'Return to Thunder Road' author appearance

This non-fiction book by Alex Gabbard profiles the real-life story of moonshining in the southern Appalachians, as seen in the 1958 ROBERT MITCHUM film 'Thunder Road.' Gabbard will be speaking at the March 17 Literacy Luncheon in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

From the Amazon profile: "This is a powerful saga of an age gone by ... Alex Gabbard tells the story of moonshining in the mountains where he grew up and how it influenced the rural south and fledgling stock car racing, giving the sport its most colorful and enduring characters."

'Thunder Road' was one of Mitchum's most personal films. He came up with the idea for the film, produced it, chose the director and cast his son, Jim, as his younger brother. He also sang the hit title track, 'The Ballad of Thunder Road.'

Feeling Noirish: NY Times on the Film Noir Foundation

The NY Times' editorial on saving our favorite film noirs.

Critics have wondered why we love to watch tragedy. It’s easier to understand why we love film noir. In tragedy, none of the characters know they’re going to be tragic until it’s too late. The characters in film noir know what terrible cards they’re holding. We’re the bystanders witnessing a pitiless world where the game is rigged. Just watch “Out of the Past,” starring ROBERT MITCHUM and Jane Greer, and you’ll see. The only moments of true tenderness involve women lighting cigarettes for men and men lighting cigarettes for each other.

Contribute to the Film Noir Foundation which helps preserve neglected or damaged films.

Julian Cope Sings 'Robert Mitchum'

As a fan of both '80s music and, of course, ROBERT MITCHUM, I'm embarrassed to say this is the first I'm hearing about a song from 1989 called "Robert Mitchum." It's by ex The Teardrop Explodes front man Julian Cope, who co-wrote it with Echo and The Bunnymen's Ian McCulloch.

Sample lyrics, "You're such a guy, you're such a dude, you're so half-asleep."




Here's the Chart Attack article that led me to it.

'Friends of Eddie Coyle' Director Peter Yates Dies

Director Peter Yates, best known for the films 'Bullitt' and 'Breaking Away,' died Sunday. He was 82.

Yates was a graduate of London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art who relocated to New York. His first Hollywood production, 'Bullitt,' became the high point of Steve McQueen's career and its chase scenes set a new standard. The film won an Oscar for Best Editing.

Yates also directed ROBERT MITCHUM in the 1973 crime film 'The Friends of Eddie Coyle,' about a small-time Boston hood. The film was recently released on DVD, after several years of being unavailable.

He earned a Best Director nomination for the 1979 coming-of-age film 'Breaking Away' and for 1983's 'The Dresser,' which also scored Best Ator nominations for stars Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay.

Read more at the New York Daily News

Robert Mitchum in 'The Human Comedy'

Over the holidays, I caught one of Robert Mitchum's earliest films for the first time. 'The Human Comedy' is one of the many 1943 films Mitchum appeared in when he first hit Hollywood.

This film, based on the book by William Saroyan, concerns a small-town family during World War II. It stars Mickey Rooney as a telegraph company messenger, a very young Donna Reed as his older sister and Van Johnson as his older brother, who's serving in the war.

Mitchum makes his appearance about halfway through the film, as one of a trio of G.I.s who ask Donna Reed and her friend Mary (played by Dorothy Morris), out to the theater. G.I. Barry Nelson does most of the talking, but when the quintet swings by the telegraph office, we learn that the first name of Mitchum's character, Horse, is actually Quentin! Before the G.I.s part, they give the girls a kiss, with Mitchum kissing Morris (at left, in the photo above). This was, sadly, the only time Reed and Mitchum shared the screen.

The film itself I have to give a thumbs down: Great cast, but a schmaltzy and often preachy script, alas. Still, I'm glad to have seen one of Mitchum's first movies!

Happy Holidays, From Robert Mitchum!

Happy Holidays from ROBERT MITCHUM!

Here's a still from his underrated but wonderfully charming Christmas movie 'Holiday Affair.' He plays a store clerk who gets fired just before Christmas because he doesn't report pretty comparison shopper, Vivien Leigh. Soon, he's swept up in her life and that of her little boy, who desperately wants a toy train set for Christmas.

Read more about 'Holiday Affair.'

RIP Leslie Nielsen

In all the kudos for the late Leslie Nielsen (who died November 28), I doubt anyone mentioned his role in 'The Amsterdam Kill,' a 1977 thriller about the international drug trade, starring ROBERT MITCHUM. It's a low point in both their careers and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone but diehard Mitchum fans (and, apparently fans of "Golden Harvest Trash," as it's labeled in the Youtube trailer below.

If you've ever wanted to hear Mitchum dubbed in German, now's your chance! His German voice double is actually quite good! And the film is re-titled "The Tiger From Taipei."



Nielsen would go on to reinvent his career as a comedian with 'Airplane!' just three years later and in the '80s, Mitchum would go on to make 'That Championship Season' and the TV miniseries 'The Winds of War,' which introduced him to a new generation.