Life on the Mississippi was a movie that was based on the early life of beloved American author Mark Twain.  The film was commissioned by PBS and was part of their Great Performances series.  It aired on November 24, 1980, and received excellent reviews.  It received the CINE Golden Eagle award in 1980, which is given for excellence in documentary and other informational film and video productions.

The plot summary released by the studio is as follows: On the Mississippi River in the 1850s, there could be no more romantic dream than to be a steamboat pilot. Braving the hazards of the deceptive, ever-changing river is precisely what Sam has dreamed of, and now, signing on as a cub with the pilot of the steamboat Paul Jones, Sam is getting his chance. His journey becomes the adventure of a lifetime, emotionally and physically tested by the river, his employer, and braving the disastrous effects of a deadly explosion.

RL played Horace Bixby, the pilot of the steamboat who takes Sam under his wing, and David Knell played Sam.

The movie has been released on VHS and you can find it at Amazon and eBay and several other sites that sell vidoes.