Finally, I got an interview for Steelyard Blues. The casting director took one look at me and said, “Oh, you’re THAT Chris Mitchum. I’m sorry, I can’t interview you.””Why?””Because you’ve starred with John Wayne.”
[…]
Q: In the early 1970s, you went to work in Europe (Italy, Spain, France…) and appeared in many “B” pictures directed by the likes of Tulio Demichelli or Aldo Sambrell. What motivated you on this career change? Did you ever feel that it could have a negative impact on your image?
CM: Of course it had a negative impact on my image. After I filmed Big Jake with Wayne, I received a number of awards. NATO and Box Office Star-to-watch. Photoplay Gold Medal Award Best New Actor, and so on. While on the PA tour for the release of Big Jake, I received a job offer to shoot a film in Spain with Olivia Hussey, Karl Malden and a great international cast. I was the star. I took it. When I got back, I didn’t have a job interview for 11 months. Finally, I got an interview for Steelyard Blues. The casting director took one look at me and said, “Oh, you’re THAT Chris Mitchum. I’m sorry, I can’t interview you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve starred with John Wayne.”
Duke was very visible standing up for our troops in Viet Nam. Hollywood saw that as “supporting the war.” It wasn’t. Still, anyone who starred with Duke was blackballed. “They” didn’t want to chance another star having a political voice with which they disagreed. So, I was blackballed in some circles. I had another job offer in Spain. When I went there, my first film, Summertime Killer had been a big hit. Ran for a year on the Gran Via. I was a major star there and immediately upon arrival, I was offered another film. I had a family to feed. Europe was where the work was, so I moved to Spain. Of course, once you become a “foreign star,” you’re regarded as a “B” actor and fall out of the loop.
[…]
Chris Mitchum for Congress.
In 2008, Progressives took control of our government. They immediately began an aggressive agenda to enlarge government and gain more control over our lives. In doing so, they increased our National debt by over 50% in just three years, sentencing generations to come with a massive burden. For the first time ever, more than 70% of Federal spending goes to Dependence programs.
Visit the Chris Mitchum for Congress website here.
