Robert Mitchum - Top 10 Best Performances

Happy October!! I got something' planned you ain't Never gonna forget...
The Top 10 Best Performances of One of the Most Underrated, Powerhouse Actors in Classic Cinema: Robert Mitchum.
One of the Greatest, Popular Leading Men, working alongside some of the Greatest Leading Ladies: Deborah Kerr, Jane Russell, Jane Greer, Janet Leigh, Teresa Wright, Jean Simmons, & Marilyn Monroe.
I could absolutely do a Top 20 of this man, but...Rules are Rules, as you know, of course.
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[@johnkaufman5474]

I had the pleasure of working with Robert Mitchum twice when I was a production assistant on movies shot in Hollywood and on location. Mitchum had supporting roles in Matilda (1978) and That Championship Season (1982). A consummate professional, Mitchum was gruff but friendly and told endless, priceless stories, if he decided you were someone worthy of hearing them. "You meet a better class of people in jail than in Beverly Hills." he said.

[@theclassicfilmloversguide1871]

Oh that's Awesome, love that. Nothing more I would've loved than to sit in his trailer and hear his stories.

[@Vicki1951]

Lucky you! Not many people who watch movies they really enjoy get the opportunity to actually meet the great actors.

[@acmarston]

Out of The Past is my number one.

[@reneescala7526]

Honorable mention: The Wonderful Country and his last great cameo in Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man.

[@wally1452]

I LOVE Robert Mitchum, the man, his absolutely great performances with the great women co-stars and great directors. Man, if he was around today in his 40's or so, doing these films, he'd be getting Oscars galore. Anyone name me anything even close to this great, great work here on Mitchum's filmography! Thanks for this!

[@JohnMinehan-lx9ts]

Mitchum was the kind of guy who asked David Lean, "What county does this guy come from in Ireland?" . . . and then nailed the accent for that County. One of the handful of American getting an Australian accent right in The Sundowners. the Company Commander in The Story of GI Joe; the Destroyer Commander and the Squadron Commander in The Hunters; Mitchum could play authority figures believably. (Mitchum served stateside in the US Army during WWII as a Medic; he was awarded an ARCOM . . . which was unheard of at the time. The guy cared a lot . . . but rarely got caught doing ot . . . .

[@blackbird5634]

Nothing beats ''Heaven Knows Mr. Allison." I loved it as a kid and it's been a yearly favorite ever since. It has everything.

[@user-eb9yu7pw4v]

In this movie Mitchum reveals how marvelously he can also convey sensitivity, tenderness, love. He and Deborah Kerr are a joy to watch together (even if the movie is a bit of hokum).

[@blackbird5634]

@@user-eb9yu7pw4v ''hokum?" do you mean to suggest that all US Marines are NOT sensitive romantics? That they're not whistling, idle, dreamers content to hold hands with nuns bent on saving their eternal souls? 😅

[@pamelajohnson7813]

Love this movie! It was on FXM today & I recorded it to watch at my pleasure. He is just wonderfully resourceful, brave, strong, emotional & quite sensitive when he needed to be. And, wow, was he sexy & has those sultry eyes! Is there anyone else you'd want to be shipwrecked with? Looking forward to seeing many of the movies mentioned here. He was scary in Cape Fear & Night of the Hunter!

[@listrahtes]

Imo Yakuza is his best performance by far. Such a masterpiece of a strong man deeply sensitive and understanding of his surrounding communicating with barely a word. Its crazy how underrated this movie is. Would add Heavon knows Ms Allison and Cape Fear.

[@bravehome4276]

I first encountered Robert in the cinema when I was a boy in 1957 -- his performance in Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison. I was mesmerized by his riveting performance. I can't say (at 6) I fully understood all that this film was about. But I watched it again and again as it appeared on TV and gradually better appreciated the textures that John Huston, Robert and Deborah wove into this film. While I'd have to agree his performances in Cape Fear and The Night of the Hunter are more powerful, I still enjoy him most in Heaven Knows. Perhaps that's how he rated his own performances -- Heaven Knows was his favorite, while Night of the Hunter was his best. Thanks again for bringing to light the range and power of this great artist!

[@jws1948ja]

I watch all of those movies (on television, of course). I watched Heaven Knpws, Mr. Allison in boarding school, with nuns. None of us wanted to understand the implications of this wonderful movie, but we did understand that in the end, Mr. Allison was a hero. What I saw in the other two movies was his clear ability to portray evil--Thought out evil.

[@bravehome4276]

@@jws1948ja And thought out evil is the most dangerous kind....

[@DavyDredd14]

The Night of the Hunter (1955) Thunder Road (1958) Cape Fear (1962) These are my absolute favorites to watch with brilliant Acting performances by Robert Mitchum !

[@jameshammer1616]

Saw Thunder Road as a kid in the mid sixties. Been in love with 50 Fords ever since.

[@fitzspike]

Night of the Hunter was the bes!

[@badpuppy09]

Anything with Mitchum is okay by me. Once asked about one of his films he said "They don't pay me to watch em"

[@kdavis1492]

Best Bad Boy Mitchum is "Thunder Road." And he wrote the songs. Have to watch it every few years. But the other day, I stumbled across an obscure western, with Mitchum. "Girl Rush." Him and a few other tough guy actors are pretending to be women, to take over a crooked town. Comedy western, but he's still a tough guy, Mitchum, in a calico dress, in a bar fight, is a hoot,

[@theclassicfilmloversguide1871]

YES! I Loved that One, lol you don't see Mitchum in drag too often!

[@hernan.aleman16]

Looking forward to watch The Friends Of Eddie Coyle, my favorite actor of the classic era.

[@jws1948ja]

He could play evil people.

[@loilt5091]

He could play other people. 🇨🇦

[@jws1948ja]

@@loilt5091 He was an extraordinary man. and he was an actor.

[@loilt5091]

@@jws1948ja Yes he was, including a writer, poet, lyricist, musician and a boxer.

[@jamesbaxterfromax]

Deeply sleeping on the lusty men. That's a tremendous top 3 performance for sure

[@theclassicfilmloversguide1871]

Ooooo yes The Lusty Men is Fantastic as well!

[@Thorpex1960]

I'm surprised His Role as Victor "Pug" Henry in the two series The winds of war and War and Remembrance were not among his top 10

[@bravehome4276]

I was going to say the same. Perhaps because this was a TV series, and not a cinema movie...my guess.

[@thomasthomas2418]

"Pug" Henry stepped right off of Mt. Rushmore. And his scenes with Pamela still melt my heart...and I'm a 67-year-old guy!

[@maryeliason1504]

I love THE SUNDOWNERS & watch my copy often. Deborah Kerr was so lovely too. He was scary in CAPE FEAR & NIGHT OF THE HUNTER. So good. All of his films are great. GRASS IS GREENER I watch my copy often.

[@mikegleed5842]

Out of the Past 🎥🎬👌

[@celinhabr1]

Mitchum was truly so fascinating. I love it!

[@retro-ronin]

Great list, but I would've undoubtedly added The Yakuza, at least as an honorable mention. He and Takakura absolutely command each and every scene they’re in, and the romantic sub-plot really makes you feel for the guy. Not to mention the finger-cutting scene. A criminally underrated masterpiece.

[@Trollificusv2]

Really. Not super-complex, but not straight line narrative, I wasn't ready for that one when I first encountered it. The critics displayed their usual self-aggrandizing focus and if 70s audiences didn't "get it", that doesn't make it a bad movie. I thought it was wonderful, with a great ending AFTER the "victory in battle".

[@apseudonym]

yakuza is in my top 5. the bond those two characters had was special

[@maryguy9013]

thanks for this video Robert Mitchum has always been one of my favorite actors

[@jeannineamos1178]

Two of my favorites ate Heaven Knows Mr Allison and GI Joe

[@leomallard9358]

I loved your list and the depth of your commentary; however, I would have found a place for “The Enemy Below.” It’s a thrilling war drama directed by Dick Powell that emphasizes honor, respect, and bravery even for a mortal enemy. It also includes a great performance from the German-Austrian actor Curt Jorgensen, who plays the role of a U-boat Commander very convincingly.

[@maryeliason1504]

Curt Jergens?

[@LizzieJaneBennet]

@@maryeliason1504 Jurgens ?

[@kdavis1492]

Both the book and movie "Friends of Eddie Coyle," are the best. George V Higgins, is also underrated. Mitchum plays the part perfect. Saw it when it came out. My wife & I went with a couple, who were friends. He was an undercover narc, for on of the local sheriff's departments. Movie blew him away. About a year ago, I got the book to re-read, then watched the movie again. Rates up there with The Godfather, Heat, To Live, Goodfellows and To Die in L.A. You're correct. Eddie is a bad gangster, but you feel sorry for him and his ending. The book emphasized it more, Eddie wasn't going to rat out. He knew going to go back would be his death, but he was going back to prison. A truly stand up guy.

[@JudgeJulieLit]

In a last scene of the film The Longest Day (1962) about D Day, Robert Mitchum as an invasion general says to the young driver of his jeep, "Run me up the hill, punk!"

[@scottgwelch6904]

Run me up the hill, son.

[@mahmoudshahnazi8374]

The list is fantastic, however, he was fantastic playing along with Dean Martin and Roddy McDowell in the 1968 'Five Card Stud', which was one of his many great performances in a Western. Another forgotten gem was the 1964 'Man in the Middle' which was also released under the title of 'The Winston Affair' which was a Military Court room drama in WW II In India. He was also great in the 1968 'Villa Rides' playing along with Yul Brynner and Charles Bronson.

[@danhurst9048]

The night of the hunter,cape fear and thunder road

[@blossom1643]

Anything he’s in is Great but if this was my list Home from the Hill would definitely be number One!! Maybe because it’s 1960 & I grew up in the 60’s. The little grocery store & the way the world was then( if you were a kid) was just so simple & sweet to me. Sure wish someone would download this movie. 🍿 ✌️

[@RileyRampant]

Great work. The rankings, the background. I just watched him in 'The Winston Affair' - not celebrated, but a fine film.

[@maryeliason1504]

He really was GOOD! A real hunk as well.

[@poetcomic1]

He was SO terrifying in the scene on the Houseboat when he smashed the egg in his hand that Polly Bergen was shaking in fear. They had to take a break and she joked around with Mitchum so she could even continue.

[@LizzieJaneBennet]

What a great moment I spent watching your video and remembering all these classics ! Thank you for showing that Robert Mitchum was way more than a cool bad Guy.

[@flmlvr]

Put simply, Mitchum is my favorite film star. Even if the movie stunk - and he did make a few stinkers - he was always worth watching. You didn't include this film in your top ten, but it's okay - but did you ever see "Going Home" from 1971? I think that is a hard-to-find title but Mitchum was great in that one too. But I can't argue with your Top 10. BTW, I wrote him a letter after the VHS release of "Cape Fear" telling him how much I was blown away by his performance, and I got an autographed picture back (I really don't know if he signed it - it could have been an assistant, but hey, at least the letter got to him). And my Robert Mitchum story is a little bit different then the others. It goes like this: In 1997, I was on a game show called "Shopping Spree". And this was after a year of toughing things out. I end up winning ALL the prizes which included a trip to Hawaii. So of course I'm all happy and jazzed and can't believe it etc. etc. So I leave the studio lot, go to my car, and turn on the radio. "Actor Robert Mitchum died in his Santa Barbara home earlier today." And with that, I looked up in the air and screamed "OH, YOU JUST HAD TO DO IT TODAY, DIDN'T YOU?" Truthfully, I knew his was in bad health and wasn't entirely shocked by the news, but why on that particular day when I have every reason to be happy? Uggh. And get this: My favorite actress is Lee Remick. She died on July 1, 1991. Mitchum died July 2, 1997. It's not difficult for me to remember those dates. Either ways, great video.

[@Tilly-ts8sz]

Cape fear my favorite scary movie ever

[@tomc8115]

Night of the Hunter is such an awesome movie. Don't forget Lilian Gish. She was great in NOTH.

[@blossom1643]

Nice commentary. Absolute Legend. Grew Weed for the Crew?!?! You see I Knew I loved the man!!✌️

[@zyxmyk]

Cape Fear was made in the same place where mitchum had been incarcerated on a chain gang when he was fifteen. the people on the movie said the minute they got there his anger came back and he was so angry and into that character he was playing that the people on the movie were scared of him. he used his anger and it worked.

[@alvaropelayo8084]

To me his best are El Dorado and Farewell My Lovely, which I can see over and over again, enjoying every time. John Wayne and John Ireland are excellent in there too.

[@frankpontone2139]

You forgot his wonderful role as Coach Daniel Delaney in That Championship Season (1982)

[@marymcwright8980]

I'm not sure but might be 3:am. I got drown into every performance. Starting with El Dorado which I have had replace a third time. Thank you for posting.😊

[@brianthomas2434]

Even at the end, Mitch was overshadowed. His death made the news July 2, 1997. On July THIRD the newspapers carried the death of James Stewart.....

[@alexmajo2216]

Thank you for your tribute to this fascinating actor. It's hard to choose among all these great films. I also like The Locket, Pursued, The Lusty Men, Angel Face, Track of the Cat, The Wonderful Country, Secret Ceremony, Yakuza

[@MarkSmith-js2pu]

I’m 70 and when you said Heaven Knows Mr. Allison was his favorite role, I actually cried. But you failed to mention an early one that I hold equally dear, “The Hunters”. That was the first time I went to a theater. My mom wanted to see Mae Britt as she was in the news quite a bit and she thought I was like to see airplanes. To me that story was a classic and is what actually inspired me to become a pilot and airplane lover, and hopefully as noble as Col. Cleve Seville.

[@theclassicfilmloversguide1871]

That's Incredible, Sir! And I did VERY MUCH enjoy, "The Hunters"! Mitchum was So Great in that too! Quite a surprising effort from Dick Powell, who directed too! Thank you so much for sharing!!

[@YvesFey]

Night of the Hunter was NOT heavily rewritten by Laughton. Read the book. Laughton worked very hard to bring the novel to the screen. It's the closest transfer I've ever seen for plot and mood. He threw out Agee's hugely rewritten script and consulted endlessly with Grubb.

[@Mitchette]

Thanks for this tribute . So hard to choose among all his greats movies. Hard to find those DVD now in France but according to your list, it seems i have the majors.❤😢 He was very nice in « Réunion at Fairborough » with his favorite partner Déborah Carr.❤️

[@dianekurtz7238]

Fantastic video! Huge Robert Mitchum fan and I’ve seen most of the films you listed but some I haven’t and am now motivated to watch! And just ignore the comments saying you forgot this, how could you not include that, what about this one…blah blah blah. With such a phenomal actor like Mitch, who made SO many movies, it’s impossible for all of us to agree on what his best performances are. Also, I guess they forgot this is YOUR list! However, I do 100% agree that The Night of the Hunter is his best by far and incredibly sad that bc it did so poorly at the time, Charles Laughton never directed another.. I appreciate the time and effort you put into this and will be watching more of your videos.

[@theclassicfilmloversguide1871]

You're Amazing, Diane, Thank You So Much for Your Support & Shared Love for Mitchum and others! :)

[@paulpiacentini]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@martinarcher1503]

he had a photographic memory, and only needed to read a script once.

[@anniebardelli7007]

My top 10 Mitchum movies: Pursued, Out of the Past, The Lusty Men, Track of the Cat, Night of the Hunter, Foreign Intrigue, Bandido, Thunder Road, The Wonderful Country, The Friends of Eddie Coyle . Honorable mentions: the big steal, holiday affair, she couldn’t say no (he was wonderful in comedy / light-hearted films too! Had much more range than say Grant or Bogart)

[@Vicki1951]

He was a great actor. I enjoyed all his movies and the only thing I have anything negative to say about his acting is that I wish he was in more scenes in each of his movies, if that were possible. Also, I think he should’ve been selected to be in more films that directors knew would have a massive audience.

[@paulakpacente]

I LOVED HIM! However I'd put "Cape Fear" as number one.

[@michaelm6948]

FYI: Ryan's Daughter was filmed in and around Dingle, County Kerry.....NOT County Clare.

[@pierrejohnson6264]

Blood on the Moon

[@redjacc7581]

He's my favourite actor.

[@matt3024]

El Dorado was the first movieI thought about when I saw this site. "Let me hear you LAUGH!"

[@Beth-zg6gb]

Mr. Mitchum has lovely sleepy bedroom eyes! 💕

[@09kittykatz09]

What About "Rachel and The Stranger"? Where the heck is "River of No Return" with Marilyn Monroe????????? Also, "Holiday Affair" with Janet Leigh, about the kid and the train set?

[@Normalhowaboutyou]

Oh my God, another Blabey host I just wanted to see him act

[@slippo99]

Loved "Yakuza," 1974.

[@TimothyJonSarris]

Catch his interview with Dick Cavett where he discusses the event which is referred to here as “a nervous breakdown”

[@scottgwelch6904]

The Hunters, Thunder Road, The Enemy Below, Till The End Of Time.

[@thomaswillans4085]

Vintage RM would be last man in a barfight

[@leedee4968]

Of course I think his best was his last performance supposedly but I know it was in "Dead Man"

[@lindsay3043]

😍😍😍

[@redjacc7581]

i really like him in anzio

[@loilt5091]

🤜M I T C H🤛 🇨🇦

[@kennethmcgurn3830]

In #1 Shelly Winters begins her career of being drowned. Three times? More?

[@miltonroman7348]

You forgot Big Country, how could you? He has a great Mex accent, well played, great script. Too bad.

[@marietta1335]

That was Gregory Peck.

[@miltonroman7348]

@@marietta1335 sorry, it was, A Wonderful Country, 1959.

[@jamesscanlon5969]

He's not underrated in my house.

[@clintbronson5]

I love Robert Mitchum as a actor but THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER I had a very difficult time watching! For me it was a jumbled mess with the singing and the IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE feel mixed in with a thriller feel it didn’t work for me and was very disappointed at the end. However...However I did like Mr Mitchum’s performance...Leeeaning Leeeeaning

[@pierrejohnson6264]

Blood on the Moon