strategy backfiring on him? His son being taken to hospital, his friendship with the nurse, their dates (watching Presumed Innocent), his search for more evidence? His marriage? His relationship with his children, telling stories, the little girl and the ghosts? His children visiting their grandparents?

9. Lifestyle in the south, the transition that civil rights made, the racist views expressed by Bobby's mother, her feeling that the whites had given things to the blacks and the blacks were not grateful?

10. Byron De La Beckwith, the murder, James Woods' performance and his mannered style, his arrogance during his trials, the ex-governor shaking hands while Mrs Evers was on the stand? The two mistrials? Living his lie for a quarter of a century? His boasts, his statements about the murder? His going to trial again, his manners and performance in the courtroom? His presumption? His challenging Bobby in the restroom and his defiance, his not going on the stand, Mrs Evers calling him a coward? His being found guilty?

11. The research assistants, their personalities, wry remarks, perseverance, discoveries?

12. The trial, the anticipation, the opening speeches, the lawyers on behalf of Beckwith, the simplicity of the case? The prosecution and their witnesses, the testimony to Beckwith's words, the defence counsel discrediting them as having grudges against Beckwith or having nervous conditions? The perseverance of the eyewitness in his perjury about seeing Beckwith? Bobby and his interrogation about friendship and calling him by his name? The judge presiding, the composition of the jury? Beckwith's behaviour, Mrs Evers' attention? The verdict and the joy? Mrs Evers and her speech on the steps?

13. Medger Evers' brother Charlie, Bobby going to see him at the radio studio, the discussion on air, the sympathy, Evers' antagonism towards Beckwith, his not wanting to go to the trials - but his being seen outside afterwards?

14. Mrs Evers, her devotion to her husband, being his secretary, his strictness in the office, her children? Her scenes with Walter, with her family? The phone calls, her wariness of Bobby? Her finally giving him the transcripts? Her friendship with Bobby, the achievement of fidelity for twenty-seven years?

15. The newspaper reporter, the interrogations, publication, giving out information?

16. The value of this kind of film? A portrait of the past? Alerting a newer generation to the truth about American history, racism? The symbolism of Medger Evers' death? Seeing him in his context, the use of newsreel footage from the period to help audiences understand the 60s and the civil rights movement?