For who we are moviegoers of birth and lovers of the time of Hollywood more golden James Stewart and Robert Mitchum They are two of the greatest actors who represent it. They worked together in the end of their careers in the seventies version of The eternal dream entitled Private detective here (1978). They also coincided in the famous television series of the 80s North and south, but they did not share a plane.

However, just twenty years ago they went to shoot their last movie, Mitchum a day before Stewart, and the cinema was left without two of its greatest legends. These two biographical books They tell us who and how different they were, but at the same time how much they had in common in terms of talent and personality. A couple of readings that I recommend from now on for this brand-new vacation.

Robert Mitchum - Forget me, darling!

Mitchum (August 6, 1917 - July 1, 1997) would have made it into the century this year, but a lung cancer he took it a month early and did not quit smoking even at the last minute. The American historian tells lee server in that splendid biography of Forget me baby (2002) that Mitchum took off his oxygen mask as soon as he could to take a drag on that absent-minded cigarette they left him there. It was the last gesture of the rebellion that this actor, with such a particular physiognomy, always showed, and as quarrelsome as poet, singer, adventurer, disbeliever and ironic which, above all, was a magnificent actor

This was the first full biography of the actor and I attest that this is a book as important, interesting and controversial as Mitchum's personality. And it's fun too. Server was based on thousands of documents and in almost two hundred interviews with relatives, friends and collaborators of Mitchum.

To know everything and more about this actor who put physique and sleepy gaze to some reference film characters, such as that more than disturbing preacher of Hunter's night or the chilling criminal Max Cady facing Gregory Peck from the original Cape of Terror. One of the many anecdotes that are told and best describe what Mitchum could be or represent is precisely from the shooting of this movie.

Peggy bowden, the actress who played the wife of Peck's character, shared a violent scene with Mitchum where he harasses and attacks her. After filming it, Mitchum apologized for the intensity that he considered too much for Bowden, who also admitted to being a bit scared, but later confessed that he had liked.

But Mitchum was one of the best villains, drunkards, military, cowboys, sheriffs, outlaws and antiheroes of the cinema there have been and to be. And this biography is indispensable for his admirers.

James Stewart - The quiet american

James Stewart (May 8, 1908 - July 2, 1997) - Jimmy for all- it was the perfect cinematic embodiment of the good, honest and self-made man. In other words, the American ideal: the honest, entrepreneurial and democratic citizen of a country that believed in itself. To top served in the air force as a volunteer in World War II and achieved the rank of colonel. I mean, the opposite face to his colleague Mitchum. And a perhaps too big heart failed a day after him. All this tells us Gerard molyneaux in this 1999 book.

Raise your hand who has not seen Living is beautiful! sometime (or several) every Christmas. OR Knight without sword o Stories of Philadelphia o Live as you want. Or so many and so many other movies of the most beautiful and optimistic in Hollywood. Forty years of unforgettable characters that he recreated with that lanky and lanky physique (he was 1,90 tall), with special mention for his work with directors Frank Capra,Alfred Hitchcock and Anthony Man.

There are many more books on James Stewart, who also published a book of poems, Jimmy Stewart and his poems. Too bad they are only in English.