"The Big Sleep" Director Michael Winner Dies

Mitchum, Joan Collins and Michael Winner. Photo courtesy of the Joan Collins Archive.

Michael Winner, the director of films including the Charles Bronson Death Wish films and the original The Mechanic (recently remade with Jason Statham) has died at age 77. The British director had been in ill health for a number of years, according to the Guardian UK.

He made his debut as a writer-director with the 1960 crime thriller Shoot to Kill. He went on to direct The System, starring Oliver Reed, whom he'd work with again on several films, including the critically panned 1978 remake of The Big Sleep, starring ROBERT MITCHUM and Joan Collins. His last film, 1999's Parting Shots, reteamed him with Reed, who died that year.

His biggest success was with the 1974 drama Death Wish, which spawned two sequels.

Winner was reportedly offered an OBE in 2006 but turned it down, saying, "An OBE is what you get if you clean the toilets well at King's Cross station." Mitchum and Winner reportedly didn't get along -- Mitchum once punned that Winner was really a "loser" -- but that's the kind of gesture Mitchum would have admired.

New Mitchum Films on DVD and Blu-Ray:

Films of ROBERT MITCHUM's that are new to DVD or Blu-Ray include: Blu-Ray

Cape Fear: One of Mitchum's most enduring performances as the terrifying ex-con Max Cady is now available on Blu-Ray.

Pursued. This terrific noirish western, co-starring Theresa Russell, is also available on DVD.

DVD

My Forbidden Past: A New Orleans romance with Ava Gardner that has been unavailable in any format for many years.

One Shoe Makes It Murder: A little-seen 1982 TV movie co-starring Angie Dickinson.

Promises to Keep. This 1985 TV movie featured the only time that Mitchum co-starred with both his son Christopher and grandson Bentley. It's long been unavailable, but is finally on DVD.

Going Home: This long out-of-print thriller from 1971 co-stars Brenda Vacarro and Jan-Michael Vincent.

The Wrath of God . In an update of sorts on The Night of the Hunter, Mitchum plays a gun-toting "priest" in Latin America in this 1972 film.

Foreign Intrigue. Sadly, one of Mitchum's worst films, this muddled 1956 spy film is laughably awful but if you're a completist, it's now on DVD in a set that also includes the 1958 Michael Redgrave version of The Quiet American.

Amazon Instant Video

Thompson's Last Run. Another 1980s TV movie: This one is from 1986, co-starring Wilfred Brimley as a cop pursuing his old pal and criminal, Mitchum.

Mitchum to Be Inducted into The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum's Hall of Fame

ROBERT MITCHUM will be inducted into the the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City as part of its annual Western Heritage Awards, which will be held on Apri 20.

The black-tie affair honors stars in 16 categories of Western music, literature, television and film. For induction into the Hall of Great Western Performers, actors must have made significant contributions to the perpetuation of the Western film, radio or theatre. The inductee must project the traditional Western ideals of honesty, integrity and self-sufficiency.

Mitchum's many westerns include El Dorado with John Wayne, Track of the Cat, Blood on the Moon, the noir-western Pursued, The Red Pony, River of No Return with Marilyn Monroe and the rodeo film The Lusty Men. His first film role was a villain in 1943's Hoppy Serves a Writ and his final theatrical film was the 1996 indie western Dead Man, with Johnny Depp.

Also being inducted this year are and Duncan Renaldo and Leo Carillo, who played TV's Cisco Kid and his sidekick Pancho, and The Last of the Mohicans star Wes Studi

For reservations call (405) 478-2250, Ext. 219 or visit their site. Source: BAM's Blog.

Happy New Year!

Best wishes for a Happy New Year from ROBERT MITCHUM and Janet Leigh in 'Holiday Affair.' The Christmas movie ends with their happy reunion on a train on New Year's Eve.

Hope your 2013 is merry and bright!