Talk:Robert Mitchum

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[edit] Questions and suggestions relating to the article page

Should a quotes section be included ? —Preceding unsigned comment added by George-Archer (talk • contribs) 14:02, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Mitchum the calypsonian

My copy of the (augmented) CD reissue of Calypso tells me that the LP was published in 1957, and the notes to the LP tells me that the lyrics were cleaned up. What's the source for the claims for 1955 publication and for no softening for the US market? -- Hoary 16:05, 2005 Jun 2 (UTC)

Now fixed, according to the album notes, CD notes, this page, and Lee Server's biography. -- Hoary 07:58, 2005 Jun 4 (UTC)

"Scotch-Irish" changed to "Scottish-Irish" as Scotch is a whisky. BlueKangaroo 0540 GMT 25 June 2005.

[edit] Drug arrest

someone should probably mention his drug arrest and how it affected his career. I believe it was before The Big Steal. Eventually, after he served time, the charges were overturned. Steve-O 14:25, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

His marijuana conviction is mentioned in the "Work in film noir" section. In itself, the incident had little effect on his career (he had two significant hits immediately after the conviction, and continued to have some success in film noir). It is hinted at (mostly on the Internet) that the "leading ladies" of the day didn't want to work with him after the incident, but there's no solid evidence of that. If anything, I think the arrest only added to Mitchum's screen persona (it was a set-up, after all). Volatile 21:39, 4 January 2006 (UTC)
I think at the time, it was possibly a career killer. RKO was very worried about it and Liz Scott (as mentioned in The Big Steal) quit a film because she didn't want to be associated with him. Steve-O 04:53, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Starred in a movie for Showtime

Robert Mitchum starred in a 1985 movie "Reunion at Fairborough" as Carl Hostrop, ace pilot. Co-star Deborah Kerr informs him that he is a father and grandfather.

[edit] An anachronism - "middle school"

The article mentions that Mitchum was kicked out of "middle school". This seems like an anachronism -- I do not believe there were "middle schools" at that time. Junior high schools maybe.

The Wikipedia article on Middle Schools states "...the middle school concept is a relatively new model for the middle-level grades, contrasted with the more traditional junior high concept". Sharon Rufener 16:02, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Mitchum as icon

Someone deleted a reference to Mitchum as "iconic," calling the use of the adjective "puffery." I didn't change it back (or submit it in the first place) and I don't care one way or the other. But I think there's a pretty good case to be made for Mitchum as an iconic figure in American cinema, a case that can be made whether one even likes Mitchum or not. He's pretty much the definitive noir actor in most everyone's book, it seems to me. I think "iconic" can quite legitimately be used without it being puffery. Opinions?

  • I am the one that reverted the addition. I agree fully that Mitchum is iconic, but on wikipedia the general consensus is to let a person's record do the talking rather than applying such adjectives to avoid the appearance of POV. Indrian 08:05, 7 August 2007 (UTC)
I don't disagree, but I think there might be some value in making the point early in an article that someone or something is, in fact, widely recognized as particularly notable in an aspect of its existence, and not merely another example of the broad variety. In (I hope) clearer terms, it might well serve an article to mention not just that the Statue of Liberty is a statue, but that it is an iconic one. Certainly Mitchum would laugh at all of this, but this is about him, so he doesn't count. :-) Monkeyzpop 08:56, 7 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Saboteur?

I've deleted the reference to Mitchum's appearance in Saboteur for the time being, as the IMDb is not sufficiently reliable for a piece of information such as this, since the information apparently conflicts with other things known to be true. He's not listed in the detailed list of actors in the AFI catalog, which lists everyone down to the baby in a stroller! In addition, this film was made during Dec. 1941-Feb. 1942, when Mitchum was working at Lockheed and had gone blind (fortunately temporarily). It's just possible that he left the Lockheed job and recovered his sight in time to be an extra at the extreme end of Saboteur's shooting schedule, but it's highly unlikely. I've seen the film many times and never noticed Mitchum. It's possible, I suppose, but I doubt it, without more evidence. As soon as possible I'll check the film itself, and if I can, locate a cite among the daily production reports at USC, though those are skimpy for Universal films. I realize that's original research, a no-no here, but if I can find one of the reports, it can be used as a cite. Not trying to have a dispute, just trying to be as accurate as possible. IMDb is a wonderful resource, but a credit found there and NOWHERE else is not sufficient to state as fact. Any ideas for other resources you know of? Monkeyzpop (talk) 20:37, 13 January 2008 (UTC)