"Books and Tapes"



THE BOOK  I most recommend if at all possible to acquire is  JOHN MITCHUMS' "THEM ONERY MITCHUM BOYS." It is out of print, but still attainable. It is written by someone who knows the facts as they really are, not someone who thinks they should write a book and either take facts from someone else's article, book etc. or worse,  guesses at what they think. I have seen  other books that are partly true, but not all facts, some that should be very obvious that they are not right, but they are out there just the same. You do not have to really know all of the facts to write an autobiography. The one person who knows what is true and what is not of course is the person himself. That too is available on video tape.  First, this book is about John and Mitch when they are growing up until they marry and into the fifties. It is about all of their childhood ups and downs, and many many funny events that happened in their life. It is a totally honest and sincere account of good and bad times, but it gives  both sides of the story and not just half as I have seen in  every other book and article about Mitch. That always irritated me about any book about anyone famous, they write the part that will bring attention,  even if only one part of the  fact is true and never finish the whole story,  leaving one part stand  without any explanation of the whole story. That's why this is truly the book to have.  It is worth the search to acquire it.

The only other book I recommend that's truly worth the search is (it is also out of print but is still obtainable) is "Robert Mitchum on the Screen" by Allvin Marill (1978). There are reviews by Mitch himself on 95 of his movies. It is truly a delightful book to read with many great photos.

"THE VIDEO TAPE" is Robert Mitchum, "The Reluctant Star" (the definitive visual biography) and is available just about everywhere. To my way of thinking, the only one to have, as it is narrated by Mitch, and he tells,  along with Directors, most of his Leading Ladies, and son Chris, the story of his life.  He tells about his private life, and his public one, along with stories as only Mitch can do. You get all of the facts, not half, as no one knows better about his life then him. A great tape to have!!