Question 1

True or false: Mitchum's father was a railroad worker killed in a workplace accident when Robert was a toddler.

Accepted Answer

True. His father, James Mitchum, died in a train accident in 1919 when Robert was just two, shaping his tough, independent upbringing.

Question 2

True or false: He turned down the lead role in 'Casablanca' to star in a Western.

Accepted Answer

False. Humphrey Bogart played Rick in 'Casablanca'. Mitchum was still rising in the early 1940s and never seriously considered for the part.

Question 3

True or false: Robert Mitchum was once arrested for possession of marijuana in a famous 1948 police raid.

Accepted Answer

True. In 1948, Mitchum was arrested with two women in a Hollywood house, leading to a short jail term that surprisingly boosted his career.

Question 4

True or false: Mitchum survived a near-fatal plane crash in 1948 while filming 'The Big Steal'.

Accepted Answer

True. While flying to a location shoot, his plane lost an engine and crash-landed in a swamp; Mitchum walked away with minor injuries.

Question 5

True or false: He was a trained classical pianist and performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Accepted Answer

False. Mitchum had a deep voice and sang casually, but he was not a classical pianist nor performed with a symphony orchestra.

Question 6

True or false: He was the first actor to swear on screen in a major Hollywood film.

Accepted Answer

False. While Mitchum used salty language, the first on-screen swear word is debated; Clark Gable's 'damn' in 'Gone with the Wind' is often cited.

Question 7

True or false: Mitchum worked as a ghostwriter for Howard Hughes' autobiography.

Accepted Answer

True. A little-known fact: Mitchum helped write Hughes' memoir, though it was never published, showcasing his hidden literary talent.

Question 8

True or false: Mitchum wrote and performed the Oscar-winning song 'The Wayward Wind'.

Accepted Answer

False. Mitchum did record a calypso album and co-wrote songs, but 'The Wayward Wind' was a hit for Gogi Grant in 1956, not Mitchum.

Robert Mitchum Trivia Questions