Robert Mitchum Trivia Quiz

Answer: Connecticut

Bob was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and lived there until he was sent, by his widowed mother, to live with his grandparents in Fenton, Delaware when he was 12. A year later he moved in with his sister, Annette (stage name Julie Mitchum), in New York City.

Answer: RKO Radio Pictures

Mitchum earned a contract at RKO due to his work on "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" (1944), directed by Mervyn LeRoy - formerly the studio boss at MGM - who was briefly employed by the company.

The first film Mitchum made at RKO was an adaptation of a Zane Grey novel, "Nevada" (1944).

Answer: Story of G.I. Joe

It is somewhat surprising given the wealth of great performances that Mitchum gave throughout his career that he only ever received the one nomination, for Best Supporting Actor in "Story of G.I. Joe" (1945). His performance as troop leader, Bill Walker, in the World War Two drama was a particularly strong performance, demonstrating the humanity that is so important in a war situation.

Mitchum was never recognised by the Academy but in 1992 he received the Cecil B DeMille award at the Golden Globes for his contribution to the entertainment industry.

Answer: Medical assistant

Mitchum was based at Fort Macarthur in California during his eight months in the army. Whilst one can never be entirely certain about certain aspects of Mitchum's life, as he delighted in fabricating tales about himself, according to his biography "Baby, I Don't Care" his main duty during this time was supposedly to check the private parts of new recruits for signs of disease.

Answer: Thunder Road

Mitchum wrote the script and acted as an uncredited producer on the 1958 film. He starred as Lucas Doolin and wrote the song "Whippoorwill" that featured in the film. He was also the singer on "The Ballad of Thunder Road" that was released as a single, but did not sing the track in the film.

"Thunder Road" was the story of the world of moonshine runners - those who transported illegal whiskey across Kentucky and Tennessee, in their cars at night.

Answer: The Big Sleep

"The Big Sleep" was directed by Michael Winner and was released in 1978. It was somewhat less successful than the more celebrated version directed by Howard Hawks in 1946.

It was the second Chandler adaptation that Mitchum had starred in and was the second appearance as the legendary Philip Marlowe, after 1975's "Farewell, My Lovely". James Stewart played General Sternwood.

Answer: River of No Return

Mitchum starred as Matt Calder, a man recently released from jail, who settled down on a farm with his son Mark, played by Tommy Rettig. Kay Weston (Marilyn) was travelling down the river on a raft with partner Harry Weston (played by Rory Calhoun) when they capsized and Matt came to their rescue.

However, Harry showed a remarkable lack of gratitude and stole Matt's horse, so Matt, Kay and young Mark gave chase on the raft. The film was most notable for its excellent cinemascope photography and was also released in 3-D.

Answer: El Dorado

"El Dorado" (1966) was also directed by Howard Hawks and Harry Brown was rumoured to have asked to have his name taken off the credits because the film so little resembled the story he had written.

"El Dorado" was effectively a remake of "Rio Bravo" (1959). In the first film Sheriff John T Chance, played by John Wayne, arrested a murdererer and his jail was held under siege by the arrested man's confederates. He was helped in his defence of the jail by Stumpy, an old crippled man played by Walter Brennan, a drunk who went by the name of Dude (Dean Martin) and young gunslinger Colorado Ryan, played by Ricky Nelson.

"El Dorado" has a remarkably similar plot, although this time around the drunk was also the sheriff, JP Harrah played by Mitchum. Cole Thornton (Wayne), a old friend of Harrah's, came to El Dorado to help him restore order in the town. As the town's jail again came under siege, the two were assisted by an old man by the name of Bull (Arthur Hunnicut) and a young buck called Mississippi (James Caan) who, whilst inept with guns, was masterful with a knife.

Answer: Teacher

Mitchum was working as a machine operator for the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, when he realised that he wanted to seek work in the movies, as the world of the steady job did not appeal. He signed up with an agent and began to get offers of roles as an extra in B-movie westerns.

Other jobs he took were as a deckhand, ditch digger, nightclub bouncer, boxer and radio script writer.

Answer: Brother

Remarkably, despite the 24 years between them, James was cast as Robert's younger brother in the 1958 film. It was James Mitchum's first proper film role after an uncredited appearance as a child in "Colorado Territory" in 1949.