Robert Mitchum’s 10 Best Film Noir Movies

Few names were as associated with a particular genre as Robert Mitchum was with film noirs, having starred in some of the best noir movies ever made. From his heyday in the 1940s right through his acclaimed career, Mitchum’s intense characterization and skill for portraying menacing, morally dubious characters made him the perfect noir actor who could walk the fine line between villain and hero. As one of the few actors who could give Humphrey Bogart a run for his money when portraying Detective Philip Marlowe, Mitchum’s filmography was packed with noir classics.

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Mitchum excelled in black-and-white noir roles and brought a sinister power to psychologically rich genre-blended noir releases. With a recognizable deep voice, piercing weary eyes, and an old-timey handsomeness that made him stand out among the biggest action stars of the 1950s, Mitchum’s career was filled with undisputed classics and first-rate Hollywood features. With the intense charisma and striking aura required to make timeless cinema, Mitchum was among the greatest of all the noir movie stars.

10 The Big Sleep (1978)

Robert Mitchum as Philip Marlowe

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The Big Sleep RCrimeDramaMystery

The Big Sleep (1978) is a neo-noir mystery film directed by Michael Winner, starring Robert Mitchum as private detective Philip Marlowe. The film is based on Raymond Chandler’s novel and follows Marlowe as he is hired by a wealthy family to unravel a complex web of blackmail, murder, and intrigue. Set in London, the movie features an ensemble cast including Sarah Miles, Candy Clark, and Richard Boone.

Director Michael Winner Release Date April 7, 1978 Writers Michael Winner , Raymond Chandler Cast Robert Mitchum , Sarah Miles , Richard Boone , Candy Clark , Joan Collins , Edward Fox , John Mills , James Stewart Character(s) Philip Marlowe , Charlotte Sternwood , Lash Canino , Camilla Sternwood , Agnes Lozelle , Joe Brody , Inspector Carson , General Sternwood Runtime 99 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand

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Robert Mitchum’s second outing as Raymond Chandler’s Detective Philip Marlowe did not have the same excitement as Farewell, My Lovely from three years before. A lesser release than the iconic 1946 version starring Humphrey Bogart, Mitchum’s attempt had the difficult fate of being unfamiliar compared to perhaps the defining film noir movie of all time. However, The Big Sleep was notable as the only time an actor had played Marlowe twice, and this more modern release allowed for the book’s themes of homosexuality, pornography, and nudity to be explored in a way that wasn’t possible in the 1940s.

This version of The Big Sleep moved its story from the original 1940s Los Angeles setting to 1970s London, which helped differentiate it from Bogart’s depiction. However, at 60 years old during the filming, Mitchum felt far too old to be playing 33-year-old Marlowe from Chandler’s original book. While there’s a lot to enjoy for film noir lovers, this version of The Big Sleep was one of Mitchum’s moreunderwhelming noir movies.

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9 Foreign Intrigue (1956)

Robert Mitchum as Dave Bishop

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Foreign Intrigue NRThriller

Foreign Intrigue follows Dave Bishop, the secretary of the deceased millionaire Victor Danemore, as he delves into Danemore’s mysterious past on the French Riviera. His investigation leads to discoveries in Vienna and Stockholm, uncovering Danemore’s secret involvement in blackmailing Nazi collaborators during World War II.

Director Sheldon Reynolds Release Date July 12, 1956 Writers Gene Levitt Cast Geneviève Page , Robert Mitchum , Ingrid Thulin , Frédéric O’Brady , Inga Tidblad , Lauritz Falk , Eugene Deckers , John Padovano , Frederick Schrecker , Georges Hubert , Peter Copley , Lily Kann , Ralph Brown , Milo Sperber , Jim Gérald , Jean Galland , John Starck , Gilbert Robin , Valentine Camax , Robert Le Béal , Lars Kåge , Sylvain Lévignac , Jimmy Perrys , Ulla Sjöblom , Pierre Vaudier Character(s) Dominique Danemore , Dave Bishop , Brita Lindquist , Jonathan Spring , Mrs Lundquist , Jones , Pierre Sandoz , Tony Forrest , Karl Mannheim , Dr. Thibault , Brown , Blind Housekeeper (as Lilly Kann) , Smith , Baum , Bistro Owner , Victor Danemore , Starky , Dodo , Charwoman , Charles , Uncredited Runtime 95 minutes Expand

The filmography of Robert Mitchum was packed with hidden gems that haven’t endured in the public consciousness in the way his most famous films have. One prime example of this was Foreign Intrigue, a thrilling spy story that played out like a prototype James Bond as Mitchum portrayed the suave Dave Bishop, a press agent who found himself embroiled in a massive conspiracy after his millionaire employer died. With plenty of style, Mitchum exuded movie star charisma in this beautifully photographed noir mystery in color.

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As one of the first movies to be adapted from a TV series, Foreign Intrigue was based on the European espionage series of the same name that ran for 156 episodes during the early 1950s. Mitchum brought incredible energy to this twist-filled mystery, which began with a death on the French Riviera. As a slow-building story with plenty of suspense, this underappreciated noir deserves more attention from modern viewers.

8 His Kind Of Woman (1951)

Robert Mitchum as Dan Milner

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His Kind of Woman NRThrillerCrimeComedy

His Kind of Woman is a 1951 film featuring Robert Mitchum as Dan Milner, a gambler seeking to clear his debts by meeting a mysterious contact at a Mexican resort. There, Milner encounters colorful characters, including a movie star, while uncovering a plot involving a notorious crime boss attempting to return to the United States.

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Director John Farrow Release Date August 15, 1951 Writers Frank Fenton , Howard Hughes Cast Jane Russell , Robert Mitchum , Vincent Price , Tim Holt , Charles McGraw , Marjorie Reynolds , Raymond Burr , Leslie Banning , Jim Backus , Philip Van Zandt , John Mylong , Carleton G. Young , Anthony Caruso , Dorothy Abbott , Tol Avery , Paul Frees , Whitney Blake , Peter Brocco , John Daheim , Sol Gorss , Stacy Harris , Alberto Morin , Billy Nelson , Joey Ray , Dale Van Sickel Character(s) Lenore Brent , Dan Milner , Mark Cardigan , Bill Lusk , Thompson / Narrator , Helen Cardigan , Nick Ferraro , Jennie Stone , Myron Winton , Jose Morro , Martin Krafft , Gerald Hobson , Tony (uncredited) , Card Player , Fat Hoodlum , Corie , Bar Patron (uncredited) , Thompson’s First Henchman (uncredited) , Seaman (uncredited) , Harry (uncredited) , Lt. Rodriguez (uncredited) , Ship’s Captain (uncredited) , Card Player (uncredited) Runtime 120 minutes YouTube Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smdt0wGkrfg Expand

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While the production of His Kind of Woman was a haphazard affair that saw extensive rewrites, recasting, and reshooting after the director John Farrow thought he had delivered the finished film (via Indiewire), it still stood as an excellent onscreen pairing between Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell and made for fantastic comedic film noir. As the story of a deported gangster’s plan to re-enter the US, a gambler’s mysterious job for $50,000, and hidden agendas at a luxurious Mexican hotel, His Kind of Woman was packed with twists and turns.

While His Kind of Woman still makes for thrilling viewing all these years later, the behind-the-scenes details were also just as interesting. Although Farrow delivered his final film, RKO studio bosses brought in Howard Hawks to continue work on the movie, which ballooned its costs and led to losses equal to its bloated $850,000 budget. While His Kind of Woman may not have been a financial success, it was a creative triumph for Mitchum and yet another engaging entry to his film noir resume.

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7 Blood On The Moon (1948)

Robert Mitchum as Jim Garry

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Blood On The Moon WesternDramaRomance

In this gritty Western noir, a drifter named Jim Garry gets caught in the middle of a deadly feud between homesteaders and cattle ranchers in postwar Wyoming. Initially hired by his old friend to help in a deceptive scheme against the settlers, Garry’s conscience is awakened by romance and the brutal reality of this war close to home. As the tensions escalate into violence, Garry must choose a side, inevitably leading to a bloody showdown.

Director Robert Wise Release Date November 21, 1948 Studio(s) RKO Pictures Distributor(s) RKO Radio Pictures Writers Lillie Hayward Cast Robert Mitchum , Barbara Bel Geddes , Robert Preston , Walter Brennan Runtime 88 minutes Budget $1.5 Million Main Genre Western Expand

Blood on the Moon presented a psychologically rich 88-minute adventure. Directed by Robert Wise and starring Robert Mitchum, the story revolved around an Old West unemployed cowhand named Jim Garry, his dishonest friend Tate Riling, and a dispute between homesteaders and cattleman John Lufton. Based on the novel Gunman’s Chance by Luke Short, Blood on the Moon was a suspenseful story that managed to blend the disparate genres of film noir and classic Western.

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As an intriguing mishmash of genres that blended the best of both styles, Blood on the Moon showcased why Mitchum was one of the greatest stars of his era, as he was able to capture the leading man energy needed for the role while simultaneously embodying the darkness below the surface. With crisp black-and-white camera work, Blood on the Moon perfectly encapsulated the dark shadings and engaging use of shadows that made the greatest film noirs work so well.

6 Angel Face (1952)

Robert Mitchum as Frank Jessup

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Angel Face NRCrimeDrama

Angel Face (1953): Angel Face is a noir thriller directed by Otto Preminger. It stars Robert Mitchum as an ambulance driver who becomes entangled with a wealthy but enigmatic woman, portrayed by Jean Simmons. As he navigates their complicated relationship, a sinister dimension of her personality begins to emerge.

Director Otto Preminger Release Date January 2, 1953 Writers Ben Hecht , Frank S. Nugent Cast Jean Simmons , Robert Mitchum , Mona Freeman , Herbert Marshall , Leon Ames , Barbara O’Neil , Kenneth Tobey , Raymond Greenleaf , Griff Barnett , Robert Gist , Morgan Farley , Jim Backus , Gertrude Astor , Lucille Barkley , Mary Bayless , Arthur Berkeley , Larry J. Blake , Morgan Brown , Mary Jane Carey , Jack Chefe , Dick Cherney , Roy Darmour , Sayre Dearing , Daniel Elam , Jack Ellis Character(s) Diane Tremayne Jessup , Frank Jessup , Mary Wilton , Mr. Charles Tremayne , Fred Barrett , Mrs. Catherine Tremayne , Bill Crompton , Arthur Vance , Judge , Miller , Juror , District Attorney Judson , Matron (uncredited) , Waitress (uncredited) , Courtroom Spectator (uncredited) , Juror (uncredited) , Detective Lt. Ed Brady (uncredited) , Harry – Proprietor of Diner (uncredited) , Woman (uncredited) , Man (uncredited) , Police Officer (uncredited) , Assistant District Attorney (uncredited) , Elevator Boy (uncredited) , Jury Foreman (uncredited) Runtime 91 minutes YouTube Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da4jHmpKFU0 Expand
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There was a sinister energy to the incredible Angel Face starring Robert Mitchum. While Mitchum gave an impressive turn as the ambulance driver turned chauffeur Frank Jessup, it was Jean Simmons as Diane Tremayne who truly stood out as a more conniving and shockingly self-destructive character than the average noir femme fatale. With a story involving a man caught up in the untoward schemes of a dangerous woman, Angel Face felt more akin to a modern thriller of deceit within matrimony, à la Gone Girl, than it did a classic 1950s film noir.

Angel Face received mixed reviews upon release and was maybe a few decades ahead of its time for the way it blended psychological intrigue with the selfish determination of its villainous character. As an intensely Freudian piece of filmmaking, Angel Face often doesn’t get the attention it deserves and was a notable high point in Mitchum’s career. With destructive sexuality behind its murderous narrative, Angel Face was a masterwork by director Otto Preminger.

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5 Crossfire (1947)

Robert Mitchum as Sgt. Peter Keeley

Appropriately for a film made in the years following World War II, Crossfire addressed the prescient theme of antisemitism and starred three actors with the same name, Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, and Robert Ryan. As a film noir drama about a murdered man and the soldiers trying to determine the reason why, Crossfire explores the complex motives, underlying prejudices, and lingering trauma of veterans following the war. With Mitchum as a PTSD-suffering soldier, Crossfire was a layered film that had a lot more to say than its simple whodunnit premise first suggests.

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As a film with a clear agenda to spread its anti-discrimination message, Crossfire did so by utilizing classic noir tropes and an engaging style complete with low-key lighting and shadowy characters. Based on Richard Brooks’ 1945 novel The Brick Foxhole, the main theme of Crossfire was the way that ignorance can fuel bigotry, and although its execution might feel heavy-handed, considering the historical context, it was a timely and important statement to make.

4 Farewell, My Lovely (1975)

Robert Mitchum as Philip Marlowe

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Farewell, My Lovely RCrimeMysteryThriller

Farewell, My Lovely is a 1975 film noir adaptation of Raymond Chandler’s novel, starring Robert Mitchum as private detective Philip Marlowe. Set in 1940s Los Angeles, Marlowe navigates a series of complex cases involving a missing woman, a corrupt cop, and a formidable gangster. Directed by Dick Richards, the film captures the gritty essence of Chandler’s story, presenting a dark and atmospheric portrayal of crime and intrigue.

Director Dick Richards Release Date August 8, 1975 Writers David Zelag Goodman , Raymond Chandler Cast Robert Mitchum , Charlotte Rampling , John Ireland , Sylvia Miles , Anthony Zerbe , Harry Dean Stanton , Jack O’Halloran , Joe Spinell Character(s) Marlowe , Mrs. Grayle , Nulty , Mrs. Florian , Brunette , Billy Rolfe , Moose Malloy , Nick Runtime 95 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
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After the success of Chinatown in 1974, it seemed the film noir genre had something of a revival during the 1970s, as shown by Robert Mitchum’s excellent portrayal of Detective Philip Marlowe in Farewell, My Lovely. While it was always going to be difficult to differentiate the character from Humphrey Bogart’s iconic portrayal, Mitchum’s status as a true legend of the genre meant he was the perfect choice to play an older and more grizzled version of Marlowe.

Farewell, My Lovely was a campy homage to a bygone version of filmmaking as it echoed the appeal of the classic days of noir within the Hollywood studio system while also updating it for modern times. By leaning heavily into the hard-boiled style of Raymond Chandler’s original novel, Mitchum proved that there was still space for Marlowe within the New Hollywood era of filmmaking. A great performance was made even better through Mitchum acting opposite Charlotte Rampling’s exceptional work as the femme fatale seductress Helen Grayle.

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3 Cape Fear (1962)

Robert Mitchum as Max Cady

Robert Mitchum conjured his sinister side as the violent psychopath and ex-con named Max Cady in the noir classic Cape Fear. As a psychological thriller that’s packed with noir elements, this story of a killer out for revenge was a truly dark tale with undercurrents of a potential sexual assault against a child. While the reception at the time of release was cautiously positive, the film undeniably succeeded as a tension-filled affair, and Mitchum gave one of his most impressively menacing performances.

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With a suspenseful script that built towards its thrilling conclusion, Cape Fear has gained a significant place in pop culture and was even parodied in an episode of The Simpsons titled “Cape Feare” as Sideshow Bob embodied Cady’s nature as he tried to murder Bart. Cape Fear was also remade by Martin Scorsese with Robert De Niro in Mitchum’s role. While the remake was an engaging retelling, Mitchum’s performance still stood as the definitive version of this story.

2 The Night Of The Hunter (1955)

Robert Mitchum as Preacher Harry Powell

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The Night of the Hunter (1955) CrimeDramaThriller

Reverend Harry Powell, a sinister preacher, marries a gullible widow to find out where her late husband hid a large sum of stolen money. As Powell terrorizes her children to uncover the secret, they must use their wits to escape his malevolent grasp, leading to a suspenseful and chilling showdown.

Director Charles Laughton Release Date July 27, 1955 Studio(s) Paul Gregory Productions Distributor(s) United Artists Writers Davis Grubb , James Agee , Charles Laughton Cast Robert Mitchum , Shelley Winters , Lillian Gish , James Gleason , Evelyn Varden , Peter Graves , Don Beddoe , Gloria Castillo , Billy Chapin , Sally Jane Bruce Runtime 92 Minutes Budget $500,000 Main Genre Thriller Expand
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While The Night of the Hunter has retroactively been deemed a film noir classic, things were not so straightforward when it was released in 1955. This tense story of a misogynistic serial killer posed as a preacher during the Great Depression was far darker than the average thriller from this era, and Robert Mitchum’s impeccable performance was so intense that it took several decades for the true power of this film to gain its belated appreciation. With an expressionistic style influenced by silent movies, The Night of the Hunter became a cult classic and a defining role in Mitchum’s career.

However, the damage had already been done, and director Charles Laughton never directed another movie due to The Night of the Hunter’s failure with critics and at the box office. This tragedy of cinema was made all the more heartbreaking as Laughton never got to see the retroactive appreciation for his movie and its status today as an undisputed classic. Mitchum brought such a menacing air to his characterization of Powell that it remains one of the all-time great villains nearly seven decades after its release.

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1 Out Of The Past (1947)

Robert Mitchum as Jeff Bailey

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Out Of The Past ApprovedCrimeRomanceThriller

Jeff Bailey, a seemingly ordinary gas station owner, is pulled back into a dark and dangerous past when a former associate arrives with a message from a powerful crime boss, Whit Sterling. Flashbacks reveal Jeff’s former life as a private detective, hired by Whit to locate his elusive mistress, Kathie Moffat. Jeff finds Kathie in Mexico, and they fall in love, but their happiness is short-lived as deception and betrayal ensue.

Director Jacques Tourneur Release Date November 25, 1947 Studio(s) RKO Radio Pictures Distributor(s) RKO Radio Pictures Writers Daniel Mainwaring Cast Robert Mitchum , Jane Greer , Kirk Douglas , Rhonda Fleming Runtime 97 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand

Out of the Past was among the greatest film noirs of all time and stood as Robert Mitchum’s crowning achievement within the genre. With a complex, fatalistic storyline, dark cinematography, and a classic femme fatale, Out of the Past ticked all the boxes when it came to noir tropes and clichés and did it with such style and substance that the film never feels formulaic. With incredible supporting performances from Jane Greer and Kirk Douglas, Out of the Past has earned its spot as an essential RKO movie of the 1940s.

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As the story of a man trying to start again in a new town with a new job and a new girl, Mitchum’s characterization of Jeff Bailey hints at the weary nature of a man who wants to just leave his past behind. As tension builds and his old life creeps back to haunt him, Out of the Past explores the impossible challenge of running away from it all. As an actor who excelled time and again in film noirs, Robert Mitchum laid it all bare in Out of the Past.

Source: Indiewire

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