Robert Mitchum: "Baby I Don't Care"

Not only the best Hollywood bio I've read but one of the best bio's period. I had no previous interest in Mitchum except that he was sultry and sassy in most of his roles and who doesn't like a bad boy? Just wait. This pretty much seals the deal on Mitchum being the king. The author's caught so many minute details he had to be either a drone or a housefly. The quotes are extensive, both from Mitchum and those who worked and drank with him.....pretty much the only two categories of acquaintance with this guy. The writing is playful, filled with descriptives and insights Mitchum would no doubt have approved of. Don't take my word for it, read the book. Every page was a pleasure and I'm truly upset the party's over.

The book is great. The condition of the book itself is average. I purchased a used book and it was really worth it I guess because reading about Robert Mitchum is interesting- especially if you like Robert Mitchum. I have always found him to be a handsome but unusual actor, and the book was a really good read so far even though I haven’t finished it. I just finished a book on Gary Busey that I Bought through Amazon, that too was great. I’m just glad they sell used books they don’t get thrown out and I can buy a good quality book and read more than I normally would, because the book is in my house and I don’t have to worry about bringing it back to the library. I do intend to resell the book again. I do not bend the pages, I use an invoice or a credit card bill as a page marker - It helps to remind me to pay the bill. I love books I think reselling books is a great idea. I highly recommend you look up the books that you’re wanting to read and buy them from Amazon and always consider a used book because you can get more books for your dollar.

This book is a cure for what ails you. A laugh a page. Sever serves up Bob Mitchum's life as it was lived, unconventional, sardonic, bloody amazing and ironically hilarious. I've read a couple Steve McQueen biographies and Paul Newman's and he and Mr. Newman both served on chain gangs in the movies (Nevada Smith and Cool Hand Luke). Bob Mitchum escaped from a chain gang before he was 18 years old. Not in a movie, in real life. He rode the rails, hitchhiked across America several times, was backstage at burlesque shows, built state parks, witnessed shootings and was shot at and again, all before he was old enough to graduate from high school. He wouldn't graduate because he took a dump in a teacher's hat. He was a prize fighter and took on three marines at a time and after kicking their butts always said, don't mess with the gorilla. His first stunt ride was in the clothes of a stunt man who fell over under a team of horses and was crushed. Mr. Mitchum was quoted as saying he started working in movies in a dead man's hat and well, he did. The man was the real deal. Buy this book if you want to vicariously adventure as a legend. Not just a movie legend, the legend of a man who lived bigger than life but never took himself seriously. Server's book does him justice. There will never be another one like him.

Oh my. Be still, my heart. Has any male human in the history of time ever been as sexy as Robert Mitchum? No. Just no.That settled, let's address the perfection of the "Used - Good" copy of "Baby I Don't Care" sold by BetterWorldBooks. "Good" does not accurately describe the volume I received. It is EXCELLENT. No wear or markings inside, and negligible mark of wear on one corner and bottom edge of the paper cover. It might as well be new! I could not be happier with this copy. It arrived timely and well packaged. Perfection. All that remains now is that I actually read it. Reading bits, I know I'll like it. It's dense with quotes and bits on countless other Hollywood figures, including writers. I'm not a celebrity follower but Mitchum and his era are fascinating. And there are always the photos!

I bought Lee Server’s 590 page (including the supplements and the index) biography, Robert Mitchum: Baby I Don’t Care, believing that I would read the life story of one of the most interesting characters to call Hollywood home. I was not disappointed because Mitchum was unique. I doubt that there has ever been another character like him on this planet. What I was not prepared for was that I would also read about the most revolting drunk I could ever imagine. For example, on page 493 of the St. Martin’s Press paperback edition, the story is related of a very drunk Mitchum attending the premier of his movie, That Championship Season when a 15 year old girl approached him, asked him for an autograph, and said, “I loved your movie, I thought you were wonderful.” Mitchum grabbed her, twisted her arm up behind her back, and flung her back where she had come from. He also emptied his bladder on David Selznick’s office carpet while being interview for a part in a movie. He had no close friends, only drinking buddies. He could spend all night drinking and give a perfect performance at the movie studio the next morning.On the other hand, there are numerous testimonies from people who worked with him on pictures and who said that a sober Mitchum was warm, friendly, helpful, and one of the nicest people in Hollywood. He was also one of the most natural actors that ever filled the silver screen.A sober Mitchum apparently had no ego problems. He was a magnet for actresses, young, old, and well known who would do anything to spend a night with him. He was married to the same woman for most of his life, and she was unperturbed about his many affairs because she knew that he would never leave her. The only woman about whom she became concerned was a young Shirley McLaine, who was 20 years Mitchum’s junior. Mitchum eventually broke off the affair, but they remained friends. I also recommend James Garner’s memoir, The Garner Files.I give the book four stars.

Robert Mitchum is one of the best actors of the XX Century - David Thomson in his canonical Dictionary puts him at the very top class with Cary Grant and James Stewart. This in spite of the fact that he never set for a type: not the cowboy, like Wayne; not the underworld hoodlum; not a war hero; not the romantic. Yet Mitchum did movies of all those genres and in all of them was perfect. See respectively: El Dorado, Out of the past, G.I. Joe and River of no return.This biography is by far the best book published on an essential actor. It is very good in the years before he went to Hollywood, the hobo days, jumping into trains to go from one place to the next, wherever it would be. And also in his relations with the directors of his movies. It tells also very well his frantic love life, packed with romances while staying married, and happily, for all his adult life with his sweetheart.Flaws, a few yet minor. Perhaps not to stain its subject reputation, the book only tip-toes in the actor's obvious racism. Also, we miss something of the man - the book sometimes goes from movie to movie for many pages. We read that he had a son and the next we read is that the same son has twenty-five years.But it is a good book very well written that at more than 600 pages makes for a very lively read.

Have only just started reading BABY, I DON'T CARE but the one thing that struck me almost immediately was the wonderful style of writing. In many modern books, this style is long lost but given this book is many years old it was lovely to see. The author's indepth research is incredibly detailed, perhaps too much for some readers. I will continue reading and perhaps give a another review when I am further on in the book. At the moment, I haven't reached a point where I feel I don't want to read any more. If the rest of the book is at the same pace as the beginning I will definitely read it through to the end.

I was always a great fan of Robert Mitchum and believed him to be a much underrated actor. The book is interesting and gives you a good impression of Robert the man who actually never gave a damn about what anyone thought about him be it fellow co stars or directors. I enjoyed the book but be warned there are some shockiing stories whether they are all true in not sure but as the title suggest he didn't care.

I was a fan of Bob Mitchum when a teenager ( 1/2 century ago} and decided to read about him. Amazing life he had, being a hobo at 14, coming from a poor but loving family and having a wander lust. Self taught, well read, poet, author, singer. Drunk, drug user, infidelity, 60 year marriage. I'm only half way through so far (706 pages).The added interest is in the insight into the film industry, producers, directors and actors (brief on the later) Its a good read.

Be prepared for a few surprises in this frank, no holds barred, autobiography, of arguably the most talented actor of all time.Author, Lee Server unravels a life of many twists and turns in true rags-to-riches fashion. It gives detailed accounts of Mitchum's many outrageous personal experiences, which he no doubt characterised in most of his movies roles.My only criticism of this autobiography was the extensive descriptions, which at times, in my opinion, were a little over-written and slightly distracting. However, this aside, it was well worth the read. The book also contains some impressive photos from the various movies and personal life of this most impressive, intelligent and fascinating human being.