23 February, 2026 Siobhan Marie Day 0 Comments 2 categories
Director Rob Reiner on "Ghosts of Mississippi," a film based around the events of the murder of black civil rights activist Medgar Evers; Myrlie Evers-William and Bobby DeLaughter, whose stories are portrayed in the film; actor James Woods on his role as Evers' murderer.

ROB REINER; GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI; JAMES WOODS…

Tuesday 12/24/1996

Director Rob Reiner on Ghosts of Mississippi, a film based around the events of the murder of black civil rights activist Medgar Evers; Myrlie Evers-William and Bobby DeLaughter, whose stories are portrayed in the film; actor James Woods on his role as Evers’ murderer.

Director Rob Reiner on "Ghosts of Mississippi," a film based around the events of the murder of black civil rights activist Medgar Evers; Myrlie Evers-William and Bobby DeLaughter, whose stories are portrayed in the film; actor James Woods on his role as Evers' murderer.
Directed by Rob Reiner, Written by Lewis Colick, Produced by Nicholas Paleologos, Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman, Frederick M. Zollo, Charles Newirth, and Jeff Stott, Starring: Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, James Woods, Craig T. Nelson, with Cinematography by John Seale, and Edited by Robert Leighton, with Music by Marc Shaiman, Production companies: Columbia Pictures, and Castle Rock Entertainment, and Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing (1996)
Portrait of Medgar Wiley Evers, Served as NAACP Field Secretary, State of Mississippi. (Photo by Jackson State University via Getty Images)
Director Rob Reiner on "Ghosts of Mississippi," a film based around the events of the murder of black civil rights activist Medgar Evers; Myrlie Evers-William and Bobby DeLaughter, whose stories are portrayed in the film; actor James Woods on his role as Evers' murderer.
Director Rob Reiner on "Ghosts of Mississippi," a film based around the events of the murder of black civil rights activist Medgar Evers; Myrlie Evers-William and Bobby DeLaughter, whose stories are portrayed in the film; actor James Woods on his role as Evers' murderer.
Director Rob Reiner on "Ghosts of Mississippi," a film based around the events of the murder of black civil rights activist Medgar Evers; Myrlie Evers-William and Bobby DeLaughter, whose stories are portrayed in the film; actor James Woods on his role as Evers' murderer.

In 1996, Reiner and Woods appeared on Charlie Rose to discuss their film Ghosts of Mississippi. This biographical drama chronicles the decades-long pursuit of justice for the 1963 assassination of civil rights leader Medgar Evers.

Director Rob Reiner on "Ghosts of Mississippi," a film based around the events of the murder of black civil rights activist Medgar Evers; Myrlie Evers-William and Bobby DeLaughter, whose stories are portrayed in the film; actor James Woods on his role as Evers' murderer.
Directed by Rob Reiner, Written by Lewis Colick, Produced by Nicholas Paleologos, Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman, Frederick M. Zollo, Charles Newirth, and Jeff Stott, Starring: Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, James Woods, Craig T. Nelson, with Cinematography by John Seale, and Edited by Robert Leighton, with Music by Marc Shaiman, Production companies: Columbia Pictures, and Castle Rock Entertainment, and Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing (1996)
View of police officers outside the home of assassinated Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers, field secretary for the NAACP. Evers was shot to death by a sniper as he stepped out of his car and started toward the carport. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
A sniper fired from across the street using a high-powered rifle. The bullet entered Evers’ back and exited through his chest. His children — Darrell, Reena, and James — heard the shot. Myrlie ran outside to find her husband bleeding beside the family car. Evers was rushed to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Initially denied admission because of segregation policies, he was eventually treated — but he died at 1:14 a.m.
With her children Rena & Darryl, Myrlie Evers views the body of her husband, assassinated Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers, at a funeral home in Jackson, Mississippi. Murder charges against suspect Byron de la Beckwith for the assassination of Medgar Evers were dropped after two trials ended in mistrial (Beckwith was eventually convicted of the crime in 1994). (Photo by © Flip Schulke/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

Key Details of the Discussion:

Interview Focus: Reiner and Woods discussed the challenges of portraying a high-profile real-life trial and the moral complexities of the story.

Rob Reiner directing Alec Baldwin and James Woods on the set of "Ghosts of Mississippi" (1996)

Performance Insight: James Woods detailed his transformation into the elderly white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith, a performance that later earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

James Woods as Byron De La Beckwith in a scene from the film 'Ghosts Of Mississippi', 1996. (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)
REU7627088 James Woods, Academy Award nominee for best supporting actor for his role in "Ghosts of Mississippi".., 1997-03-11 (photo); (add.info.: James Woods, Academy Award nominee for best supporting actor for his role in "Ghosts of Mississippi" poses next to a large Oscar statue at the Oscars Nominees luncheon March 11 in Beverly Hills. The Academy Awards will be presented march 24 in Los Angeles.); REUTERS/Fred Prouser.

You can watch the full interview with Rob Reiner at the link below:

Director Rob Reiner on "Ghosts of Mississippi," a film based around the events of the murder of black civil rights activist Medgar Evers; Myrlie Evers-William and Bobby DeLaughter, whose stories are portrayed in the film; actor James Woods on his role as Evers' murderer.
Directed by Rob Reiner, Written by Lewis Colick, Produced by Nicholas Paleologos, Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman, Frederick M. Zollo, Charles Newirth, and Jeff Stott, Starring: Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, James Woods, Craig T. Nelson, with Cinematography by John Seale, and Edited by Robert Leighton, with Music by Marc Shaiman, Production companies: Columbia Pictures, and Castle Rock Entertainment, and Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing (1996)

Ghosts of Mississippi is available now on Netflix…

https://moviestohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/cropped-d3d0f4de5c874cf7a06b2f50e0bc7820-2-10.png
Connecting Movies To Reel Life…
HOME PAGE
FEATURED FILM BLOGS
SUBSCRIBE
CONTACT ME
Tags:
Category: Blog Posts, Featured Blog

Related Posts

"The Tudors" (2007-10), "Lady Jane" (1986), "Elizabeth" (1998), "Wolf Hall" (2015-25), "Elizabeth I" (2005)

My Top Ten Tudors Movies/Series:

To commemorate the Featured Television Blog for the month of July, The Tudors, I have gathered My Top Ten Tudors Movies/Series! If you're looking for the best movies featuring the Tudor Dynasty, you've come to…

Read More
The Top Ten List

My Top Ten Bear Movies:

Welcome to The Top Ten List! To commemorate the Featured Film Blog of the month for February, Cocaine Bear, I have gathered My Top Ten Bear Movies! If you're looking for the best film featuring…

Read More