James Garner Attacks!

I know every blog in the Universe already has this, but I couldn't resist. Jim Garner is a great guy, but, as he himself will tell you, don't push him too far or their will be consequences. His older brother, Jack, has said, "He's tougher than Dick Tracey." He might be even tougher than Jim Rockford!

Agree?

I think I must agree, although sometimes I think TV has gone a bit too far trying to be like movies because In my opinion, movies went way too far a long time ago.

HW: It used to be that television wasn't something everybody wanted to do, but that's changed. Why do you think so many actors are doing TV now?

EI: I've studied that from the beginning just because I s interested in acting and Hollywood and films, and I think the first three that made it across were Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood and James Garner There wasn't supposed to be a bridge there. I think it's because the writers were given the power to run the thing. They became the executive producers, so some really good writers said, ""Hey, I'm going to write some stuff and produce it too."" Like with The Sopranos, it was like, ""Okay, get out there and do edgy, dark, interesting, real life, independent film feeling television. Put it out there."" So they did this and then good actors thought, ""I'm going to do some of this stuff."" Then the bridge started going backwards and forwards and it almost feels like a level bridge now.

The Rockford Files: Season Five

Another great comment about this classic series and its classic (and classy) star.

The Rockford Files: Season Five

The Rockford Files: Season Five is a great collection of TV episodes, even if it doesn’t showcase the series at its creative best. James Garner is one of TV’s greatest leading men, and this set does him justice. Unfortunately, audio and video qualities aren’t fantastic (although probably as good as the source elements can allow), and the lack of extras is a pain in the neck. But who are we kidding? We all know Jim Rockford would be way too cool to watch DVD bonus features.

What's His Secret?

I've heard Jim say this type of thing before, and it's sure refreshing to see someone walk the talk.

www.family.org When asked by US magazine about the secret to his 41-year marriage, James Garner, the star of Maverick and The Rockford Files, said, "Consideration. You have to care for [your spouse] and do a lot of forgiving and forgetting. It’s a two-way street. A lot of people don't get married because they know they can get out of it at any minute. Hey, it was difficult for me to make that commitment, but when I make them, I stick with them."

More Rockford DVD Reviews

The Rockford Files: Season Five (1978-79) James Garner. Five-disc set with 22 episodes, $39.98. (Universal).

“The world?s most unlikely detective returns to DVD for the first time ever in all 22 thrilling Season Five episodes of The Rockford Files. Primetime Emmy� winner James Garner reprises his role as Jim Rockford, an ex-con-turned-private-investigator who would rather fish than fight, but whose instinct on closed cases is more golden than his classic Pontiac Firebird. From his mobile home in Malibu, this wisecracking private eye takes on the cases of the lost and the dispossessed, chasing down seemingly long-dead clues in the sun-baked streets and seamy alleys of Los Angeles. This phenomenal DVD set includes such stellar guest stars as Robert Loggia (Big), Rita Moreno (West Side Story), Tom Selleck (Magnum PI), Ed Harris (Apollo 13), John Pleshette (Knots Landing), Lane Smith (Lois & Clark), Harold Gould (Golden Girls), Abe Vigoda (Barney Miller), James Sikking (Hill Street Blues), and Kim Hunter (A Streetcar Named Desire), and more! The Rockford Files are now re-opened and declassified for mystery fans everywhere.”

Review of Rockford Files Fifth Season DVD

The Rockford Files: The Fifth Season

James Garner stars in what may be the best detective series ever, or at least the best one that featured a punching bag of a private eye who charged $200 a day (plus expenses!) and lived in a trailer by the beach. This season is notable for the very funny episodes featuring a pre-Magnum, P.I. Tom Selleck as Lance White, a too-nice detective who can do no wrong.

Legend of the West

James Garner: Legend of the West

Posted January 12, 2008

James
Garner. That’s the answer I always give when asked who my favourite
actor is. Recently I had to try and justify this to someone who seemed
to have some pretty major Garner prejudice.

Although I like my films and telly, I do try to steer discussion
onto other topics when meeting new people, at least for a while. On
this occasion I mentioned James Garner, only to be told I was wrong.

While trying not to appear too bothered with this slur, I felt I had
to defend his honour in his absence. I like to think I did alright,
even after a few Jack Daniels and cokes, but it left me thinking more
needs to be done to raise the profile of America’s finest.

So I’ve dug out an article I put together last year for a film course I took (written just after watching The Americanization of Emily) and, before that, here’s what I said about Jimbo back in this blog’s first post:

The blog is dedicated to Mr James Garner, Legend of the West Bret Maverick in Maverick, The Scrounger in The Great Escape and LAs finest, Jim Rockford PI in The Rockford Files.

His work and style epitomise everything I like in my entertainment.
Heroes that aren’t black or white, but black and grey. Characters that
would rather talk their way out of a situation than fight (who would
have the guts to fight someone with a gun in real life? A Garner
character would rather leg it). Humour that is understated rather than
puerile or OTT. And a bit of realism in amongst the nonsense makes for
good entertainment.

Read the article at

James Garner: Legend of the West