Robert Mitchum Movies

The American Film Institute ranked Robert Mitchum as the 23rd greatest male actor of all-time.
The American Film Institute ranked Robert Mitchum as the 23rd greatest male actor of all-time.

Want to know the best Robert Mitchum movies?  How about the worst Robert Mitchum movies?  Curious about Robert Mitchum’s box office grosses or which Robert Mitchum movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Robert Mitchum movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.

The American Film Institute published their 50 Greatest Screen Legends in 1999. To qualify the performer had to have made their screen debut before 1950. The list presented the Top 25 actors and the Top 25 actresses of all time. One of my goals here on this website is to write a page on the 50 Greatest Screen Legends. With the publication of this page I am now exactly half way to my goal…..as I have done a page on 17 of the Greatest Actors and 8 of the Greatest Actresses. Which gets us to the subject of this page …..coming in at #23 on the Greatest Screen Legend Actors poll is Robert Mitchum.

Robert Mitchum (1917-1997) was an Oscar® nominated actor who appeared in 135 acting roles in movies and television between 1942 and 1997. He first gained fame appearing in the World War II movies, 1944’s Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and 1945’s The Story of G.I. Joe. In the late 1940s, early 1950s he appeared in some of the greatest film noir movies ever produced….1947’s Out of the Past, 1950’s Undercurrent and 1952’s Angel Face. Other high watermarks in his career included…1954’s River of No Return(Marilyn Monroe), 1955’s The Night of the Hunter, 1962’s Cape Fear, 1967’s El Dorado and 1973’s The Friends of Eddie Coyle.

His IMDb page shows 135 acting credits from 1942-1997. This page will rank 82 Robert Mitchum movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. Television shows, shorts, cameos and movies that were not released in theaters were not included in the rankings.

Robert Mitchum in 1955's The Night of the Hunter
Robert Mitchum in 1955’s The Night of the Hunter

Robert Mitchum Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.

Robert Mitchum Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table

The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies anyway you want.

  • Sort Robert Mitchum movies by co-stars of his movies.
  • Sort Robert Mitchum movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
  • Sort Robert Mitchum movies by yearly box office rank or trivia
  • Sort Robert Mitchum movies how they were received by critics and audiences.  60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
  • Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each Robert Mitchum movie received.
  • Sort Robert Mitchum movies by Ultimate Movie Ranking (UMR) Score.  UMR Score puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
  • Use the search and sort buttons to make this a very interactive page.
Robert Mitchum appeared in 135 acting roles....he received only one acting nomination in his ENTIRE career....a Best Supporting Actor Oscar® nomination for The Story of G.I. Joe.
Robert Mitchum appeared in 135 acting roles….he received only one acting nomination in his ENTIRE career….a Best Supporting Actor Oscar® nomination for The Story of G.I. Joe.

Possibly Interesting Facts About Robert Mitchum

 

1. How he got to Hollywood. Robert Mitchum was born in Connecticut in 1917, moved to California in 1936, got a job working as a machine operator and was pushed by his sister to join the local theater guild.

2. As a machine operator he suffered a nervous breakdown that resulted in temporary blindness. To avoid stress he decided to try and become an extra in the movies. It was a decision that worked out very well indeed.

3. One producer did numerous screen tests on Robert Mitchum….and even after numerous tests the producer could not decide if Mitchum was the worst actor ever or one of the most natural actors ever. The screen tests and the extra work eventually led him to the low budget Hopalong Cassidy movie serials.

4. His first real break was getting a supporting part in a big budget high profile movie….. 1944’s Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. The next year he got an Oscar® nomination for The Story Of G.I. Joe as Best Supporting Actor. This would turn out to be his only role that got him a nomination for acting (that includes Emmy®, Tony® and Golden Globes®)….135 roles and 1 nomination.

5. Robert Mitchum was married one time in his life and that was to Dorothy Mitchum for 57 years. They had two sons….Christopher and James and one daughter Petrina.

6. In 1948 Robert Mitchum was arrested, convicted and served jail time on charges for possession of marijuana. At the time of his arrest it was assumed this would destroy his promising career…instead it seemed to back up his tough guy anti-hero persona…. his career only lasted another 49 years.

7. Roles Robert Mitchum turned down over his career…..George C. Scott’s role in Patton, Gene Hackman’s role in The French Connection, a role in The Wild Bunch, and the Tony Curtis part in The Defiant Ones.

8. Later in his career, he became the King of the mini-series as he starred in not one not two but three of the most popular mini-series ever….1983’s The Winds of War, 1985’s North and South and 1988’s War and Remembrance.

9. Robert Mitchum’s voice is considered to one of the most distinctive voices to ever be heard on movie screens. This very deep singing voice was recorded on numerous records over the years and has been heard in many of his movies.

10. Probably the best Robert Mitchum tribute site is The Ultimate Robert Mitchum Headquarters.  Every Mitchum fan should be checking out this website….as it is filled with many many awesome Mitchum links.

Academy Award® and Oscar® are the registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences.

Check out Robert Mitchum’s career compared to current and classic actors.  Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time

afi top 25 actorsAFI’s Top 25 Screen Legend Actors….with links to our movie pages on the Screen Legend

1.   Humphrey Bogart  58 Movies Ranked….from Casablanca (1942) to Swing Your Lady (1938)
2.   Cary Grant 58 Movies Ranked… from North by Northwest (1959) to Born To Be Bad (1934)
3.   James Stewart 73 Movies Ranked Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939) to Big Sleep(1978)
4.   Marlon Brando 37 Movies Ranked….from The Godfather (1972) to Christopher Columbus (1992)
5.   Fred Astaire 39 Movies Ranked The Towering Inferno (1974) to The Amazing Dobermans (1976)
6.   Henry Fonda 81 Movies Ranked… On Golden Pond (1981) to City on Fire (1979)
7.   Clark Gable 63 Movies Ranked….from Gone With The Wind (1939) to Parnell (1937)
8.   James Cagney 61 Movies Ranked….from Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) to Boy Meets Girl (1938)
9.   Spencer Tracy 53 Movies Ranked….from Boy’s Town (1938) to Up the River (1930)
10. Charles Chaplin 12 Movies Ranked….from The Kid (1921) to A Countess from Hong Kong (1967)
11. Gary Cooper 67 Movies Ranked….from Sergeant York (1941) to Fighting Caravans (1931)
12. Gregory Peck 53 Movies Ranked To Kill a Mockingbird(1962) to Amazing Grace & Chuck(1987)
13. John Wayne 83 Movies Ranked….from True Grit (1969) to Brannigan (1975)
14. Laurence Olivier 48 Movies Ranked….from Rebecca (1940) to Inchon (1982)
15. Gene Kelly 40 Movies Ranked….from Anchors Aweigh (1945) to Viva Knievel! (1977)
16. Orson Welles 75 Movies Ranked….from Citizen Kane (1941) to Treasure Island (1972)
17. Kirk Douglas 71 Movies Ranked….from Spartacus (1960) to Diamonds (1999)
18. James Dean 3 Movies Ranked….from East of Eden (1955) to Giant (1956)
19. Burt Lancaster 67 Movies Ranked From Here to Eternity (1953) to Executive Action (1973)
20. Marx Brothers 18 Movies Ranked….from Horse Feathers (1932) to The Story of Mankind (1957)
21. Buster Keaton 28 Movies Ranked….from The Cameraman (1928) to The Intruder (1936)
22. Sidney Poitier 46 Movies Ranked….from In the Heat of the Night (1967) to Fast Forward (1985)
23. Robert Mitchum 83 Movies Ranked….from The Longest Day (1962) to Matilda (1978)
24. Edward G. Robinson 67 Movies Ranked 10 Commandments(1956) to BiggestBundleofAll(1968)
25. William Holden 66 Movies Ranked….from The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) to Ashanti (1979)

For comments….all you need is a name and a comment….please ignore the rest.

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101 thoughts on “Robert Mitchum Movies”

  1. Hi, Bruce and thanks for emailing me about Bob Mitchum and sendin gme a link to this page.

    I love Mitchum films. He made a lot of movies in my favourite genres.

    I’m not sure if I will be able to go through all I want to say tonight, but I will give it a good try.

    First-I have an impossible task trying to order my top five favourites of his, so I’ll only list five instead of ten:

    My favourite of his films all time is Cape Fear (the first one). He was terrifying. I have heard from people who read the book that Deniro’s performance in the remake was closer to the description in the book (I haven’t read it, but of course I have seen the remake with Peck as the lawyer that time around and Mitchum in it too.) However, I have never understood this as I would think it would be easier to get a restraining order against the remake version. Mitchum was a perfect gentlemen when people were around and I see him much more of a threat.

    Other top favourites of mine in *alphabetical order* (don’t ask me to order them in preference) are:

    The Big Steal – ooh, a film noir film. How’d I pick that?

    Farewell My lovely-a close adaptation of Chandler’s novel. He’s not my favourite Marlowe, but as someone who’s read this book, it’s a great adaptation (I’ve seen the first version too that had to be re-titled because the star was known for making musicals…)

    The Night of the Hunter-too bad Laughton decided never to direct again after the horrible public reaction. And very sad he didn’t live to see how much it would be appreciated later.

    Out of the Past- This is considered by film noir experts to be the ideal example of film noir, containing all the elements and ending and excellently told. If anyone wants to know what a film noir looks like this is the film to give him. I cannot find any fault with it.

    I also love his films he made with Jane Russell. They made an awesome screen couple

    Reply

    1. Hey Flora…for comment 1. Thanks for checking out my Mitchum page. Interesting points about the books and the movies you mentioned. His Max Cady is one the greatest villians ever ….not sure if they were really in a fight to death if Peck’s character could really get the best of Mitchum’s character. His Marlowe in Farewell My Lovely is the best of all the actors that have played that role.

      I agree with you about the quality of Out of the Past, Cape Fear and Night of the Hunter (I read in a book that Mitchum pretty much directed the kids in that movie as Laughton wanted nothing to do with directing kids)..I will add The Big Steal and the Jane Russell movies to my movies to watch list.

      Reply

      1. Hi, again Bruce:

        Here I will discuss top tens:

        Critics:

        I have seen seven out of ten. The ones I am missing are #El Dorado, Home From the Hill, and Pursued. The one I am most lookin gforward to seeing is Pursued.

        Box Office:

        Again, I have seen 7 of these. This time around I am missing Midway, Story of G.I. Joe, and Pursued.

        Your Cogerson Movie Score Top Ten:

        I have seen 7 of these. I am missing The Story of G.I. Joe, Midway and Pursued.

        This is nostalgic for me doing these lists.

        I’ll go over percent of films in another post.

        Reply

        1. Hey Flora….comment 2…..well you have me beat in all three categories….as I am at 50% on three categories compared to your 70%….checking Steve’s totals….he has 8 of the box office Top Ten and 6 of the Critics Top Ten….so that is a tie. So the question I have for you….are you aware of the movie…Not As A Stranger?….it was a blockbuster that has pretty much been totally forgotten over the years

          Reply

          1. Hi, Bruce.

            Time for the tally Count 🙂 I’ve already read that Steve is way ahead of you.

            As I told you last time, I have seen seven of the top ten, for 70%.

            Top 20: I have seen 14 of them, so still 70%. I am most looking forward to seeing Desire Me.

            Top 30: I have seen 19 of his top 30 films, or 63%. Ah, so now I start the decline. Hmm. I’ve never even heard of White Witch Doctor…

            Top 40: I have seen 25 of his top 40, or 63% again. I am pleased that so many of ones I am missing are early films of his rated high. I know I will enjoy them. Even in a so-so film, he is magnetic. In a great film, he is totally underrated.

            Top 50: This is where I slip big time. I have seen 28 of these or 56%. I have a feeling I will dip below 50% in the next ten.

            Top 60: Nope. I’m still barely above 50%. I have seen 31 out of 60 or 52%. But my final tally will be.

            Overall: Since I dipped below seeing 50% of the films with the top 70, I am going straight to my overall tally: 34 out of 83 or 41%.

            My favourite of the films you had to leave out because his appearance is uncredited is Sabateur (not confirmed).

            I have seen some of his tv work.

            I have noticed that imdb have him listed as the director on Night of the Hunter. Huh? wrong!

            Speaking of Greg Peck being his costar in my favourite film, I have a brief update I will give you here aboutr my Peck total. I am now missing only three big screen films (including a cameo) and one tv movie before I have seen all of Peck’s movies. There are guest appearances to I have not seen.

            Cheers and thanks for the fun of doing this.

            Flora

          2. Hey Flora….comment 3…..so you get the win…as it was Flora 34 Steve 32 and me all the way down on the bottom at 15….I am sure this hub will motivate me to watch more of the classic Mitchum movies…the last classic hub I did was on Errol Flynn…when I finished writing that hub my tally count was 3….well 5 weeks later….and I up to 17 which was in the ballpark with you and Steve.

            According to Danny Peary’s Cult Movie books….Laughton pretty much threw his hands up when it came time to direct the kids in the movie….which is a huge chunk of the movie…and Mitchum stepped in did the directing…thus IMDB seems to be giving him a share of the directing credit. It was a shame that Laughton did not get to see his baby grow up to be considered on the best movies to made in the 1950s.

            I appreciate the Peck update…you are almost there….and I greatly appreciate you stopping by and adding to the worth of my movie page…thanks very much.

  2. A great addition to your Moviescore series Bruce, one of the Hollywood greats!

    Married for 57 years! Kudos to the man.

    Mitchum played many heroes in movies and played frightening villains in two classic movies Night of the Hunter and Cape Fear.

    Surprised to see the critically acclaimed Night of the Hunter so low on your Moviescore. I know it wasn’t a hit but still looks odd seeing it listed below some pretty ordinary movies.

    I’ve seen 32 of the 83 films you’ve listed, I must have seen more I just can’t remember all the titles.

    8 from the box office top 10 and 6 from the critics 10.

    I don’t think I’ve seen Mitchum’s “3rd biggest hit” Not as a Stranger, and I’m very curious to see it now.

    Some of my favourite Mitchum films include – The Longest Day, El Dorado, Farewell My Lovely, Cape Fear and Out of the Past.

    Reply

    1. Hey Steve….yep I finally finished his hub….seems I have been working on his movie for months and months. His villians in the two movies you mentioned….The Night of the Hunter and Cape Fear both made the AFI list of greatest villians…played by Mitchum of course.

      The Night of the Hunter is just going to have to be happy being on top of the critic audience list….it was a complete bomb when it got released….Charles Laughton thought he would become a great director but he stopped after the bad reaction to Night of the Hunter.

      I have seen only 15 of his movies…..so you are destroying me in the tally count……I will say one of his movies that I really liked was The Yakuza…..as for Not as a Stranger…..as soon as I found the photo of Marvin, Sinatra and Mitchum sitting together I immediately put the movie on my list of movies to watch.

      As is often the case….it seems when I do a hub on somebody I start to watch many of the movies that I missed….my Errol Flynn total went from 3 to 18 movies in 4 weeks…..looking forward to catching up to you in the future.

      Thanks for the votes and the comment….both are greatly appreciated.

      Reply

  3. Another excellent page, Cogerson on an actor that most people aren’t familar with. You are right about that distinctive voice, and I notice that you included “Tombstone” in your list even though he was just the narrator. His voice was perfect for that movie, and I guess it should be included, but it does skew his score somewhat-doesn’t it?

    Reply

    1. Hey First Colony…thanks for stopping by….true he was just the narrator in Tombstone….but he does help the movie…and the fact that Tombstone is one of my favorite movies has nothing to do with it…..lol. He actually filmed a few scenes that got cut from the final movie. True his overall score was pretty low so Tombstone actually helped him a little bit. I appreciate the comments.

      Reply

  5. 08/31/2013 10:19 AM Bernice
    I have always enjoyed his movies. Not As A Stranger was a good movie. Would love to see in again. I believe I have seen most of his movies. He was a very good actor. Congrats on 57 years of marriage……….

    Reply

    1. Hey Tina. Not As A Stranger is very high on my list of movies to see. 57 years is a long time.

      Reply

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