Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell

Robert Osborne has a low-key interview with stars ROBERT MITCHUM and JANE RUSSELL, who were not only co-stars of several films at RKO but remained lifelong friends.

Mitchum (who died the following year from lung cancer and emphysema), looks haggard and worn, totally unlike the glimpses we get of his screen roles, while Russell looks elegant and has aged well. She's much more at ease than Mitchum until halfway through the segment, where he seems to liven up a little and gives more than simple answers to Osborne's questions.

We learn that neither of them were fond of director John Farrow, who could be nasty to crew members, nor were they ecstatic about working for Josef Von Sternberg, who forbid having food or beverages on the set. They both thought Marilyn Monroe was sweet--and, in Mitchum's words "abused" by the system, and Mitchum couldn't think of any film for which he deserved an Oscar.

They both were fond of Howard Hughes, although Jane admitted that while he was a "sweet gentleman", he didn't know that much about directing films. Most of Osborne's questions are pretty soft ball (in the manner of Larry King), so don't expect any unusual revelations here.

Mitchum looks shockingly bad, but no mention is made of his health problems while the man is obviously in very ill health.

Summing up: Mildly interesting, but sad to see Mitchum way past his prime, a mere shadow of his former self.