Greetings, Errol,

Just had a reread of your post about Robert Mitchum's "In His Own Words", and I think you touched on some very good points.

I'd also just recently looked again at your post about your review of Rita Moreno's new book, and I'd then alluded to Lee Server's book about Robert M.'s eclectic life("Baby, I Don't Care"--a heck of an appropriate but rather sad title, I thought, after closing the last of many disturbing/amusing/confusing pages of his life!) If I didn't know much about the man BEFORE I read this long, detailed bio (but, in my opinion, worth it)--I sure knew LESS when I was finished!

Notwithstanding all the tales of Mitchum vs. his leading ladies--and I do know that it was said that Susan's nasty divorce was raging during the making of one of their films ('White Witch Doctor'?)--which would excuse ANYONE'S disinterest towards her leading man---whether the 'perfect match' or Godzilla on garlic........I was suddenly struck by one other valid reason that may have led both leading actor and actress to close the book on any possible friendship that could have developed between them.

Susan, from her earliest years, held acting and films in her highest esteem, wanting passionately to learn and perform her 'craft' to the best of her ability. In that sense--she differed greatly from so many of her fellow performers--women AND men--who did more dreaming of perfecting their best angles than to perfecting their next lines!!

Whereas, even if Robert M. obviously did get enjoyment from his career, he went out of his way to denigrate and downgrade this way of making a living. He let everyone know that hard work to perfect this 'profession' was a joke--and all he need do was to be on the set at the right time, ready to go, say all his lines--and then head on back to his day's earlier drinking and carousing!!! (Often making fun of those who DID prepare like professionals, working hard to portray the role they were playing. All this seemed to be truly enigmatic to him!)

After reading his bio--and I am assuming SOME of it was on the mark--Mitchum certainly had his own demons. And a combination of so many aspects of his 'psyche' must have fought one another, trying (even if subconsciously) to figure out WHO he was. I'm not convinced he ever knew.

Now, Susan, whilst struggling with her own identity, DID, at least, KNOW how much she respected her career. And, inbetween her struggles, I felt she was rarely in doubt that being the best performer she could be--and having her hard work acknowledged--would be an honor like no other.

I can certainly be off-base in my conclusion--but I find it very hard to imagine Susan--more so than Robert--(and aside from her reaction to his crudeness-and, perhaps, even her eventual discovery of his kind, gentle, intelligent 'core') to ever get past his belittling of the one constant 'love' in her life--her acting.

So! What do you think about all my endless 'speculating', Errol? (Too much 'analyzing' on my part---and not enough reaching for my skis---and just blasting my way through all of life's many bumps?)

best, Lynn [

I think that you could be correct in thinking this...Mitchum was not 'shy' about saying how he felt about an 'actor's life'. He did not feel it a 'manly' way to make a living.

And...on his 'take' on women co-stars...I was quite surprised how he didn't think much of Jane Russell, who he did more movies with than any other actress. But..these were his own words on interviews. I know he did not like Loretta Young and thought she and Greer Garson were so 'into themselves'...and he hated that.

In fact...on these interviews he DID mention some of these actresses with 'disgust'..but he never mentioned Susan at all in his bad remarks. He just didn't mention her..PERIOD! Which goes to show there was no love lost!

He didn't see much in Jean Simmons, thought Marilyn Monroe was a very 'troubled' person, but 'strong' when she refused to leave the raft they were on in RIVER OF NO RETURN until he left it. THE RAFT BROKE LOOSE AND WAS ALREADY INTO HEAVY RAPIDS BEFORE THEY WERE SAVED.) He made fun of Victor Mature..said he would never do a 'stunt'. That the most he ever did was walk off the sidewalk onto the curb of a street.)

THE ONLY FEMALE CO-STAR HE MENTIONS with liking was FAITH DOMERIGUE, He said that director JOHN FARROW (Mia's father and Maureen O'Sulliavan's daughter) treated Faith like 'dirt' and he almost came to blows with him over how she was being treated.

Mitchum and Hayward truly 'did' have a different way of looking at movie making and YES...Susan always did it with honesty and seemed to love her craft, while Mitchum would take smaller roles with less lines and money and 'always' wanted to know 'how many days' it would take to do a picture. If it was more time than he wanted to 'waste' on making a film...he would refuse the role. Mitchum was originally 'wanted' for the role Clark Gable played in THE MISFITS. Oh...there were...many..roles that he turned down..and admits he wss a 'lazy actor'. He said his most happy days in making films was in the beginning...when he did 19 films in one year. He liked doing the 'short' B-Hoppalong Cassidy westerns. THAT..was his favorite times and after that..it was 'boring' and he said he 'gave the same performance over and over' in the films people liked so well.

OH...he did like working with one female star other than Faith. He LOVED working with DEBORAH KERR and holds her in the 'highest regards' as an actress. woman..and human being.

I always liked Deborah Kerr too...but it seemed like Susan and Deborah were always nominated...the same years...for Best Actress...so Susan 'always' would win out, in that case....