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Robert Mitchum: "Baby I Don't Care" Paperback – March 6, 2002

by Lee Server (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 681 ratings
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One of the movies' greatest actors and most colorful characters, a real-life tough guy with the prison record to prove it, Robert Mitchum was a movie icon for an almost unprecedented half-century.

Dive headfirst into the life and legacy of Robert Mitchum. Brimming with the cool ruggedness that Mitchum himself embodied, Robert Mitchum: “Baby, I Don't Care” explores the stirring journey of one of Hollywood's most respected stars.

Pioneering a new style of acting, Mitchum was the screen's first hipster antihero. Before Brando, James Dean, Elvis, or Eastwood, Mitchum was the inventor of big-screen cool. Journey through his landmark performances in classics including The Night of the Hunter, Cape Fear, and Farewell, My Lovely.

Extensively researched, this biography unravels Mitchum's life with intimate details picked from thousands of rare documents and nearly two hundred in-depth interviews with family, friends, and colleagues.

Offering an in-depth and accurate projection of this revered character, Robert Mitchum: “Baby, I Don't Care” is as vividly detailed and colorful as the star himself, painting an outrageous, comic, and tragic portrait of an astounding life.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    608 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    March 6, 2002
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.39 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    9780312285432
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0312285432
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“This is a well-researched, highly entertaining, and revealing biography that contextualizes Mitchum in the broader world of industry and national economics, business and politics.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Server sustains a fascination for his subject that is broad enough to encompass the man's miserable behavior alongside [Server's] vast admiration for Mitchum's body of work and hugely iconic personality.” ―The New York Times

“Robert Mitchum: "Baby, I Don't Care" is the big Robert Mitchum book cultists have been waiting for. . . . He was a man's man in a profession of pretenders, a genuine badass, and the undisputed Boss of Cool. Lee Server captures Mitchum completely, and honors him with this fine piece of work.” ―George P. Pelecanos, author of Right as Rain

About the Author

LEE SERVER is the author of the best-selling and critically acclaimed biographies Robert Mitchum: Baby, I Don't Care and Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing. Robert Mitchum was named a Best Book of the Year by the Los Angeles Times, "the film biography of the year" by the Sunday Times (U.K.) and one of the "60 Greatest Film Books." Ava Gardner was a New York Times Notable Book, and a New York Times, Los Angeles Times and USA Today bestseller. He lives in Palm Springs, California.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0312285434
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition (March 6, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 608 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780312285432
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312285432
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.8 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.39 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 681 ratings

About the author

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Lee Server

Lee Server

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Lee Server is the author of the best-selling and critically acclaimed biographies Robert Mitchum: Baby, I Don't Care (Faber) and Ava Gardner: Love is Nothing (Bloomsbury). Robert Mitchum was named a Book of the Year by the Los Angeles Times, 'The film biography of the year' by the Sunday Times and Book of the Year by Uncut magazine. A graduate of New York University film school, Server has worked as a screenwriter, documentary maker and journalist.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
681 global ratings
Confession: I bought it for the pictures
5 Stars
Confession: I bought it for the pictures
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!
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Top reviews from the United States

M. Seither
5.0 out of 5 stars Too good to miss. Humor, irony, legendary exploits. Bob Mitchum, the legend done justice by Lee Server. Outstanding...
Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2015
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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.
14 people found this helpful
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Steven Daedalus
4.0 out of 5 stars He Really DIDN'T Care.
Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2013
Verified Purchase
It's an apt subtitle: "Baby, I Don't Care." His screen persona was pretty cool but he was reckless in his everyday life -- smoking, drinking, philandering, lying, doing dope when it was a heinous act, cursing rapturously, rather indifferent to his family and career.

I don't think the author, Leo Server, quite grasps Mitchum's inner dynamics. I'm not sure anyone could. We hear in interviews, over and over, what a self-educated man this ex bum and ex convict was, how he read poetry, how much he wanted to be a writer, but there's very little evidence of any literary talent. His wit tended towards vulgarity and crudeness. He never expressed much concern about his acting either, after determining how much money a performance would bring. He rarely admired anyone else's work. He didn't admire his own. He lacked much interest in politics or social issues but when he did make some sort of statement it sounded like it might have come from Archie Bunker. He made lifelong friends but they tended not to be stars, so much as crew members, stunt men, or nonentities, as long as they were willing to drink with him and enjoy his outrages, which included twisting the arms of autograph seekers and flinging them away, or hitting photographers in the face with basketballs. He was willing to take any role offered him if he were paid enough and didn't involve hard physical work, except that as he grew old he complained more about conditions on the set. He was born in Connecticut in 1917 and died in 1997 of emphysema, and perhaps cancer.

Yet, paradoxically, the man who couldn't have cared less about la politesse, let alone "art", turned in a few truly outstanding performances, scattered though they were amidst the dreck.

It's almost impossible to reconcile Mitchum's expressed attitude towards his films and some of the work he did. In 1975's "Farewell, My Lovely," probably his last outstanding role, as an exhausted Philip Marlowe, he has a scene with Madam Anthorp in her whorehouse. Mitchum is seated while this behemoth of a woman stands in front of him and demands answers and Mitchum's replies are sardonic. He puts a cigarette in his mouth and she slaps it away. Mitchum's eyes widen, he lets out an animalistic howl, leaps to his feet, and belts her in the jaw before her henchmen overcome him. I can't visualize any other actor of his period pulling off that reflexive attack with such credibility. It's a real shocker because throughout the film he's done nothing but slouch and look weary. And now, out of nowhere, he's hijacked by his amygdala.

He was married at a young age and he stayed married to the same woman for more than fifty years. He never spoke about how much she might have meant to him. He helped his children, when it didn't take too much effort, but in interviews he insisted he had little interest in them, that they were on their own.

The book is well researched. Server seems to have interviewed anyone who had anything to do with Mitchum, with a few exceptions, some of them important. When I first began reading the book I was worried that it might turn into a fan magazine tribute. You know: "Mitch was always a back-slapping, devil-may-care good old boy who never let anyone down when they needed him." But though the prose descends into the vulgate (it's pretty dirty sometimes), and though we never get into Mitchum's head or heart, it's about as thorough as any biography of this ordinary, remarkable guy is ever going to be.

There is no monument to him. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean off Santa Barbara.
17 people found this helpful
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Joel Canfield
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, but…
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2024
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The trade paperback cover has a bit of an omission…
One person found this helpful
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nedsky
5.0 out of 5 stars A real wild ride....
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2013
Verified Purchase
Having been a fan of Mitchum's from adolescence through to his passing, I eagerly anticipated reading a biography that would fill out the many unknowns regarding the man, not the myth. This book is an exhaustive and fascinating record of his life and his work. The remarkable compilation of facts, quotes, personal anecdotes is far more than one might hope for and truly fulfills the promise of the promotional releases.

One can't help but become immersed in the descriptions of his early life, the new information regarding his life-long partnership with his wife Dorothy and her astonishing and stoic loyalty. The later chapters, providing sometimes wrenching descriptions of his descent into full-on alcoholism was, at times, a hard read. As with any person whose intimate thoughts and behaviours are often distorted when a subject of celebrity, Mitchum was portrayed as a loveable thug with a gift for charm and a magnetic screen presence.

He was a great deal more than that but, due to his apparent need for approval and admiration, he eventually evolved into a caricature of himself. He was a phenomenally well-read autodidact who yearned for aknowledgement of his intellectual strengths but was also remarkably self-destructive.

Having met him twice, in his early years of fame whilst he was having his car repaired in a shop in D.C. and many years later, in a small town in Virginia whilst standing next to him in a grocery store line, I found the few references regarding his gentle behaviour true to the person I observed. This second 'meeting' was a few years prior to his death but he still had the aura, the energy of someone 'other than' and one could see the early 'heartbreaker' still present beneath the craggy face and silver hair.

This biography is a remarkable work of research and dedication for an individual who truly stood out from the norm. One feels as though it's a gift to be given this opportunity to learn a full story of someone so special. Kudos to the author, he deserves them.
20 people found this helpful
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Judith Konrad
5.0 out of 5 stars A definite must-read for Mitchum fans
Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2023
Verified Purchase
I loved every page of it. Very entertaining with great inside details about his life, movies -without losing respect for this amazing,talented actor.
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Allan Broadfield
5.0 out of 5 stars Laconic with a capital chip.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 28, 2022
Verified Purchase
Pretty much no holds barred account of Mitchum's life, with touches of Raymond Chandler in writing style, much suited to his film noir type character.
He was unpredictable in a predictable sort of way, an ultra professional but pretending not to care, and sometimes he just didn't!
Nothing that a few drinks wouldn't cure, but always ready, and word perfect the next day.
Apparently he would have prefered to be a writer and became extremely blase with the whole business of moviemaking. That was the chance you took when signing him up, but plenty wanted to, as he was box office gold for most of his career. The more laconic the better his fans liked it. Definitely the bad boy of the movies, and a prison sentence for possession helped things along no end, where other careers would have been ruined.
This is heralded in detail in the book, with not many dull moments. He was in fact highly intelligent, but with an enormous chip on his shoulder, perhaps understandable considering his youthful travails.
His experiences with the business wasn't all bad though, but he lost some friends in later life who just couldn't keep up with his boozing, apparently.
I think he would have been pleased with this biog, with some reservations I expect.
3 people found this helpful
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Françoise Mouriaux
5.0 out of 5 stars The pitch of Mitch!
Reviewed in France on February 12, 2012
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Pour les cinéphiles fans du cinéma américain des années 40,50,60,et même 70! Un sacré baroudeur ce Mitchum et un sacré séducteur! Sa saga vaut toutes les séries télé!
2 people found this helpful
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Hans Behlendorff
5.0 out of 5 stars Mitchum: the real cool guy!
Reviewed in Germany on April 3, 2009
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Wer die englische Sprache ausreichend beherrscht und eine Biographie lesen will, die wirklich Spaß macht, der wird hier fündig.Mitchum war schon in meiner Kindheit einer meiner Lieblings-Schauspieler und ist es bis heute geblieben. Die männliche Souveränität, die er in seinen Filmen überzeugend verkörperte, hatte er auch im wirklichen Leben, meistens jedenfalls.

Nachdem sein Vater früh bei einem Unfall ums Leben gekommen und die Zeit der Depression angebrochen war, begann Bob 1931 mit 14 Jahren als Hobo illegal auf Güterzügen durch die USA zu reisen, immer auf der Suche nach einem Job, der ein paar Dollar einbrachte. Abends am Lagerfeuer entspannten sich die Hobos dann mit Drinks und Gras. Beides wurde für Mitchum zu lebenslangen Vorlieben.

In der Zeit des Schwarzfahrens auf Güterzügen machte er schon als Jugendlicher Bekanntschaft mit der amerikanischen Justiz und wurde im Bundesstaat Georgia wegen "Vagrancy", "Landstreicherei" (in den USA ein beliebter Straftatbestand, wenn man ohne Geld unterwegs war) zum Kettensträfling und Zwangsarbeiter. Die Kette war zu eng an seinem Bein und erzeugte eine schlimme Infektion. Nachdem es ihm in einem unbeobachteten Moment während der Zwangsarbeit gelungen war, durch die Sümpfe Georgias zu fliehen, wurde die Beininfektion noch schlimmer und es drohte die Amputation. Quasi im letzten Moment gelang es noch, mit Kräuterauflagen die Infektion zu stoppen und er behielt sein Bein.

Im Herbst 1948, bereits als berühmter Hollywood-Star war er der erste Prominente, der einige Wochem wegen Marijuanarauchens im Knast und im Arbeitslager verbrachte. Diese Zeit schilderte er Reportern danach als sehr erholsam ("...like Palm Springs, without the riff raff". "Wie in Palm Springs, aber ohne das dortige Gesindel"). Mitchum rechnete damit, dass danach seine Karriere beendet war, aber seine Popularität steigerte sich noch und sowohl Regisseure als auch Schauspieler-Kollegen berichteten übereinstimmend, dass weder Alkohol noch Grasrauchen seine Arbeitsdisziplin zunächst beeinträchtigten. Er war am nächsten Morgen immer pünklich am Set und hatte seinen Text perfekt drauf, egal wie ausgiebig er vorher gefeiert hatte. Wenn sich die Dreharbeiten allerdings lange hinzogen (z.B. Takes häufig wiederholt wurden)wurde es Mitch oft langweilig und er wurde bekannt dafür, dass nach Sonnenuntergang seine Arbeitslust erheblich nachließ weil er schon wieder etliche Drinks gekippt hatte.

Auch konnte er im angetrunkenen Zustand ziemlich aggressiv werden wenn man ihn reizte und einmal schlug er gleich drei Marines auf einmal zusammen, die ihm dumm kamen. In seinen frühen Jahren - vor der Schauspielerei - hatte er sich auch eine zeitlang erfolgreich als Preisboxer betätigt.

Neben seiner lebenslangen Ehe mit Dorothy, die er schon als Jugendlicher kennengelernt hatte, hatte er zahllose Affären, hauptsächlich mit Hollywood-Diven, von denen die mit Shirley MacLaine und Ava Gardner am längsten dauerten.

In diesem vorzüglichen Buch gibt es Anekdoten zu den Dreharbeiten von fast jedem Film den Mitchum gedreht hat und die tragen auch dazu bei, Mitchums Charakter, seine Coolness und sein insgesamt sehr abenteuerliches Leben sehr anschaulich zu illustrieren. Weitere Einzelheiten will ich hier nicht verraten, aber ich garantiere abwechslungsreiche und faszinierende Lektüre bei dieser Biographie, ähnlich übrigens wie bei Errol Flynn's Autobiographie "My wicked, wicked ways".
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Robert Fiorino
5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Mitchum "Baby I don"t Care"
Reviewed in Canada on September 14, 2021
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I opened the packaging and found the product in excellent condition.
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