Comments on: Robert Mitchum Interviewed by Roger Ebert

By: kate

kate — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 01:22:18 +0000

Robert Mitchum is a most under rated actor. He always had my full attention ever since I first saw him on screen – I was about 8 years old. He has never lost his allure.

By: Andre Soares

Andre Soares — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:25:55 +0000

Jasper, My favorite Bogart performances are in non-tough roles: "The African Queen" and "The Caine Mutiny." But sure, I'd say that most people are quite fond of his film noir tough guys. Now, I find Bette Davis quite good in some of her roles. If you haven't done so already, check out "The Letter" and "The Little Foxes." Nothing sullen there... Thanks for writing.

By: Jasper von Blowhole

Jasper von Blowhole — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:54:10 +0000

Mitchum wasn't on my radar for about two decades. Recently I went through a noir phase and really came to like him in these movies. Especially in Out of the Past. I appreciate his thoughts on Robert Wise.

I also used to dislike Bogart (whom I thought had no range) but his noir movies persuaded me he was a strong presence in his movies. People rise to stardom for all sorts of reasons, only one of which is acting talent.

My selection for an actor with no range would require you to view any Bette Davis movie. She seems to have only mastered 'sullen' and 'contemptible.'

By: Andre Soares

Andre Soares — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:04:25 +0000

Thanks for sharing your comments. A clarification: I'm not "anti-Mitchum" and have no desire to be perceived as a "maverick." True, my tastes are usually quite different than most people's. Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, not to mention Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the like would never have become stars if most people's tastes matched mine. (Madonna and Britney Spears would never have sold any records, either.) But I'm free to express my "different" views, and people are free to express their disagreement. And that's just fine. I do like Steve Cochran, and I think he was an underrated and underused actor. Michelangelo Antonioni got some good stuff out of him in "Il Grido." I'd recommend a look at that to those who find Cochran a predictable performer.

By: Ned Brewster

Ned Brewster — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:00:44 +0000

Regarding your statement regarding Robert Mitchum, How can you justify saying that Steve Cochrane is better, sexier than Robert Mitchum? Although I like Steve Cochrane as a secondary player he's pretty thin as a personality or perhaps see through is a better word and if you pardon me kind of a dummy. In that I mean, for example, Jane Greer in Out of The Past would of taken him for a ride and plugged him by the end of the first reel. An actor a little too in love with himself, for example in Best Years of Our Lives. Good a being a creep and too aware of his looks. Mitchum on the other hand had the attitude, real or not, of " So what, so I look good, are we done?" Also Mitchum could move "B" material up to an "A" just by showing up and not tripping over the furniture. Either you're trying to be anti Mitchum in order to show what a maverick you are or you just don't have any sense. To me the reason Mitchum excelled in his acting, whether in noir films or almost any other type of film he took on, was his ability to play it low key and be natural but he also had something going on inside. Intelligence, depth, maybe just plain old experience with the real world, something many actors of the past and especially of todays movies, have very very little of. Also if you can deny Mitchums sex appeal then this may just be your own personal taste or problem. How about Steve Cochrane in Night of the Hunter think he could have pulled one that off too? Oh and referring to Mitchums attitude or style being described as somnambulistic is pretty tired as of the 1950's.