Gardner’s Fling With Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum was a classic Hollywood icon, best known for his roles in films noir like Out of the Past. He was also one of the renowned guys Ava Gardner got to know well, and the two of them had an affair while she was with Sinatra but before he left his wife. Gardner was candid with Mitchum, telling him about her relationship with Sinatra. He was upset to learn about this, but not out of envy. It was more about what Sinatra may do if he found out. “Get into a fight with him [Sinatra], and he won’t stop until one of you is dead,” he added, implying that their relationship will soon end.
Gardner’s Fling With Robert Mitchum
One Marriage Ends, Another Begins
Despite the lengthy judicial proceedings, Sinatra’s divorce from his wife was finalized in 1951, and he and Gardner married barely 10 days later. It had been a long time coming, and the press was just as thrilled as the pair. They turned the marriage into a massive scandal, influencing public perceptions of the two stars. Gardner had already been described by the press as a femme fatale, similar to the figure she played in her debut performance. They now had even more fuel to pour on the fire as she broke apart Sinatra’s family. Sinatra was also chastised for abandoning his family, attracting criticism from the press, the public, and even the Catholic Church.
One Marriage Ends, Another Begins