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Poster for Mississippi Mermaid

Mississippi Mermaid

Seen it?

1969 | 123 min | Romance, Drama, Crime, Thriller

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (83% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for crime-drama fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and romantics. If you loved The Piano or Nightmare Alley, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense, dark and gritty.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 2 hr 3 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Made in 1969: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

A tobacco planter on Réunion island in the Indian Ocean becomes engaged through correspondence to a French woman he does not know. The woman that arrives does not look like the picture he received, but he marries her anyway.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    83% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.6 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerSolid

    $7 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 19K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by François Truffaut

  • Jean-Paul BelmondoLouis Mahé
  • Catherine DeneuveJulie Roussel
  • Michel BouquetComolli
  • Nelly BorgeaudBerthe
  • Martine FerrièreLandlady
  • Marcel BerbertJardine
  • Yves DrouhetDetective
  • Roland ThénotRichard