Welcome to Freaky Friday! My last blog entry was about Cape Fear, one of Robert Mitchum’s best known films. Since today’s Freaky Friday calls for a true crime topic, we’ll talk about Robert Mitchum’s true crimes.
I will admit the title of this blog post is a little dramatic. Robert Mitchum was far from a career criminal. He did, however, have a few interesting brushes with the law.
Robert Mitchum was born in 1917 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Robert’s father died when he was very young. Robert’s mother remarried to a former British Army Major.
Young Robert Mitchum was a prankster–a trait he would never outgrow. His love of mischief got him expelled from more than one school.
In 1930, Robert went to live with his older sister in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen. He was soon expelled from the school he was attending. Robert took off on his own, traveling the country on railcars.
At the age of 14, Mitchum was arrested in Savannah, Georgia for vagrancy. He was sent to work on a chain gang. Robert escaped the chain gang with an injury to his leg and returned home to Connecticut.
This experience made an impression on Robert. During the filming of Cape Fear in 1962, many of the outdoor scenes were filmed on location in Savannah, Georgia. Robert had such a deep aversion to Savannah, Georgia that some of his outdoor scenes had to be filmed at a marina in Stockton, California.
Cut to the night of August 31, 1948. Robert was a working actor in California. His wife Dorothy had taken a two month trip back East after the couple received some bad financial news.
Robert–with his friend Robin Ford in tow–went to a party at 8443 Ridpath Drive. This was the home of young actress named Lila Leeds. Robert and his friend arrived at Ms. Leeds’ home around midnight.
Unbeknownst to Robert, the house was under police surveillance. They were looking for illegal drug use. Robert blazed up a doobie, and the police busted in and nabbed them all. Some reports claim Robert had fifteen joints in his cigarette pack.
Robert must have been fairly sure his acting career was over because he listed his occupation as “former actor” when he was booked. However, RKO studios had too much invested in Robert Mitchum to just dump him.
Robert’s next film appearance–Rachel and the Stranger–was released on September 20, 1948. Audiences cheered when Robert appeared onscreen.
Robert was eventually convicted of conspiracy to possess marijuana. He was given 2 years probation and sentenced to two months in county jail.
Life magazine famously photographed Robert’s jail stint.
On the set of Mitchum’s next film, The Big Steal, his co-star Jane Greer said fans were constantly trying to foist joints on Robert Mitchum.
Robert Mitchum’s final arrest came in 1953. He was stopped for speeding–doing something like 74 MPH in a 35 MPH zone. Rather than accepting the ticket, Mitchum drove away from the scene. He was later arrested and fined.
Robert Mitchum exuded “don’t give a damn” from every pore of his body. It enhanced his performance on screen, made him an actor people loved to watch. In real life, it seems he was just as interesting as he was on screen.
Floor is open. Are you a Robert Mitchum fan? If not, who is your favorite actor or actress from classic cinema?
Sources:
Very Important Potheads: Robert Mitchum
Scandals of Classic Hollywood: Robert Mitchum, Smokin’ the Dope
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William Simon said:
When the time came, Mitchum was the *perfect* Phillip Marlowe in FAREWELL, MY LOVELY. The second one, THE BIG SLEEP, went down the stupid road (updated to London in the 70′s), but that was not Mitchum’s fault. That first photo of him is what I see in my minds’ eye when I read Robert B. Parker’s ‘Spenser’ novels. That *IS* Spenser.
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Catie Rhodes said:
Robert Mitchum *was* the quintessential tough guy, wasn’t he? In some ways (not all) he reminds me of Mickey Rourke. Like Rouke, Robert worked as a professional boxer. I think it’s cool that you imagine him as Spenser.
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S.K. Epperson said:
Of Robert Mitchum’s older movies one of my favorites is “River of No Return” with Marilyn Monroe. Loved “The Sundowners” with Deborah Kerr, “El Dorado”, “5 Card Stud”, but he displayed some real acting chops playing Charles Shaughnessy in David Lean’s film “Ryan’s Daughter” cast alongside Sarah Miles, John Mills and Christopher Jones. A very subdued role for him done extremely well I thought.
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Catie Rhodes said:
I have not seen ANY of the movies you mentioned. I need to watch some of these. Thank you so much for giving me some new movie suggestions. Good to see you and thanks for stopping by .
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PJ Sharon said:
I love this peek into an iconic film star’s life, Catie. I loved Robert Mitchum’s movies. The fact he was a bit of a rebel makes me love him even more. What a tough life he lived as a boy. I can’t imagine either of my sons on a chain gang at 14! Yikes!
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Catie Rhodes said:
I first read about Robert Mitchum’s smoking marijuana in a Peter Fonda biography. I thought to myself, “Peter is just making that up” and promptly forgot it. The other day when I was writing the Cape Fear post, I did a google search on “Robert Mitchum marijuana” and surprise, surprise. I never knew that Robert Mitchum was that wild. It was fun to know more about such an iconic film star.
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Dave said:
I heard one rumor that Robert Mitchum was being harassed in a bar by a heavyweight contender. The altercation was over a girl. Apparently Robert wasn’t afraid of the guy and he cleaned his clock. Does anybody else know about this?
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Catie Rhodes said:
I can believe that story. Robert Mitchum boxed in his younger days. He was probably pretty tough.
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susielindau said:
This is a shocker for me! I had no idea he was such a “badboy!” I always thought of him like a Jimmy Stewart! I wonder if my parents remember his reputation….
Great post Catie! Happy Friday the 13th!
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Catie Rhodes said:
I never knew much about Robert Mitchum until I wrote the Cape Fear post the other day. I had just never looked into his personal life. Now I’m tempted to read his biography. LOL
Happy Friday the 13th to you, too.
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susielindau said:
I bet it is full of juicy details!
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Julie Glover said:
I remember hearing an interview of Mitchum in which he said that he treated acting like a job. He didn’t think much of all the method acting, etc. He just showed up, played the part, and went home. Mitchum sounded like a tough guy, but a regular guy in many respects.
I recall vaguely about the joints, but not the other arrest. I have so many favorite actors from that time. Mitchum’s not really one of them. I liked Cary Grant (who had his own drug issues), James Stewart, William Holden, and Gregory Peck in particular.
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Catie Rhodes said:
I’ve read that same thing about Robert Mitchum’s acting. He said you showed up, read the lines, and went home. Robert Mitchum also said he walked the way he did because he was trying to hold in his gut.
I usually enjoy Jimmy Stewart’s movies. He really knew how to play the guy next door, didn’t he? Of course, on my “he’s hot” meter, Montgomery Clift scores pretty high. I think he was just beautiful.
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Patricia Yager Delagrange said:
I always thought he was SO good-looking and I thank you for this post. I never knew he was a bit of a bad boy in his youth but can see now that those traits made him one helluva great actor.
Thanks, Catie.
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Catie Rhodes said:
Patti, I agree with you that Robert’s past really enhanced his acting. The more I know about him, he seems like he was a pretty complex character in his own right. Glad you enjoyed the post.
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Louise Behiel said:
Great post, Catie. thanks for an introduction to the ‘dark side’ of one of the best leading men in Hollywood.
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Catie Rhodes said:
Glad you enjoyed the post, Louise. I had a lot of fun researching it.
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Tiffany A White said:
I’m even more of a Mitchum fan now!!! Great post, Catie!! My dad will love this one.
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Catie Rhodes said:
So glad you enjoyed this. I hope your dad does, too.
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David N. Walker said:
Never knew any of this about Mitchum, but I’m not surprised. No one else has mentioned it, but my favorite movie of his was Thunder Road, from 1958.
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Catie Rhodes said:
Oooh, Thunder Road, huh? I haven’t seen that in years. We used to own it (and lot of other movies) on VHS. When our last VCR quit working, I gave my VHS collection to my cousin, who still owned a working VCR. I am so glad you mentioned Thunder Road. We need to watch that again.
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Diana Stevan said:
My mother was a big Robert Mitchum fan. As a kid, I remember sitting in the dark theatre watching film noir. He was one of the best. It couldn’t have been easy dealing with all the anger it seems he had but it played well on film.
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Catie Rhodes said:
I do agree that the real Robert came through in most of his performances. He seemed like the restless type, the kind who would always be off on some adventure.
How cool that your mom introduced you to film noir. My mom–a child of the 60s–introduced me to Simon and Garfunkel and The Graduate.
The stuff we learn from our moms is so cool.
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hmcmullin said:
I’ve always liked Robert Mitchum, bad boy attitude and all. Like David, one of my favorite Mitchum movies is “Thunder Road.” I also like him in any of the John Wayne movies he made, some of which also starred one or more of his kids.
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Catie Rhodes said:
I know little about Robert Mitchum’s westerns. But I love that James Mitchum played a role in Thunder Road. Glad you enjoyed the post and thanks for stopping by.
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pamelavmason said:
Loved this! And your statement that he exuded “don’t give a damn” from his very pores – nailed it!
There’s something in his look in that first photo that gives a girl shivers, like he’s undressing you. The only contemporary man I can think of who can do that well is Ryan Gosling… but he doesn’t come close to Mitchum’s wickedness.
Gee.. I think I sound like Bruno from DWTS here lol!
And I agree with the first commenter… Mitchum IS Spenser.
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Catie Rhodes said:
You know, I am also a fan of That 70s Show. Robert Mitchum makes me think of that episode where Steven Hyde talks about his zen. He teaches Jackie how to *really* say “cool” and “whatever.” That’s sort of how Robert Mitchum hit me. He seemed very cool and collected in the roles I’ve watched him play. He had zen, you know what I mean?
And Ryan Gosling! I don’t know who that is. Now I have to go google him and find out. LOL
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pamelavmason said:
I do know what you mean. And it’s an elusive quality very few possess – ever.
I’m trying to think who presently possesses it. Nobody quite comes to mind… maybe Bono.
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Catie Rhodes said:
Now I’m trying to think of someone who is cool. I’ve always said Steve McQueen was the King of Cool. But, like Robert Mitchum, he’s dead.
Perhaps Bono. Maybe Slash. Samuel L. Jackson?
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alandhopewell said:
Tom Selleck, John Travolta, depending on the role, 4-X, Chili Palmer,Samuel L. Jackson definitely.
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pamelavmason said:
All good nominees. That would make for some good conversation if you need a blog post idea – there must be more out there.
Perhaps we should just let Mitchum be in a classification all his own….
Not that he’d care.
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Catie Rhodes said:
You’re right. This might be a good future blog post. Cool is something that is hard to cultivate and even harder to write.
And as for Robert Mitchum…he would not have given a damn–at all.
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pamelavmason said:
This popped into my head last week, and now you’ve gone and reminded me of it again.
Johnny Cash.
He was cool in a dangerous way too.
If you’ve already done a post on him, please forgive and link me up.
Otherwise,
Please do a blog post on him and put in your ‘cool’ category.
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Catie Rhodes said:
Johnny Cash was cool, and he transcended the label of a country/gospel singer. People who would not normally listen to country music listen to Johnny Cash. I do want to do a blog post on the Gurus of Cool, including people like Johnny Cash, Steve McQueen and whoever else I think of.
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tomwisk said:
Robert Mitchum has been a role model (except for the jail part). He lived in his roles. I’m having a senior moment but he played a preacher in a movie with Love and Hate tattooed on his fingers. He was scary, they remade the movie with Richard Chamberlain in the lead and he was just as scary.
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Catie Rhodes said:
I think you’re referring to Night of Hunter. I have never seen the remake with Chamberlain. Perhaps I need to. Thanks for stopping by.
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Phil White said:
Catie–I loved this post–Thank you very much– Mitchum is one of my favorites–Tiffany was right as usual–LOL
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Catie Rhodes said:
Glad you enjoyed this, Phil. Thanks for stopping by.
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richardwhittle@rocketmail.com said:
Wow, that was fun! Thanks Catie..
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Catie Rhodes said:
Glad you enjoyed, Richard.
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sandylrowland said:
I heard about this from my dad when I was a kid. He didn’t have much respect for Mitchum, but he liked his movies. He played a terrific bad boy. Not too much of a stretch as it turns out.
Thank you for the entertaining post.
As an old time actor with heroic character, Jimmy Stewart was the real deal for me.
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Catie Rhodes said:
On my phone, the WordPress comments show up as a preview so I don’t see the whole comment unless I go to the WordPress app.
I told you all that so I could tell you this: I thought you were going to say that your father told you about Robert Mitchum’s pot bust as a cautionary tale when you were a teenager.
My husband and I enjoy Jimmy Stewart too. We watch It’s a Wonderful Life every year during the holidays.
Thanks for stopping by.
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Stacy Green said:
Didn’t know much of this about Mitchum. Must be why he was so good at playing bad boys. As others have said, he was in a class of his own when it came to confidence and sex appeal.
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Catie Rhodes said:
He really did have it, didn’t he? (Confidence and sex appeal.) I sort of think the same of Steve McQueen and Errol Flynn. And, in his way, James Dean.
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Rhonda Hopkins said:
I am definitely a Mitchum fan, but I had no idea about his arrests. I always thought that no matter how old he was, you could always see the mischief sparkling in his eyes. And oh yeah, Jimmy Stewart is one of my all time faves.
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Catie Rhodes said:
Jimmy Stewart was an easy guy to like.
Robert Mitchum was apparently very full of mischief. Even after he became a successful actor, he still played pranks. One of the things I read about him doing was urinating on a director’s car after the director angered Mitchum in some way.
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HerbieGrandma said:
Love Mitchum. He fits in with my other bad-boy on the screen favorites like Vogue, McQueen and Willis.
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Catie Rhodes said:
Glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for your comment.
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Jenny Hansen said:
I’ve never followed Mitchum’s career so this was a great post for me to catch up with. Thanks! (And my GOD, was he hot!!)
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Catie Rhodes said:
Wasn’t he hot? I am a big Steve McQueen fan but Robert Mitchum gives McQueen a run for his money. Thanks for stopping by.
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Piper Bayard said:
Wow! I had no idea. I only knew him for his movies. Thanks for the education.
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