Remembering Robert MitchumStar of ‘Night of Hunter’ and ‘Cape Fear’
Robert Mitchum was one of those stars that had a way of making every role look easyfrom a war hero or a dangerous villain. Born on August 61917in BridgeportConnecticutMitchum didn’t follow a straight path to Hollywood. He grew up during hard timeshitching rides on freight trainsworking odd jobs and even spending time on a chain gang after a vagrancy arrest. Acting wasn’t part of the planat least not at firstuntil his sister encouraged him to join the Players Guild of Long Beachwhich broke him into the movie industry.
Mitchum’s big break came in the mid-1940s with war films like Thirty Seconds Over Tokyobut it was the film noir classic Out of the Past that truly cemented his image. As private eye Jeff BaileyMitchum delivered dry lines with such ease that it became the blueprint for countless noir heroes to come.
Everett Collection
His career spanned decades and genresfrom Westerns like El Dorado to thrillers like Night of the Hunter and Cape Fear, where he played one of the time period’s most chilling villainsMax Cady. In the 1980she surprised audiences again with roles in TV miniseries like The Winds of War and War and Remembranceshowing that even in his later yearshe could still command the screen.
OffscreenMitchum had a reputation for being a bit of a rebel. He was famously arrested for marijuana possession in 1948a huge scandal at the time. Throughout his lifeMitchum downplayed his own talentoften claiming he just showed up and did what he was told.
Despite his gruff exteriorMitchum was known to be deeply devoted to his family. He married Dorothy Spence in 1940and they remained together for nearly 60 yearsraising three children. Their enduring marriage was rare in Hollywood. UltimatelyMitchum passed away on July 11997at the age of 79from complications of lung cancer and emphysema.
Remind 
Collecting the 1950s
Aug. 2022
For fans of the Nifty Fifties enjoy this treasure trove of ’50s memorabilia.
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