MovieChat Forums > The Way West (1967) Discussion > Funny Story About Robert Mitchum and Thi...

Funny Story About Robert Mitchum and This Movie

posted 18 years ago by ecarle
8 replies | jump to latest

I read somewhere about the producers of "The Way West" approaching Robert Mitchum about appearing in the movie.

Evidently, they went to him first, because they took him to dinner and offered him whichever one of the three male lead male roles he wanted.

Mitchum, who had read the script, enjoyed his dinner and said, "I don't care."

But they kept asking. Mitchum kept eating, kept drinking, and said "I don't care which role. I'll take any of 'em."

The night went on. More drinks. Again: "What role do you want?" Again: "I don't CARE."

Eventually, they gave him the role of the scout, which Mitchum reportedly liked: "I''m out there in the field miles away from everybody else. Nice."

It's just amsuing to me to think about Robert Mitchum seeing his movie work as, pretty much, just a job to take, some money to make.

But he ended up with the best role, and the one that fit him best. Maybe he knew exactly what he was doing when he said, "I don't CARE".

[–] krdement 17 years ago

Unfortunately Mitchum acts as if he doesn't care in this film! This is by far his worst Western Mitchum ever made. He not only acts blase, but appears ridiculous in his cigar-store wooden indian costume. However, in fairness to Mitchum, he at least provides a counter-balance to the scenery-chewing of Douglas and Widmark.

John 3:16

[–] cidcastro 17 years ago

I readed from different sources that Mitchum chose that part because it was the part that had less scenes to be shared with Douglas. It is known that they didn´t get along well.

[–] thbryn 15 years ago

didn´t get along well.
----------------
Did he with anybody?

Typical Mitchum story and it's believable but he was a bigger talent than he lets on and he probably did care. But maybe he gave the answer he thought everyone would expect from him.

[–] whiterabbitt83 15 years ago

it is to bad the producers did not get arthur hunnicutt
to reprise his role as the scout insted of mitchum since
this sequal to the big sky was not as good with mitchum

[–] jac91604 13 years ago

Mitchum pretty much viewed acting as job for a paycheck.

I still love him, but he never took the whole movie star thing too seriously.

[–] calliope3 13 years ago

That's Robert Mitchum for you. Lazy like a fox.

[–] spookyrat1 11 years ago

Always the minimalist, I thought he was very good in this role. I would have liked to see a bit more depth and backgrounding to his character.

[–] thepartydjz 8 years ago

If you wanted to hear someone from this era to tell the truth, not make something up or sound corny, Mitchum was the man. My favorite to this day, in film and in person.

My Top 50 Films http://www.imdb.com/list/ls033211402/