Robert Mitchum (Born 6th August, 1917)

[john poole]

Robert Charles Mitchum - born 6th August, 1917 (Bridgeport, Connecticut) [died 1st July, 1997]

He became a calypso fan while filming "Fire Down Below" on location in Trinidad and recorded the LP "Calypso - is like so..." in 1957. -
'What is this generation coming to?' - written by Don Raye (writer of 'Down the Road a Piece') & Sonny Burke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8eAWwthRCY

In 1967 he recorded in Nashville - 'You Deserve Each Other' - John D. Loudermilk song, previously recorded by the Allman Joys (Duane & Gregg's early group)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFyBJZ4F1GU
with Harold Bradley, Jerry Reed, Wayne Moss, Norbert Putnam, Floyd Cramer etc.

and not forgetting 'Leaning on the everlasting arms' (with Lillian Gish) - "Night of the Hunter' (1955)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N9LnkKQfuc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y45Zq-yKpRw

[Rob Hall]

I've always had a soft spot for Mitchum. Someone once said of his acting: "He doesn't so much act, he just points his suit".

[Adam Blake]

Arguably the coolest man in the history of Hollywood. My favourite Mitchum quote is his verdict on acting: "It sure beats workin'".

[Jamie Renton]

I like "These kids only want to talk about acting method and motivation; in my day all we talked about was screwing and overtime."

[Willy]

I'll always remember the line he gave in the film The Wrath of God, where he plays a priest as part of a con. At some point he say's to one of his flock:
Robert:Thank God, my son.
Response: I'm NOT your son!
Robert, Thank GOD for that.

[will vine]

Well, well, well, the number of times recently I've found myself wondering how I got to be this old without knowing.................in this case that that great record, What's This Generation Coming To? was by the man himself. I just thought some ambitious calypsonian had purloined Mitchum's name. I'm still not too sure even though I've seen it in writing.
A million thanks to Rob Hall who introduced me to the song only a couple of years ago.

[Ted]

Night Of the Hunter. Not the best scene (but I couldn't find the bit where Lilian Gish sticks a shotgun in his face)

http://youtu.be/X20XIg38GcE

[Rob Hall]

The Ballad of Thunder Road, which Mitchum co-wrote. It's a great song, but the production values are sadly "of its time":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPem0ONSI7c

[NormanD]

Was "Thunder Road" an example of auteur cinema? He wrote, starred, produced, part directed, wrote and sang the song, and may even have sold the ice creams.

Mitchum pretty much played himself in every movie. Many actors do, and some get away with it consistently, but Mitchum always did it with aplomb, and cool. He was James Dean without the fuss.

His jail sentence for dope possession did his career little harm, especially after it was overturned as entrapment. It never came back to haunt him, and even increased his counter-culture stature later in his life.

Mitchum even looked good in his prison garb

[gary booth]

When asked about his time in the County jail he replied: "It was like Palm Springs but without the riff raff."

[garth cartwright]

Bob Mitchum - like Errol Flynn - seems more a fictional creation than a real human. I mean, the guy was just too handsome, too cool, too mythic. He was a boxer and a hobo before becoming an actor and never seemed to get flustered about anything. What presence he had - as the psycho in Cape Fear he exudes awful menace in a manner far superior to DeNiro in the remake (which has Bob in a cameo as a lawyer).

[Adam Blake]

He was James Dean without the fuss.

I never saw Mitchum do vulnerable. Did he ever?

[Rob Hall]

I'd need to watch it again to confirm, but I think he played vulnerable - admittedly in a different way than the youthful James Dean, but still vulnerable - in "The Friends of Eddie Coyle".

[AndyM]

Who knew such good socks were prison issue ?