James Garner - The Quintessential American

Jon Winokur to Discuss His James Garner Book at Library

2012-01-16T11:01:00.001-05:00

Pacific Palisades author Jon Winokur. Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
Jon Winokur to Discuss His James Garner Book at Library
2012-01-12
By KATIE O'LAUGHLIN

Special to the Palisadian-Post

What do Palisadian author Jon Winokur and the popular television actor James Garner have in common? Not only did they collaborate on Garner's new memoir, 'The Garner Files,' released in November by Simon & Shuster, but both are curmudgeons.

Winokur will discuss the memoir and his experiences with Garner at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 19 at the Palisades Branch Library, 861 Alma Real. This is the first of a monthly author series to be held on the third Thursday of each month.

In case you aren't certain exactly what a curmudgeon is, the American Heritage Dictionary defines it as an ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions.

Jon Winokur, however, might take issue with that characterization. If anyone should know what defines a curmudgeon, it is this 36-year resident of Pacific Palisades and author of more than 20 books. He is probably best known for 'The Portable Curmudgeon' (1987) and its various curmudgeonly sequels.

Winokur thinks that curmudgeons have received a bad rap and says curmudgeons are neither warped nor evil at heart. They don't hate mankind, just mankind's absurdities. They're just as sensitive and soft-hearted as the next guy, but hide their vulnerability beneath a crust of misanthropy. They ease the pain by turning hurt into humor.
Winokur and Garner first crossed paths a few months after 'The Portable Curmudgeon' was published.

One day Winokur's phone rang, and it was Garner, best known for his long-running roles as Bret Maverick in the ABC series 'Maverick' (1957-62) and Jim Rockford in the NBC series 'The Rockford Files' (1974-80). Garner had found Winokur's number in the phone book and was calling to thank him because he so enjoyed 'The Portable Curmudgeon.'

Garner began the conversation by saying, 'This is Jim Garner, I'm an actor.' Jon responded, 'I know. How are you?' Jim's response was, 'I'm fine. What kind of curmudgeon has a listed number?'

Turns out one of Garner's fans had sent him a copy of the book to cheer him up while recovering from heart surgery'in fact, Bob Newhart and Dick Martin had also sent him a copy'and the book had done the trick, lifting him out of post-op depression.

A few weeks later, Garner was a guest on 'The Tonight Show' and talked to Johnny Carson about his surgery. He brought out the book, told how he got it and proceeded to read from it until the first commercial, after which he handed it to Johnny, who read it until the next commercial.

This put the book on the map and really launched Winokur's career as a writer. As he puts it, 'I've been allowed to publish a couple of dozen other books, all, I'm convinced, on the strength of that 'Tonight Show' appearance, without which I'd probably be selling real estate instead of collaborating with James Garner on his memoirs.'

Winokur and Garner maintained a friendship that began with that first phone call and continues to this day. About two years ago, Winokur asked Garner why he had never written a memoir. Garner's response was 'Why would anyone care about my life?' but after further prompting from Winokur, the book project took off.

The author spent several hours a week sitting and chatting with Garner, and also interviewed over 100 people who worked with or knew him. According to Winokur, every person he contacted was eager to share their thoughts and memories about Garner, and he heard story after story of Garner's quiet acts of generosity and kindness.

Garner was born in 1928 in Norman, Oklahoma, with the birth name of James Scott Bumgarner. He and his two older brothers had a tumultuous childhood. Their mother died when Jim was four, and their father was ill-equipped to care for them. The three boys were passed around to family members, spent a disastrous time with their father's new wife 'Red,' an apparent poster woman for evil stepmothers, and basically learned to fend for themselves.

Garner left home at the age of 14 and later was Oklahoma's first draftee of the Korean War. The book includes a chapter on his war experience and the events that led to two Purple Hearts for combat wounds and a great story of how his aversion to garlic may have saved his life. Upon his return from Korea, Garner bounced around between visiting his dad in California and trying to go back to school in Oklahoma.

A series of coincidences led Garner to stage producer Paul Gregory, who saw his potential and sent him to New York City and his first acting gig: in Gregory's production of 'The Caine Mutiny Court Martial.' The rest, as they say, is history.

Garner had so many adventures and interests over the course of his life that it's hard to believe he fit it all into one lifetime. Instead of telling his life story in strict chronological fashion, the chapters are in loosely chronological order, but deal with the major events or interests in his life.

Topics include the two popular television series; his politics (he's an unabashed 'bleeding-heart liberal'); his love of race car driving, inspired by his role in the movie 'Grand Prix' and hanging out with Steve McQueen, who he met while filming 'The Great Escape'; his love/hate relationship with golf; and his thoughts on acting (he respects the writers and believes the script is sacred).

Also included are chapters on producing, including 'My Name is Bill,' the story of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous; Garner's 'romantic' films such as 'The Notebook'; and commentary on his long marriage to Lois Clarke, whom Garner met and fell in love with on Aug 1, 1956 ('she reminded me of Audrey Hepburn, only full-bodied, like Sophia Loren').

The book concludes with commentary from friends and colleagues (several of whom lovingly refer to him as a curmudgeon, including Julie Andrews in her introduction) and a glossary of his film and TV works, annotated with Garner's thoughts about each project.

Garner comes across as a very honest and forthright person. He has a bit of a problem with his temper, evidenced by numerous physical confrontations over the years, but also has a large and generous heart. The book opens with a letter from Jim to his readers, wherein he states that one of the purposes in writing the book was to acknowledge those who've helped him along the way, from friends and family to the actors, directors, writers and crew members he has worked with over the years. That is a tall order, but with the able assistance of Jon Winokur, he accomplishes that and much, much more.

In addition to next Thursday's library event, interested readers can follow Winokur on his two Twitter feeds: Advice to Writers and The Daily Curmudgeon, or visit his Web site: advicetowriters.com.

(Katie O'Laughlin owned Village Books on Swarthmore from 1997 until last June. She continues to have an online business through palivillagebooks.com, where one can order books with a discount and free shipping.)

The Last Real Man - People Magazine, April 22, 1985

2012-01-14T20:08:00.001-05:00

Reblogged bankston:
bankston:
April 22, 1985
Vol. 23
No. 16

The Man Is Back

By Jane Hall

Depression Gone, Hollywood’s Last Real Man, James Garner, Returns to Rugged Form in Space

Look at him. Don’t worry. It’s okay to stare. James Garner is too concentrated on a putt to notice. Dressed in a beige V-neck sweater and slacks, Garner is enjoying his movie star privileges at the Bel Air Country Club. He stands there, without benefit of a filter lens, against a melting sun that would turn even a teen idol like Matt Dillon into a squinting gargoyle, and he looks terrific. Lines, creases and a thickening middle have sculpted character into this open-faced Hollywood hero of the 1960s. At 57, James Garner is wearing exceptionally well. Don’t ask him how he does it. “Looking good doesn’t enter my mind,” he says, grinning that smashing Garner grin.

The modesty, of course, only enhances his appeal. These days Garner is working with a vigor he hasn’t displayed since his time as TV’s Western gambler Bret Maverick and detective Jim Rockford (two dying archetypes he revitalized with humor). In three decades Garner has made nearly 40 films and countless TV shows, but he claims he hasn’t seen more than a third of them. In that, others may wisely follow his lead. Every goody (Victor/Victoria) comes with two clunkers (Mister Buddwing, Tank). Now he’s on a roll—a light-comic actor the experts are starting to take seriously.

This season, with Mary Tyler Moore in Heartsounds, he wowed critics (they’re already talking Emmy) as a doctor struggling with heart disease. “Jim makes it look so easy,” raves Mary. New Oscar winner Sally Field just snagged Garner to play her lover in Murphy’s Romance; she’s smitten. “If men only knew,” sighs Field. “What’s appealing to a woman is how a man makes her feel about herself. Jim is funny and dear, and he laughs at my jokes. That’s what makes Jim sexy; it doesn’t change with years.”

Corroboration of Sally’s statement is available this week as CBS airs Space, a 13-hour, five-night miniseries based on James Michener’s novel. The astronautical epic from Paramount TV cost $35 million, took five months to shoot and boasts 10 big-name stars. Still, the dazzling hardware pales next to Garner, who plays Norman Grant, a World War II naval hero turned senator on a space committee. Playing the hero is nothing new to the stalwart 6’3” actor, but catch his action (he’s hotter than ever) in those love scenes with Blair Brown, playing an astronaut’s wife the married senator takes to bed. “I didn’t want this to happen,” says Brown. “I did,” drawls Garner just before the clinch. That’s it: Just a few words and she’s a goner. Garner’s always been too cool or too shy (deciding which only adds to the fascination) to make the first move. “Every woman wants to be the one who reaches him,” says Brown.

Space is likely to alert audiences to what fans of The Rockford Files have long suspected: James Garner, whose wisecracks can’t hide integrity at the core, may be Hollywood’s last real man. John Wayne is dead. So are Gable, Cooper and Bogart. Who’ve we got now? Eastwood’s tough, but Dirty Harry is rarely good for a laugh. Redford, Newman, Reynolds and Selleck are too wrapped up in movie star vanity to qualify. De Niro, Pacino and Hoffman are chameleons, playing everything from psychos to women. With Garner you know where you stand. The new generation (Penn, Hutton and Cruise) has no history. Garner embodies what critic Tom Shales calls “the crusty, sardonic and self-effacing strain of American masculinity.”

Those qualities are apparent when Garner greets his woman visitor on the golf course. Interviews pain him and he does them rarely. “I hire a PR man just to keep people away from me,” he says. Especially women: “I was a real wallflower as a kid, and women still scare me.” Today he’s brought protection. An avid golfer (he plays the game four times a week when he’s not working), Garner’s lined up two friends and his brother Jack, 59. “That’s what I love about golf,” he says, laying down the challenge. “Nobody can get to you.”

As he settles into the golf cart, his brown eyes flash impishly. “I forgot to tell you, darling,” he says, “I love to race these carts.” It’s mock macho. Throughout the morning he is attentive and chivalrous, offering a gentle hand to my back as we climb a hill and swallowing his profanity when his drive misses the green. Big Jim, who has a six-handicap, is way off his game. “My bad back’[from all those movie stunts] is acting up,” he says. Brother Jack, a golf pro at a nearby club, proves an expert needier. “Now Jim,” he teases, “don’t get that pretty sweater of yours caught in the trees.” Garner grumbles good-naturedly, “It’s a good thing I like to putt.” Does he ever get mad? “Oh, you bet,” says Garner. “It’s a slow process. But when I blow, I don’t care what happens. I once decked a producer at Universal for stealing music and scripts from Rockford. Where I come from [Norman, Okla.], your word is your bond, but I’m in a business where they don’t understand that.” After playing out of a sand trap, he misses an easy putt. Red-faced, he tosses his putter into the air and stands a moment, roiling like an Oklahoma storm cloud. This time the storm passes. “Aw, hell,” he says. “It’s only a game and money.”

At the clubhouse Garner is talking out frustrations, not just his game but his career. “I’m getting too old to play the macho hero,” he says. “I want to play my age.” He’s increasingly terrified of love scenes: “They might laugh at me, and my creed is don’t laugh at me, laugh with me.” Garner liked putting on 15 pounds for Space: “I wanted to be paunchy, a little seedy, that’s what the character calls for.” But don’t think there’s a new De Niro in the making. “I’m a Methodist, but not in acting,” he says, cocking his left eyebrow, the one he uses to show seasoned exasperation. “Little Mariel Hemingway in Star 80,” he says, aghast. “Do you know she had breast implants for the picture?”

Garner will not play a character who strays too far from his personal beliefs. On Space, his first miniseries (at an estimated fee of $1 million), he was a ramrod. “I tried to make the guy less of a wimp than he was in the book,” he says. “I said I didn’t understand how a guy could be a big war hero and then come to the Senate and be pushed around.” Garner also changed the senator from a Republican to a Democrat. “I’m one of those bleeding heart liberals Reagan would like to put behind bars,” he says. “Besides, my wife wouldn’t let me play a Republican.”

Jim is mute about what Lois, his wife of 28 years, thought about his love scenes with Blair Brown, 36. He finds all the sex-symbol talk faintly ridiculous. Brother Jack doesn’t. “It’s not easy being married to Jim,” says Jack, “because of the way fans fall all over him.” Garner laughs it off. Despite an impressive list of screen lovers—including Audrey Hepburn, Natalie Wood and Kim Novak—Garner insists he’s never succumbed to temptation. “Honey,” he says, “I’ve worked with a lot of great-looking actresses, and I make it my business not to dislike any of them. I also make it my business not to fall in love with them either.”

There’s been talk, of course. The Garner marriage has endured two separations, one 15 years ago for three months, another in 1979 that lasted 18 months. During that time he was linked with Lauren Bacall, who had co-starred on Rockford and two films (Health and The Fan). Garner has denied the rumors. “Lois and I were never in serious trouble,” he says, “and everything is fine with us now—99 percent of the problem was the pressures of Rockford. It wasn’t us, it was me needing to get away to get my head together.”

Everything looks serene as we drive up to the iron-gated Garner mansion in Brentwood. The house affords a view from every room, but the world is locked outside. Lois wants none of her husband’s public life. Garner met aspiring actress Lois Clarke at an Adlai Stevenson rally in 1956 (“She just knocked me out”). They were married two weeks later. Lois had a daughter, Kim, by a former marriage. Kim, now a teacher in L.A., came to live with them. Two years later daughter Gigi was born. A country singer, Gigi has settled in Nashville. “I think she sings pretty good,” Garner deadpans. He is never more exasperatingly laconic than when speaking of his family. Lois has helped fill in some of the blanks: “Jim is a rather complicated man and is covering up lots of hurt. Growing up he was abused, lonely and deprived.”

The youngest of Mildred and Weldon Bumgarner’s three sons, he had a childhood that played like a modern day Oliver Twist. He was only 5 when his mother died. The boys—Jim, Jack and Charles (a former high school shop teacher who died last year)—were farmed out to various relatives. Three years later the family was reunited when Weldon (who subsequently married four times) introduced them to their first stepmother, a mean-spirited woman who regularly beat them. “Mostly me,” says Jim. Weldon was no comfort. “My dad worked hard as an upholsterer and carpet layer,” says Jim, “but he was a rake and he drank a lot. He’d come home bombed and make us sing to him or get a whipping.” Garner’s sympathy for the underdog comes from this. “I cannot stand to see little people picked on by big people,” he says. “If a director starts abusing people, I’ll just jump in.”

At 14, he left home and did odd jobs. Two years later he lied about his age and joined the merchant marine, but left in less than a year. He drifted to L.A., where his father then lived with his third wife, and attended Hollywood High. Jim was a football hero, but shy off the field. “All the girls liked him,” says a childhood friend, Bill Saxon, “but Jim hardly dated.” Still his hunky teen torso won him his first on-camera job: a Jantzen swimsuit ad. He grimaces: “Ever since I did that darn ad, I’ve hated having my picture taken.”

The Korean War interrupted his modeling career. He was wounded twice and won two Purple Hearts. On his second day in Korea, he was hit by a shard of shrapnel. Later, he says, “our own jets strafed us. I went for a foxhole, and a South Korean soldier dived on top of me.” Garner spent three months recuperating from a dislocated shoulder and knee injuries. Typically he pooh-poohs accusations of bravery. “I wasn’t a hero,” he says. “I just got in the way a lot.”

It was also luck, he claims, that got him into acting. Paul Gregory, a soda-jerk pal from back home who had become a producer, gave him the small role of a judge in Broadway’s The Caine Mutiny Court Martial. The star of the show, Henry Fonda, became his mode! and mentor: “I learned just watching him act.” Warner Bros, made Garner a $500-a-week contract player in such unremarkable flicks as Toward the Unknown and Darby’s Rangers. Then, in 1957, they gave him Maverick at the same low price. The series made him a star, but not rich. After four years he had to sue his way out of the series.

Money matters had improved dramatically (an estimated $50,000 per episode) at the time Garner signed up for The Rockford Files in 1974. Still, at the end of 1979, Garner quit the series (perhaps the best ever in the detective genre), again in bitterness. He has filed a $22.5 million suit against MCA/Universal, the owners of Rockford, charging that the studio had cheated him out of his share of the profits. “They made $150 million on Rockford and, even though I owned 37.5 percent of it, I’ve yet to see the money.” Many similar cases are settled out of court. Garner, ever the man of principle, intends to go all the way, no matter how long it takes. “I ruined my health with all those stunts and long hours,” he says. “But I figured I was creating an annuity. The crew used to joke, ‘Come on, it’s Garner’s money we’re wasting.’ When I found out there were no profits, it turned me off this business.” He slid into despair. “I was going to chuck everything,” he has said. “The business. The family. Everybody can go to hell.” His poor health didn’t help. In 1980 he announced, “I’m constantly in pain. I have arthritis in my back and my knees and my hands. I had ulcers this year—and once an ulcer patient, always an ulcer patient. I get depressed. Very.” He saw a psychiatrist, split from his family and tried to work it out “before everything was ruined.” That he did work it out is a tribute to Garner. And Lois. “She’s just stuck with me all these years,” he says. “I guess she’s stubborn too.”

Gazing out on his garden, Garner smiles. “I love to sit under the trees and read.” Don’t bet on early retirement. In Heartsounds (“the one I did for love”) Garner played a man facing his own mortality. To act it with dignity, he drew on an inspiration: Henry Fonda. “I knew Henry very well,” he says softly. “I used a lot of his attitudes—his crotchetiness, his wit, his fight against something he couldn’t control.” Garner is unembarrassed by the emotion in his face. The rest he can’t put into words. He doesn’t have to. Fonda was the kind of man who lived by a code of honor. So is James Garner.
The Last Real Man - People Magazine

This page
is safe
Bitdefender Internet Security 2012

Antiphishing Filter
Blocks pages that contain phishing.

Antimalware Filter
Blocks pages that contain malware.

Search advisor
Provides advanced warning of risky websites in your search results.

James Richmond Barthé (January 28, 1901 – March 5, 1989) was an African American sculptor known for his many public works

2012-01-01T20:28:00.001-05:00

re-blogged from MAVERICK'S DAUGHTER

James Richmond Barthé (January 28, 1901 – March 5, 1989) was an African American sculptor known for his many public works, including the Toussaint L’Ouverture Monument in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and a sculpture of Rose McClendon for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater House.

Barthe once said that “all my life I have be interested in trying to capture the spiritual quality I see and feel in people, and I feel that the human figure as God made it, is the best means of expressing this spirit in man.”
In 1946 Barthé became a member of the National Sculpture Society.
Eventually, the tense environment and violence of the city began to take its toll, and he decided to abandon his life of fame and move to Jamaica in the West Indies in 1947. His career flourished in Jamaica and he remained there until the mid-1960s when ever-growing violence forced him to yet again move. For the next five years he lived in Switzerland, Spain, and Italy before eventually settling in Pasadena, California. When he moved to a rental apartment, above a garage in Pasadena, the city named the street after him.
In that apartment, Barthe worked on his memoirs and most importantly, editioned many of his works with the financial assistance of the actor James Garner until his death in 1989.

California African American Museum -current exhibits - Places of Validation, Art & Progression »

A bust, done by Richmond Barthe, of actor James Garner is on display. Mr. Garner was a devoted benefactor to this talented African American artist for many years until his death.

James And Gigi Garner from "The Garner Files"

2011-12-25T10:57:00.001-05:00

re-blogged from Maverick's Daughter

mavrock1:
A PHOTO OF US FROM “The Garner Files”

2011-12-24T22:50:00.000-05:00

A Christmas message from Gigi Garner ~

Happy Holidays from the Garner's
to all of you!

My Dad is currently in very good spirits and I believe part of that may
have something to do with the wonderful reception that the book has been
getting so far

Predictably, he is somewhat surprised but, pleased that people seem to be
enjoying it!

I wanted to say a personal "Thank You" to his friends and fans for all
your support ;)

Please keep up the good work.... because it is definitely working!

Sincerely,
Gigi Garner

2011-12-24T21:04:00.001-05:00

Reblogged mavrock1

Jami Floyd's Review of "The Garner Files" »

mavrock1:
JAMI FLOYD’S REVIEW got picked up on “THIRD AGE”
I know exactly how Jami Floyd felt when she admitted to some trepidation reading the memoirs of a man she had idolized most of her life. I have idolized James Garner for most of my life too, only I’m a lot older than Jami. I was a kid when Maverick hit the air in 1957, and that’s when I developed my very first crush - on James Garner.
Like Jami, as I matured my crush matured into great admiration for Jim Garner as a person and an incredibly gifted actor. Sure, he’s handsome, but there’s a lot more to it than that. There are lots of handsome men in Hollywood - maybe not as handsome as Garner, but attractive nonetheless. Still, they never moved me. I’m not a Star Chaser either, and actually there has never been another star that I would walk across the street to see - seriously. Only James Garner.
I wasn’t really worried when I started reading The Garner Files, because, while I would have been as devastated as Jami if Garner had turned out to be a self-absorbed jerk, I didn’t expect that to happen. From the first time I ever saw him in Maverick, I was absolutely sure Jim Garner was a good man. I just knew. And I was right.
The book is wonderful although it held few real surprises for an old fan like me, there were details I didn’t know of course, and I found it all interesting. There were funny parts, sad parts, and everything in between.
Through it all, though, I found that Jim Garner was exactly who I had believed him to be for all these years, only - to quote Jon Winokur - “better.”

A Thank You To James Garner

2011-12-24T20:25:00.001-05:00

Maverick's Daughter

mavrock1:
I just found this lovely article online and I thought I would share it ;)
Please Thank Them Before They Go: James Garner
We need to thank the people who provide good things for us to enjoy or benefit from before they go. People on this earth do wonderful things and then they fade into obscurity or pass away without anyone getting a chance to say ‘thanks’ until after it is too late for them to hear about it. It’s now time to change all that.
Today, we are giving thanks to legendary American actor, James Garner.
A Korean War veteran, Garner earned two Purple Hearts while serving in the U.S. Army.

The Oklahoma native was first known for his role as Bret in the 1957-1960 comedy Western series Maverick.

His 1970s series, The Rockford Files, earned him a new generation of fans and an Emmy Award for Best Actor.

His film roles over the years have included Grand Prix, The Americanization of Emily, The Great Escape, Support Your Local Sheriff, Murphy’s Romance, Victor, Victoria, Maverick, and Barbarians at the Gate.

After his role in Grand Prix, he owned a share of the car racing team, the American International Racers, racing at LeMans, Sebring, Baja, and Daytona.

He drove the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 in 1975, 1977, and 1985.

He appeared in a memorable campaign for Polaroid with former Rockford Files co-star, Mariette Hartley.

He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in the 1985 movie, Murphy’s Romance.

In 1990, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

He won the Most Valuable Amateur Player at the 1990 AT&T Golf Tournament.

He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 1995 from the University of Oklahoma, a school he has supported for a number of years.

In 2003, the James Garner Chair in the School of Drama at the University of Oklahoma was established.

He joined the cast of 8 Simple Rules after the untimely death of John Ritter.

In February 2005 he received the Screen Actors Guild’s Lifetime Achievement Award

A statue of the actor was unveiled in 2006 in his hometown of Norman, Oklahoma.

Thanks, Mr. G

Dear James Garner Fans by Gigi Garner

2011-11-21T10:50:00.001-05:00

Dear James Garner fans,

I would like to briefly address a recent attack upon my Father by the tabloids and clear up any misconceptions regarding his “drug” use as revealed in his new memoir, “The Garner Files”

I would like you to know that my dear Father has dealt with a lifetime of chronic pain, stemming from early football injuries, to stunts gone bad, to serious life threatening injuries and illnesses.

Considering that marijuana is now a legal medication here in California, with a prescription from a doctor, it obviously does help patients suffering with serious health problems, fatal illnesses and severe and chronic pain, the same way that many other natural and synthetic medications do.

Although he is no longer using it, I admire the courage it took to admit that he did use it and that it did help him with his chronic pain. I asked him about exposing this particular issue before the book came out and he said he wanted to talk about it because “It might help someone”. At the risk of being attacked by the tabloids, that was his sole motivating factor.

Thank you for your support and understanding ;)

I've been saying this myself ever since Jim's book, The Garner Files - in which Jim reveals that he had used marijuana to help with chronic pain and depression. Here is a book with 300 pages filled with Jim's view of his life, some funny, some poignant, many inspiring but all coming together to show us that James Garner is indeed the man we all thought him to be. He's is one of the very few who actually is a role model, one of a kind and yes, a hero.

But, with all that to choose from a few "reviewers" who obviously didn't even read the book, and of course, the tabloids, took a laser like focus on one tiny detail - he used pot! I don't think they would have been half as worked up if Jim had revealed himself as being a serial killer. What utter crap! What unbelievable hypocrisy. The tabloids I can understand because this is what they do after all - take a minor detail and make a major story out of it. Or flat make it up, as in the last few times they mentioned Jim and they had him at death's door. I guess smoking pot is better than being dead.

My major problem however is with the "reviewers" who had not read the book and took blurbs from others who had and hung an entire point of view on that one thing. One even called the book "drug filled." Come again? I believe the entire "drug" discussion took less than one page. These so-called "critics" revealed far more about themselves than about their target, who stands head and shoulders above them. But again, they know that, which undoubtedly is the true reason for their ridiculous rantings. Small people endlessly trying to drag a big person down to their level. Never happen, you phoney-balonies, so just get over it.

Don't give it another thought, Gigi. As someone who has endured chronic pain and depression for most of my own life, I understand perfectly. I'd use it too if it helped. For those who have been fortunate to have escaped this curse, I say, "Walk a mile in our shoes." If you can make it for a mile that is.

Why James Garner Is the Real Star of His Era

2011-11-13T11:21:00.001-05:00

This incredible review of The Garner Files by Clive James is from the December 2011 ATLANTIC MAGAZINE

The Rockford Style

Eastwood? McQueen? Why James Garner is the real star of his era.

By CLIVE JAMES

Cherokee Productions/NBC/ Universal TV/The Kobal Collection

STAND ASIDE FOR Maverick! Stand aside again for Jim Rockford! They live forever in the shining presence of one man! Let his name ring out: James Bumgarner!

The Garner Files: A Memoir
By James Garner and Jon Winokur
Simon & Schuster

Or perhaps not. At the appropriate moment, he changed his moniker. It was his one and only fiddle with the facts. Let this neatly written and well-supplemented little book—all of his friends provide relevant stories and fond judgments—set a new standard of integrity for the genre. But for a book to have that, the subject has to have the same, or he will have falsified the facts even before fame got to him.

James Garner, you can bet on it, has never told an important lie in his life. He really is like the men he plays onscreen, even unto the modest requirements symbolized by the humble trailer that serves Jim Rockford for a residence. He is thoughtful, honest, and fundamentally gentle, although he has knocked men down when riled. On the evidence given here, one doesn’t doubt that they asked for it. One doesn’t doubt this guy at all.

Every sane person’s favorite modern male movie star, Garner might have done even better if he’d been less articulate. In his generation, three male TV stars made it big in the movies: Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, and Garner. All of them became stars in TV Westerns: McQueen in Wanted: Dead or Alive, Eastwood in Rawhide, and Garner in Maverick. The only one of them who looked and sounded as if he enjoyed communicating by means of the spoken word was Garner. McQueen never felt ready for a film role until he had figured out what the character should do with his hands: that scene-stealing bit in his breakout movie, The Magnificent Seven, in which he shakes the shotgun cartridges beside his ear, was McQueen’s equivalent of a Shakespearean soliloquy, or of a practice session for a postatomic future in which language had ceased to exist.

As for Eastwood, he puts all that effort into gritting his teeth, because his tongue is tied. Garner could learn and deliver page after page of neat Paddy Chayevsky. If you can bear the idea of watching Eastwood struggling with a long speech, take a look at his self-constructed disaster movie White Hunter, Black Heart, in which he plays John Huston at the theoretical top of his mad male confidence: it’s like watching a mouse choke. Like McQueen, Eastwood never really left the Wild West, where little is said except by a six-gun. When McQueen and Eastwood moved up, they took the Wild West with them. Or at any rate, they took a context in which the important things are all unspoken, because nobody really knows how to speak.

Garner or his narrator could really have told us more about just how leaden-tongued modern Hollywood is. Writers like Chayevsky and Aaron Sorkin are rare cases, and the preferred way of writing is to bolt together clichés that have already been tested to near-destruction. When Garner speaks here about the marvelous Joan Hackett, he forgets to say that she spoke beautifully. Of what use was that, in a medium that spoke—still speaks—in a string of sunsets and crashed cars?

Garner, a quick study who could learn and deliver speeches long enough to make his awed listeners hold their breath to the breaking point, was the only one who seemed to enjoy producing intelligible noise. But Garner, compared with the other two, never really caught on as a big-screen leading man. Though tall and handsome, he was never remote: he had an air of belonging down here with us. As a small-screen leading man, he had done too thorough a job with the 20 or 30 good lines in every episode of Maverick or The Rockford Files to make an easy transition into a putatively larger medium that gave him many times more square feet of screen to inhabit, but many times less to say.

In a feature movie like Support Your Local Sheriff, he was charming, but his standout line of dialogue, the line that we all took home, was all that he got to take home as well. I loved that line, especially in its final variation, when he is beginning to lose patience with pests: “I’ve never made any secret of the fact that basically I’m on my way to Australia.” The tag became one of my own call signs, and I would try to get the soft richness of his voice into my own timbre. But in the movies, you just couldn’t get enough of him. When, in earlier years, he made the occasional movie that rang the bell—The Americanization of Emily, The Great Escape—it was a reminder that his television shows had more of him in them. And even today—except for those movies that, in his near-retirement leisure, he has been choosing with great care, sometimes developing the entire project—you still can never quite get enough of him. Nobody ever felt that way about Clint Eastwood, because all he ever did was grit his teeth as he varied his “art” movies with thrillers, the same story made half a dozen times while he was holding the same gun, a .44 Magnum that slowly acquired the patina of the Statue of Liberty. But I digress.

Garner, though he had to nerve himself to do it, spoke wonderfully, even though he spoke against his nature. In real life, he was comparatively unforthcoming, as people who were beaten up at home during their childhood sometimes are. (More of these domestic tortures in a minute, after we get a clearer focus on the person they happened to when he was not much more than knee-high to the people hitting him.) But he positively loved to read out written words. In The Americanization of Emily, he has a long speech by Chayevsky that Eastwood and McQueen, put together, could never have finished reading even silently. Garner flew through it. As it happens, his views about dying for your country were the same as Chayevsky’s, but it wasn’t mere congruence of mind that made the matchup of writer and actor so thrilling: it was synchronicity of tone. While mourning the continued loss of The Hospital, the great movie Chayevsky wrote for George C. Scott (if the role wasn’t first conceived with Scott in mind, we can still say that he was born to play it) (where is the damned thing?), let us think for a moment of what the great writer would have done for Garner, and for all of us, if only the great writer had lived to a proper age. If Garner himself were to think too much about such things, he would go nuts. One of the secrets of maintaining a long and fruitful career is not to mourn too much for the might-have-beens.

On the evidence the ghostly Winokur provides, Garner’s early jobs were never part of a plan leading toward show business. Such plans, in America, are usually called “dreams.” To the extent that the apparently aimless and perhaps ineducable Garner had them, all the dreams must have been of his stepmother, who was fond of beating him with a spatula and made him parade around in a girl’s dress while everyone called him “Louise.” He somehow limped away from these rehearsals doing a convincing impersonation of a sane man. The war in Korea tried to kill him a couple of times but got no closer than qualifying him for two Purple Hearts, bestowed for wounds that he later made a point of shrugging off.

Honesty about himself is important to him. We feel, when reading, that he is leaving out none of his vices: he swore too much when he played golf, but only because he couldn’t bring himself to cheat. Traditionally, Hollywood stars are allowed to cheat at everything, including marriage, but Garner has quite evidently played it straight all along. (McQueen notoriously milked the budget of every movie—if the hero he was playing wore a suit, it would mean 10 more Savile Row suits for McQueen—and Eastwood, worshipped by now as a pillar of artistic integrity, has never expected himself to present the picture of faithfulness that is provided here of Garner.) The question about Garner is not whether he has really played it as straight as he says but whether he has ever played anything.

But the answer has to be yes, and the role he has played is (you guessed it) James Garner. Aside from the solid nice-guy basis provided by mother nature (or stepmother nature, if you prefer to think that a little routine homicidal mania makyth the man), he has had to make it all up. Nothing was given to him, except the looks. He had to deepen his voice (he never tells us how he did it: perhaps, in these censorious days, he prefers to omit the information that he did it the way Lauren Bacall did, by steamboating a few thousand cigarettes). Even today, he is not really comfortable speaking to a roomful of people: the camera is a way of not having to do so. (And even to the television camera, his discomfort shows if he has to speak in propria persona: in a tribute to Doris Day, he praised her devotedly, but it was obviously only the obligation of a close friendship that could make him speak at all.)

As he reveals several times during the course of this short book, he thinks actors should say what is set down for them—which rather rules out the prospect of speaking impromptu. By listening, he learned that the script is the foundation of the house. He was always a great one for learning things, and the key to that was to keep his ears cocked. In his pre-television career, when he was playing one of the silent judges in a touring company of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, he learned that listening properly to the other actors is the only way to keep your face alive for the audience. If you don’t listen, they won’t look. On set, he learned not to sit around and shoot the bull for too long with the crew: better to study the camera, treating the various parts of its façade as parts of a face. If it’s you that’s supposed to be delivering lines from offscreen, be there to deliver them on the spot instead of looping them afterward. It will sound better for you, and look better for everybody. (There are plenty of actors hiding in their trailers who don’t know that one.)

All of his skills have been improved by study—often of other actors. Fans of Henry Fonda will be glad to find that Garner copied a little dance step in Local Sheriff from My Darling Clementine. Garner is good throughout the book when speaking about most other actors, but far too generous when praising his buddy Marlon Brando. “We were both rebels” sounds like a rare instance of his normally finely tuned ghost letting the tone control slip, but there’s nothing wrong about praising Brando as long as you admit that the capacity for industrial sabotage that he brought to so many of his film sets was another form of robbery: somewhere, somebody was paying for every extra hour that Brando’s behavior cost. Still on the subject of Brando, a judgment like “best movie actor we’ve ever had” would mean more if Garner had taken room to say that Alan Arkin was a much better movie actor but didn’t look it.

It’s dissatisfying to find Garner so predictable about actors, when he’s otherwise so open and honest. But no one can complain about his honesty when it comes to the executives who were still, in those days, running the industry like a canyonful of horse thieves. At a time when Jack Benny was earning $25,000 a week on television, Garner was starring in Maverick for a 50th of that amount, and practically paying for his own pants. It might have been treatment like that, when McQueen was doing Wanted: Dead or Alive, that made McQueen into the future burglar of any movie’s budget, but you can’t be made into a thief except to feed your family. Garner was never a thief. He played it straight over money, and expected everyone else to as well.

That was a revolutionary attitude in Hollywood, where everybody expected the written deal to be a mere preliminary to the subsequent larceny. The problem wasn’t so much the system as it was the custom. When the studio system finally came apart and the big moguls were no longer on the telephone together except via Tokyo, the custom continued of robbing the artists. It continues to this day—I have a director friend who has given his career to making off-trail movies but he has found to his cost, and repeatedly, that his backers will back out when the thing is nine-tenths complete and leave him to finance the remaining tenth, because they know he will mortgage his house (again) rather than abandon the project. Garner, whose natural integrity makes you wonder why he is not a Quaker or an Amish person or something—how do you escape with so much virtue from a house ruled by a sadist?—simply hates such an attitude. When he finally got around to studying the accounts for the worldwide television reruns and saw how Lew Wasserman and Universal were robbing him, he sued them. Nobody ever does that.

Garner did it, and got some millions back when he finally agreed with the thieves to settle out of court, he having been vindicated and they, no doubt, still with a mountain range of stolen money yet to spend. The impressive thing here is that Garner was in no way a born litigant. He doesn’t like having his time wasted, any more than anyone else. He just wanted to correct an anomaly, to punish an offense: to get justice, if you wish. You could hand this book as a primer on ethics to any young man just reaching the age of choosing his way in life. Perhaps the most useful thing it shows is that you need not panic if the choice is not clear: things sometimes just happen. Given his proclivities, Garner could have driven racing cars. But by accident, he wandered into a situation where they were looking for an actor roughly his shape and size.

Later on, he became a renowned amateur race-car driver anyway, like Paul Newman. And although Newman drove race cars onscreen to formidable effect, he never got the chance to be a Formula One star onscreen, as Garner did in Grand Prix, the split-screen guy-thing blockbuster by John Frankenheimer. Garner likes that movie a bit too much—the story line is even worse than he says—but maybe he still smells high-octane gasoline. A measure of his generosity and understanding is that concerning Grand Prix, he refrains from making the most of his opportunity to call McQueen a dolt, which the bullet-headed one clearly was. Grand Prix was McQueen’s starring vehicle if he wanted it. He walked away from it. Then, when Garner took it, McQueen had the hide to behave as if Garner had stolen it.

Perhaps the equivalent book about McQueen should be handed to your young man as a guide to what not to do. I have an idea for packaging the two books together. But I wouldn’t want to do anything that Mr. Garner might not like, and I imagine the same sentiment is general throughout show business. In every field of creative activity, there are people famous for their goodness: they are rarely at the top of the tree, which is a harsh environment. But the occasional one is. In time, James Garner’s lasting importance might be that he showed how a television career and a movie career could be fruitfully combined. But it must be said that the TV actors have a very good reason for leaving a hit show behind when the moment comes, and Garner and his ghost have done a very good job of showing what that reason is.

The work is just too hard. A good show takes more than a week to make, so making one a week leaves no time at all. The mental strain is vivid, and even the mere physical strain can leave a strong man needing knee replacements. In the later episodes of The Rockford Files, that deep pain in Jim’s eyes was probably the spin-off from about six different areas of arthritis at once. So successful in television that he could rarely stop work to make the movies that would have made him a great film star, he wore the silver shackles of the golden slave ship. James Bumgarner, in my country, Australia—the magic land to which you were always on your way—we have a name for you. We call you a hero.

Clive James is an Australian poet and critic who has lived in London since the early 1960s.

Go here to read more more and leave a comment thanking Mr. James for such a wonderful review of the book and a true-to-live description of the guy we all know is One For The Ages

2011-11-03T13:14:00.001-04:00

Re-blogged from MAVERICK'S DAUGHTER: mavrock1:

Dad and Nicky (Nic-o-teen)

Jim And Korean Orphan

2011-11-03T11:39:00.001-04:00

Re-blogged from mavrock1

Jim And Orphan in Korea
photo courtesy of Gigi Garner

The Rap Sheet - Grilling Garner

2011-10-31T20:46:00.000-04:00

The Rap Sheet: Grilling Garner

Friday, October 28, 2011

Grilling Garner

Chalk this up as the highlight of my year: my recent opportunity--which, of course, I took--to interview James Garner.

Jim and his step-mother, Grace Bumgarner

JKP: Are you still taking on-screen acting jobs?

JG: I’m officially retired, and you can quote me on that. (Unless something really juicy comes along.)

JKP: Where were you last month when you heard that your brother Jack had passed away? It was always fun to spot him on the screen with you. [He played Captain McEnroe in Rockford and Jack the Bartender in Bret Maverick, among other roles.] I hope he had a fine send-off.

JG: I was home in Los Angeles. Jack and I were pals as well as brothers. We always had fun working together--one of the things Jack was proudest of was that he’d earned a SAG [Screen Actors Guild] pension. And we played a lot of golf together over the years--Jack was also a golf professional and a very good player.

There was a wonderful memorial service where people got up and told stories about him, most of them funny, because Jack had a great sense of humor. I miss him.

JKP: Finally, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned in 83 years?

JG: I’m still learning!

Posted by J. Kingston Pierce at 7:01 AM

Read the entire interview on
The Rap Sheet: Grilling Garner

Read the Kirkus Review of The Garner Files - James Garner: Leading Man To Legend

2011-10-27T20:39:00.000-04:00

The Garner Files: A Memoir by James Garner – Book Review

Oct 25, 2011
Francine Brokaw

: The Garner Files: A Memoir - Simon & Schuster

The veteran actor of film and TV details all aspects of his life in this mesmerizing autobiography.

The Garner Files: A Memoir is the telling story of the life of actor James Garner who starred in Maverick, The Rockford Files, The Great Escape, Grand Prix, The Americanization of Emily and other notable shows. Having had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Garner, I was anxious to read this book and learn more about this man who has had an incredible career and life. The book did not disappoint me. When I interviewed James Garner he did not hold back about his experiences and he does not hold back in the book either.

James Garner discusses his childhood in Oklahoma – which was riddled with abuse, his co-stars, his movies, his television career, his love of cars and car racing, his adoration for the game of golf, his politics and his temperament. Although he has a co-writer (Jon Winokur), Garner’s voice comes through loud and clear. While reading the book I felt as though Mr. Garner was right there talking to me.

James Garner’s Acting Career

As stated, the man does not hold back. “Charlie Bronson was a pain in the ass, too.” (p. 81) Garner says about his co-star in The Great Escape, after first detailing a problem with Steve McQueen.

As a young actor, James Garner got a big break when he was cast in the television series Maverick. “I learned my craft doing Maverick” he writes (p. 170). While it took eight days to make one episode of the hit series, the show aired every seven days so to keep up with the schedule they had to create a brother for his character who would fill in and take some of the pressure off of Garner and his team.
Another fun anecdote about his Maverick days involves Natalie Wood who suggested that Garner take acting lessons. “Why would I want to do that?” (p. 170) He had a hit TV series and a budding career. He decided not to fix something that wasn’t broken.

In the book Garner talks about his fellow actors and lays it on the line, giving his opinion about the talent of specific actors. Some were great, but he does let the readers know which ones he thinks are not good at their craft. He also discusses the crafts of comedy, drama, and humor. And the actor gives a good description of how fame and being on television often interfered with his personal life, namely having a quiet meal out in public with his family, which became non-existent after the success of Maverick.
James Garner was part of the old studio system, and does not hold back when discussing the studio bosses. And he dishes on the integrity of others high on the studio echelon ladder after the system folded, namely Lew Wasserman, one of Hollywood’s moguls.

Readers will get an inside look at the making of his television shows and movies. Grand Prix, a film about Formula One racing is discussed in detail, and Mr. Garner explains about how the filmmakers created the sounds that accompanied the video of the racing cars. It’s an interesting lesson on filmmaking.

Cars, Car Racing, and Golf

Grand Prix was a highlight of Mr. Garner’s acting career and boosted his love of car racing. He was always interested in cars, as readers will discover, and became an avid fan and participant in the sport of racing.

Golf is another sport in which Mr. Garner excelled and which he loved. He has some pretty good memories of his years as a golfer, which now are over due to physical problems.

Politics

James Garner has always been outspoken about his feelings and in the book he continues his straightforwardness. He definitely has strong feelings about many issues and at one time was approached about running for Governor of California.

The Book

The book ends with input from people who have known the actor, including his wife, daughters, friends, and fellow actors. After reading this section readers will realize the high regard in which Mr. Garner is held.

As Garner writes, “You have to take the risk. You may fail, but at least you’ve given it your best shot.” (p. 39) and that is exactly what he did. He gave it – his career and his life – his best shot.
His childhood, war stories, acting career, friendships, temper, and good humor are all laid out in this wonderful autobiography. Any fan of this actor will enjoy every chapter.

The Garner Files: A Memoir by James Garner
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781451642605
Hardback: November 1, 2011
Pages: 288

Jack Garner Dies At Age 84

2011-09-18T23:52:00.000-04:00

I have been putting off posting this because it makes me so sad. Of course Jim and Jack knew the years were adding up, and I'm sure they were prepared - as much as one can be for these things.

Under the circumstances, with Jack having a broken hip and his heart not being strong enough for surgery, it was for the best. Being in long term care in great pain that can't be fixed isn't a very good alternative even for a much younger person. Still, I know Jim and both families miss him very much.

RIP, Jack Garner

Jack Garner dies at age 84 » Headlines » The Norman Transcript

September 15, 2011
Jack Garner dies at age 84

By Andy Rieger The Norman Transcript

Jack Garner — a Norman native who worked as an actor, singer, professional baseball player and golf pro — died Tuesday in California after a brief illness. He was 84.

He was the older brother of Hollywod legend James Garner. The oldest brother, the late Charles Bumgarner, was a longtime Norman school administrator who died in 1984 at age 60.

Jack Garner’s daughter, Liz Bumgarner, said her father had fallen and broken a hip last week. His heart was not strong enough for surgery and they were planning for longterm care when his condition worsened and he died, she said.

Jack Garner was a standout athlete at Norman High School and played on the 1945 state championship basketball team for Norman High. He later played professional baseball and worked as a golf professional at local courses.

Later in life, he was frequently cast in roles in his brother’s 1970s NBC TV series “The Rockford Files” and numerous other shows. Liz Bumgarner, said her father moved to California in the early 1960s. He most recently lived in Palm Desert, Calif.

Both Jack Garner and James Garner were raised in Norman and later changed their name from Bumgarner to Garner when they moved to California. Charles Bumgarner remained in Norman and retained the Bumgarner name.

“He had so many friends and still had some family in Norman,” Liz Bumgarner said of her father. “We had many great memories there.”

A memorial service is planned in California. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wiefels Palm Springs Mortuary.

The three Bumgarner sons were born in Norman to Mildred Scott Meek and Weldon Warren “Bill” Bumgarner. The family ran a general store at Denver Corner on the east side of Norman. Mrs. Bumgarner died when the boys were very young, and they lived with friends and relatives as their father struggled to find work during the Depression.

In his soon-to-be-published memoir, James Garner called his older brother “a hell of an athlete, and I always took a backseat to him.”

“At Norman High, he was a point guard on a championship basketball team and quarterbacked an all-state football team,” James Garner wrote. “But his best sport was baseball: Jack was a pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization for 11 years. He was a better athlete than I was and a lot more outgoing. I was always in his footsteps.”

Roy Hamilton, a longtime Norman friend of the family, said Jack was a tremendous athlete in high school.

“He was probably the greatest. No, he was the greatest all-around athlete that ever came out of Norman High,” said Hamilton, 81.

Hamilton said Jack Garner was chosen as All State in football, was on the championship basketball team, was pitcher on the baseball team and ran track. Before his senior year ended, he signed a professional baseball contract, eliminating him from playing in a state championship baseball game.

Another longtime Norman friend, Bill Saxon, said Jack was always the one to organize baseball games in the city park and included the neighborhood kids.

“If it had something to do with a ball, it was of interest to Jack,” Saxon said.

“He was in high school at a time when Norman really had some tremendous athletes. In those days, Norman went as far as Amarillo to play ball.”

After his lengthy stint in the minor baseball leagues, he married a woman he met in Florida and took a landscaping job at a golf course.

“He was just such a natural athlete, he became the groundskeeper, then learned how to play and then began teaching and eventually became a pro.”

Saxon remembered Jack as a talented singer who really enjoyed the small acting and singing jobs he took along the way.

“He had a great personality and he called all the women ‘darling.’ All the women loved him,” he said. “He had a great personality and never got away from his basic roots in Oklahoma.”

Related articles

Lessons From James Garner

2011-09-07T19:47:00.000-04:00

Lessons from James Garner | Notes From Andy

Notes From Andy
Andy Lee's weblog
Posted on August 21, 2011

Lessons from James Garner

Never mind that I'm not in show business; I wish I could have worked for James Garner. In his book Enchantment, Guy Kawasaki quotes this story told by Stephen J. Cannell, the creator of "The Rockford Files".

There were occasions when I sent a script down to him that I didn't think was the best script that we'd ever shot, and I'd never hear from him. A lot of other actors I worked with over the years would call me up and say, "Hey, I don't think this is a very good script, we need to do this, this, and this…" Never a word from Jim. Nothing. He'd just do it. So I started to think that he didn't see that it wasn't a good script.

Once we were at a wrap party at the end of a season, and one of those weak-sister scripts came up. Jim wagged a finger at me and said, "Not one of your better efforts, Steve."

So I said, "Okay, let me ask you a question: Why don't I ever hear from you when you don't like the script?"

He said, "I'll tell you exactly why: I trust you and I trust Juanita [Bartlett] and I trust David [Chase], and I know if you send me a script that isn't quite up to what we're used to doing, it's because it's the best you can do that week given the pressures that are on you. And if I spin you guys all around and force you to rewrite, I'm going to turn one bad script into four bad scripts.

"So that's the time that the acting department has to step up and really kick some ass. We have to step up and really make the stuff work. I have to look for more motivation to make comedy where I don't see it on the page and try to make it go past the audience without them seeing that it wasn't that good a story."

Whoa. I mean, come on. What a pro! What a pro! And he's right: Very often I've found that when actors have spun me around like that–I know the script's not as good as it should be, but let's get past this one and have a good one next week. You can't do twenty-two excellent shows–it's just not possible. Anybody who does series television will tell you that. There's always a few that aren't as good.

He told me, at the same time, "You never sent me two bad ones in a row."

For a guy like that, I would make extra sure not to send two bad ones in a row. There are lessons in this story about trust, professionalism, and appreciation for the hard jobs other people do to help the star succeed.

I watched the whole Rockford Files series last year and was surprised at how good it was. Maybe I can appreciate it more now than when I first watched it as a kid. A friend told me Garner's old show "Maverick" is also excellent. I've been meaning to check that out too.

2011-08-27T11:59:00.000-04:00

Reblogged from mavrock1

Like father, like daughter

MAVERICK'S DAUGHTER: Rockford's Daughter Is A Real-Life Private Eye

2011-08-17T20:14:00.001-04:00

Insert your “ROCKFORD FILES” joke here :)

What would Rocky say? It was bad enough that his son was a PI, but his granddaughter too?

A Newly Released DVD Collection and Memoir James Garner Him Some Long-Overdue Recognition

2011-05-28T00:16:00.000-04:00

My favorite actor of all time - from the first episode of Maverick to today, James Garner is the only celeb I would walk across the street to see.

The man is not only one of our finest actors - some have recognized that all along - but he is a man of integrity and honor.

These are traits you don't often find in one individual, but Jim Garner has it all. And so danged handsome!

Amplify’d from www.nj.com

James Garner's career spans decades, but a newly released DVD collection and memoir give him some long-overdue recognition

Pblished: Sunday, May 22, 2011, 8:03 AM

By Stephen Whitty/The Star-Ledger

The Star-Ledger

Getty Images file photoActor James Garner, seen here after being honored with the 41st Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2005, is back in the spotlight with the release of a DVD collection featuring several of his '60s films and TV series, as well as the publication of his memoir later this year.

It is the old definition of a male movie star — someone men want to have a drink with, and women want to go to bed with.

Not many actors can project that kind of appeal.

Do guys really want to kick back with Tom Cruise? Do ladies really dream about Adam Sandler? Both actors make millions of dollars because they sell millions of tickets, but these days real cross-gender appeal is difficult.

James Garner made it look easy.

A big, square-shouldered country boy, the actor always looked at ease, whether in the razor-sharp uniform of a military man or the rumpled sports jacket of a weary private eye. And for half a century he appealed to both sexes, creating characters who walked the line between childish mischief and adult duty.

This may be the year he gets his long-overdue reappraisal.

The Warner Archive Collection has just debuted several of his ’60s titles on DVD — the offbeat amnesia drama “Mr. Buddwing,” the private-eye story “Marlowe,” and the huckster comedy “The Wheeler Dealers.” “Grand Prix” is out on Blu-ray, too, and Garner’s working on his memoirs, set for publication this winter.

“I’ve avoided writing a book until now because I feel like I’m really pretty average, and I didn’t think anyone would care about my life,” Simon & Schuster quoted him as saying. “I’m still a little uncomfortable, but I finally agreed, because people I trust persuaded me people might be interested and because I realized it would allow me to acknowledge those who’ve helped me along the way ... and even settle a score or two.”

And it’s that very American guy — the modest fellow who isn’t going to brag, but isn’t going to let you push him around, either — that Garner has been, onscreen and off, for his entire life.

He was born James Bumgarner in 1928 in Norman, Okla., with the Depression and the Dust Bowl straight ahead. His half-Cherokee mother died when he was 5, and his new stepmother beat him savagely — and would for nearly a decade, until Garner finally fought back. (He had his hands around her neck when his father walked in the door; the marriage ended that day.)

From barracks to broadway

At 16, Garner — who spent high school majoring in sports, and his spare time helping his father lay carpets — dropped out and enlisted in the Merchant Marine. Not a great choice for a boy who turned out to be chronically seasick; he left after a year, and went back to school. Still, stints in the National Guard and the Army followed, along with two Purple Hearts during his service in Korea.

“Marriage is like the Army,” he said later. “Everyone complains, but you’d be surprised by the large number of people who re-enlist.”

Actually, on the marital front, Garner signed up only once. In 1956, he met Lois Clarke at an Adlai Stevenson event; he took her out every night for two weeks, and on the 15th day, they tracked down a justice of the peace. They have been married, with two daughters and without a single scandal, ever since.

“I was just absolutely nuts about her,” he said about their quickie courtship. “I spent $77 on our honeymoon, and it about broke me.”

By this time, Garner was already acting. In high school, he’d done a few bathing suit ads; not long out of the service, he landed a job as an extra in Broadway’s “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.” Playing a judge, he didn’t have to do anything except sit onstage and watch Henry Fonda every night; it was, Garner said, like getting paid to go to drama school.

He must have learned something. He began landing TV commercials, and a few real roles; in 1957, he got a call for a humorous new TV western called “Maverick.” Garner’s job was to play a no-better-than-he-had-to-be gambler, a likeable rogue whose charm — and creative approach to the law — always saw him through.

That slippery character would be one that Garner returned to, but with a twinkle that set him apart from other, more anguished anti-heroes.

James Garner in "The Rockford Files."

Garner’s guys were slick (which, not surprisingly, had been his high-school nickname) but they weren’t wounded, or wounding. Yes, they always snagged the best table, the prettiest girl — but they were so upfront about their schemes, you somehow didn’t mind.

In real life, the far-from-shifty Garner was bracingly blunt, and with a stubborn sense of justice. (He once got into a fight with Charles Bronson over a card game, because he thought Bronson was taking advantage of an extra.) And when the studio behind his new TV hit started pushing him around, Garner sued them for breach of contract — and won.

And then he quit the show.

People told him it would end his career, but old Slick kept working, finding a home in sturdy war movies like “Darby’s Rangers” and “Up Periscope.” He co-starred with Doris Day in two of her better comedies, “Move Over, Darling” and “The Thrill of it All” and although “The Wheeler Dealers” needed to be funnier, its character of a crafty businessman showed how endlessly adaptable that “Maverick” type could be.

It drove two of his best movies in the ’60s — both excellent in their way, both complements of the other.

America’s caliber of hero

In “The Great Escape,” we see Garner the operator at his best — caught in a German P.O.W. camp, he’s an American who can still somehow get anything. He’s integral to the escape effort, and yet suspect to the English prisoners — with his cynical smile and elastic morals, he really doesn’t seem to be “our sort.” And yet, of course, he’s as much a hero as anyone — and ultimately willing to risk everything for a friend.

In “The Americanization of Emily,” he’s another guy with an angle, an officer whose job is to keep the top brass happy in the weeks leading up to D-Day — something Garner does by pimping out every pretty Englishwoman he meets. He’s a coward, and proud of it — in the film’s finest, fiercest speech he tells a shocked Julie Andrews that it’s heroes who cause wars. But when push comes to shove, he too will push back — and try, at least in the film’s final moments, to do the right thing.

This was a great character for Garner and the times — the man who didn’t buy into conventional morality even as he stood up for a personal principle. But there were only so many parts like that, and the best ones went to his pals Paul Newman or Steve McQueen; although Garner grabbed a few good assignments (like “Grand Prix,” a racing picture either friend would have jumped at), too often the parts, like the cheaply made “Marlowe,” seemed second-tier.

So, by the late ’60s, did Garner’s career.

First, he returned to the genre that had made him famous, offbeat Westerns like “Support Your Local Sheriff” and the provocative “Skin Game” (which featured Garner and Lou Gossett as two tricksters working a slavery con); then, eventually, he went back to TV, reteaming with Roy Huggins, the creator of “Maverick.”

Their new show was called “The Rockford Files,” and while any number of writers passed through it (Stephen J. Cannell was a co-creator, and David Chase wrote 16 shows), Garner had already created this character; a man willing to bend (if not absolutely break) the rules, fond of women (but devoted to his souped-up Firebird), and a firm believer in self-preservation — until he finally had to take a stand.

Television has a ubiquity, and an intimacy, that the movies don’t, and although Garner did richer work onscreen, it will be the six entertaining seasons of “Rockford” that he’ll be most remembered for. But, eventually, six was enough — he did all his own stunts, and an old knee injury from his National Guard days began to trouble him.

When he went into the hospital with a bleeding ulcer in 1979, his doctors told him it was time to take a break.

Melissa Moseley/New LineJames Garner (left) stars as Duke and Gena Rowland (right) stars as Allie in "The Notebook."

Hanging tough

Still, Garner — typically — did not go quietly. When the studio held back his share of the profits, claiming there were none — despite half-a-dozen top seasons and a presumably lucrative syndication deal — Garner called his lawyers again. It took a decade, but he got his money. (The studio execs should be glad he handled it through the courts, too — when Garner once ran into a producer who’d been reportedly filching “Rockford” scripts and music, he knocked the guy down with a left hook.)

Yet for a man who burned a lot of bridges, Garner kept working, and doing good work. He did fine TV movies like “Barbarians at the Gate” and “My Name Is Bill W.” He reunited with Julie Andrews for the very funny “Victor/Victoria,” and got an Oscar nomination for the offbeat love story “Murphy’s Romance.” The dopey “Space Cowboys” provided some nostalgic thrills with Garner as a called-back-into-service astronaut; 2004’s sweetly sentimental “The Notebook” showed the weathered old guy still had it.

Not that vanity ever was one of his Garner’s vices; when his hairline receded, he didn’t chase it, and when his eyesight began to go, he simply got glasses.

He is a well-worn 83 now, and has had plenty of health problems over the years, including multiple knee operations, a quintuple bypass in 1988, and a stroke in 2008. His last credits have been voice-overs for cartoons.

But his old movies are still in great shape, and so is the character he created — the man’s man who was also a ladies’ man, the rascal who wasn’t quite as dishonest as he pretended to be, the laid-back fellow who let it all roll off his back, until he didn’t. It was a great, modern and very American hero, and it worked because it wasn’t a persona.

It was a person named James Garner, and we’ve been lucky to have him.

TV Weekend; James Garner as a Curmudgeon Pulled Back Into Life

2011-05-27T11:38:00.002-04:00

This is one of my very favorite of Jim's films. I totally agree with John O'Connor in his description of Jim as an actor, and about this excellent Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. It's no accident that Jim picked up a Golden Globe for this.

TV Weekend; James Garner as a Curmudgeon Pulled Back Into Life

Image via Wikipedia

By JOHN J. O'CONNOR
Published: November 30, 1990

James Garner is an old-fashioned actor. Like Gary Cooper and James Stewart, he conveys the impression that he is always playing himself with uncommonly easy grace. As it happens, Mr. Garner has done most of his best work in television. In recent years, the mature actor has excelled in such "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentations as "Promise" and "My Name Is Bill W."

Now, on Sunday at 9 P.M. on NBC , he's back in still another "Hallmark" production, "Decoration Day," and, by golly, he's doing it again, imbuing what could have been a fairly pedestrian role with remarkable weight and insight.

On paper, there's not all that much to "Decoration Day," adapted by Robert W. Lenski from a novella by John William Corrington. Albert Sidney Finch, a retired Georgia judge, decides to help a boyhood friend named Gaspar (Gee) Penniwell, a black World War II veteran from whom Finch has been estranged for 30 years. Gee is refusing to accept a Medal of Honor that the Government has finally decided he deserves; he feels that the Government has waited too long. Mr. Garner as the judge and Bill Cobbs as Gee are just splendid.

Finch is something of a curmudgeon, increasingly reclusive since the death of his wife and content to sit in a rowboat fishing all day on the lake within sight of his home. He and his housekeeper, Rowena (Ruby Dee), have been together for 50 years and can spar openly like old friends. Becoming involved with Gee's case brings Finch out into the world again, pulling him reluctantly into the lives of young Billy Wendell, the son of another old friend (Norm Skaggs); Billy's wife, Loreen (Jo Anderson), and his supposed lover, Terry Novis (Judith Ivey). There is also Michael Waring (Larry Fishburne), a black lawyer from Washington, who suspects racist motives behind Finch's efforts to help Gee refuse the medal.Directed with all deliberate thoughtfulness by Robert Markowitz, "Decoration Day" proceeds without fireworks, taking its time and carefully revealing its gentle insights into memory, friendship, race relations and the simple fact that time passes and things change. Surrounded by an impeccable supporting cast, Mr. Garner brings to television still another uncommonly fine performance.

James Garner - Marlowe, 1969

2011-05-05T11:30:00.001-04:00

I really enjoyed this film when it came out. In retrospect, it's a great "preview" of The Rockford Files that came a few years later.

Trivia Quiz: What line in this film was also used in an episode of The Rockford Files in a similar situation?

This is from Rock! Shock! Pop!.com

Marlowe

Ian Jane

Published on 05-04-2011 07:20 AM

Released by: Warner Archive
Released on: 4/26/2011
Director: Paul Bogart
Cast: James Garner, Carroll O’Connor, Bruce Lee, Gayle Hunnicut, Rita Moreno
Year: 1969

The Movie:

Based on the character created by the late, great Raymond Chandler (and in turn his book The Little Sister), Paul Bogart’s 1969 film Marlowe stars James Garner as the titular private investigator who, when we meet him, is working out of his dingy office in Los Angeles. He takes a case offered to him by a pretty blonde named Orfamay Quest (Sharon Farrell) who gives him a fifty-five dollar retainer to get him to head out to the coast to try and find her missing brother, Orrin (Roger Newman). When he gets there and finds Orrin’s room, he finds that Orrin is missing but that a man named Grant Hicks (Jackie Coogan) is in his room in his place. He asks Grant some questions, hands him his business card, and is on his way.

The next day Marlowe gets a call from Hicks he wants him to come by and visit – but when he arrives, Hicks is dead, an ice pick in the back of his head. One thing leads to another and Marlowe finds himself in possession of some incriminating photographs of an actress named Mavis Weld (Gayle Hunnicutt) who he offers to help. She’s not interested, though her mob boss boyfriend, Mr. Steelgrave (H.M. Wynant), apparently is and before you know it he’s sent a man named Winslow Wong (Bruce Lee) to try and buy him off or, failing that, at least wreck his office. Marlowe’s trying to figure out who the ice pick killer and how this all ties in with the Orfamay’s, all while avoiding various hitmen and nefarious types – and on top of that he’s got to deal with the cops (lead by Carroll O'Connor and Kenneth Tobey). The only one who seems to be on Marlowe’s side is Mavis’ friend, Delores (Rita Moreno), but can he trust her?

While Marlowe may not be the most original private eye character to ever hit the screen, in fact, most things about him are either clichés or stereotypes, but Garner plays him so well that you won’t mind, and in fact, the one liners and smart talk turn out to be half the fun of the movie. Plenty entertaining in the lead, he carries the film easily and shows both good screen presence and likeable charisma. Supporting efforts from an interesting cast of characters help flesh out the cast and with the likes of Rita Moreno, Carroll O’Connor and Bruce Lee in the cast it’s hard to ask for a better crew of actors to work alongside.

Story wise the film is concerned less with the hardboiled style of earlier Chandler adaptations and while not quite a comedy in the truest sense of the word, there are scenes that are definitely played for laughs – a perfect example being a remarkably politically incorrect bit where Garner’s Marlowe accuses Lee’s Winslow Wong of being ‘a bit gay’, at which point Wong does a flying jump kick towards him only to fly off the roof when Marlowe deftly moves out of the way.

A few good laughs, some strong performances, a fair bit of visual style and a great late sixties era sound track all add up to a fun movie. There are moments where it’s a bit tough to suspend our disbelief and it’s not a perfect picture in terms of plotting or pacing but it gets enough right that, hey, if nothing else, it’s just a really fun and entertaining way to kill an hour and a half.

Video/Audio/Extras:

The packaging on this Warner Archive release says that it’s remastered and the 1.85.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer does look pretty good on this DVD. Colors are nice and bright and bold and well defined but never bleed while black levels remain generally strong. Skin tones look good and detail is better than most will probably expect. As far as print damage goes, there are some specks here and there but overall the picture is clean and clear without any evidence of digital scrubbing to note – all in all, a pretty decent effort from Warner in the visuals department.

The English language Dolby Digital Mono sound mix on the disc is fine – dialogue is clean, clear and well balanced and there are no problems with any hiss or distortion of note. The film’s fuzzed out late sixties soundtrack comes through nice and clear as well. No alternate language options or subtitles are offered.

In addition to the standard static menu and chapter selection, this disc includes the film’s original theatrical trailer in non-anamorphic widescreen.

The Final Word:

It might be a bit clichéd and it might be a little bit predictable but Garner’s excellent lead performance and a fantastic supporting cast more than make up for those flaws and Marlowe turns out to be a whole lot of sleuthy fun. Warner Archives’ DVD-R release is not surprisingly light on extra features, but it looks good and sounds good and those with an interest in or pre-existing appreciation for this particular film should be fairly pleased with the results.

Categories:

DVD And Blu-ray Reviews G-M

Happy Birthday, Jim! 83 Years Young!

2011-04-07T20:01:00.001-04:00

In honor of the 83rd birthday of one of the classiest acts in show biz history, I'd like to present this wish to Mr. James Garner. Born April 7, 1928 in Norman, Oklahoma, this dirt poor, bare-foot farm boy has emerged as one of the most beloved most respected performers of his generation.

Not bad, Jim...

Not Just For April 1st!

2011-04-06T23:54:00.000-04:00

On April 1st - April Fool's Day - The National Enquirer and The Globe came out with death-bed stores about Jim Garner that were indeed worthy of the day on which they were published.

Of course The Enquirer has had several hair raising stories about Jim since his stroke - none of them factual in the slightest degree of course. All of the Enquirer stories were "exclusive" - a dead give away that they made it up themselves - and all contained quotes from an "insider." Unnamed naturally.

In one story the insider talked about how long Jim's rehab would be. No. Actually, he hardly had anything to rehab by the time he got out of the hospital. Too bad. Then there was the one where the insider talked about how Jim didn't go out much because he wasn't able to speak normally any more and it was embarrassing for him. Funny, if he can't speak well why are people hiring him to do voice work? Voice work, fer cryin' out loud! Sigh. Besides, if you saw him on PBS in Pioneers of Television - see featured videos at the top of this page - I think you'll agree that he sounded just like, well, James Garner. Strike Two.

In the story published on the April Fools the insider reported on how Jim had nearly died of some undefined respiratory problem recently. Insider was so concerned because Jim is so frail anyway, according to insider at least, and had been confined to a wheelchair since the stroke and is barely functional.

The Globe was even more ridiculous - if that's even possible - in their story about how pal Dinah Shore is calling her old friend on the phone daily as he lies on his death bed. It also says "some" people - insiders for sure - think Jim and Dinah were onetime lovers! Just when you think you've heard it all....

Okay, so these stories don't amount to a hill of beans, and Jim is all right. But, there is a serious side here - to me at least - and that is that this trash is published at all and people repeat and retweet it all over the Web. Others don't know where it came from and believe it even if they wouldn't if they had known the source. This is how rumors that never seem to die get started about people, and some of them are worse than sad - they're defamatory, scandalous and mainly fiction.

Why do people buy, read and repeat what they see in these rags? Surely they must know these tabloids are hardly reliable sources to go spread all over creation - don't they? If a person gets a kick out of reading this stuff, that's fine. But to go to the social networks and spread it all over without mentioning where they got it seems irresponsible - to say the least. Besides, why spread terrible rumors about anyone? Maybe I just don't get it, but I can't see the fun, and I can see the harm.

This kinda reminds me of the situation with the drug lords in Mexico and all the misery connected to them. We blame Mexico because the criminals are Mexican. But where is the market they they are committing atrocities in order to serve? The United States of course. So, if there were no market, the drug lords and all that goes with the drug trade would not exist. If there is a market - for anything - someone will see an opportunity to make money serving that market. And, of course, using these "products" is just as illegal as selling them. Seems like a question of who came first - the chicken or the egg? No market, no product.

As far as the tabloids, if no one bought them, they would go out of business. Even if no one spread their disinformation all over it would possibly discourage them from publishing such absolutely flaming lies.Why are people attracted to tragedy and scandal even when it's most likely a tissue of lies?

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like the world would be a generally better place if these rumor-mongering rags stayed at the bottom of the bird cage where they belong.

Image via Wikipedia

James Garner will publish a memoir, 'The Garner Files,' with Simon & Schuster

2011-03-30T23:43:00.002-04:00

James Garner Will Publish a Memoir, "The Garner Files," with Simon & Schuster

March 30, 2011 | 8:15 am

Simon & Schuster announced Wednesday that it will publish a memoir by James Garner. "The Garner Files" is due to hit shelves in November 2011.

“I’ve avoided writing a book until now because I feel like I’m really pretty average, and I didn’t think anyone would care about my life. I’m still a little uncomfortable, but I finally agreed, because people I trust persuaded me people might be interested and because I realized it would allow me to acknowledge those who’ve helped me along the way. I talk about my childhood, try to clear up some misconceptions, and even settle a score or two,” Garner said in a press release.

Simon & Schuster's publisher, Jonathan Karp, added, “This book is charming and disarming and always entertaining -- just like James Garner, or Jim Rockford, or Bret Maverick. And it’s the story of a big American life, from growing up in Oklahoma during the Depression to the Korean War and to Hollywood stardom.”

The 82-year-old actor -- just a week shy of 83 -- was born in Norman, Okla. He left home as a teenager and went to serve in the Korean War, where he earned two purple hearts. He had a variety of small television roles before landing on "Maverick" in 1957 -- his on-screen persona in the western was so appealing that he soon became its focus.

Garner carried that persona -- handsome and likable, using wits more than brawn, and just wry enough to let on he wasn't taking things to seriously -- onto the big screen as well in light comedies like "Support Your Local Sheriff!"

In 1974, he returned to series television as the star of "The Rockford Files." James Rockford, a private detective, traverses L.A. in pursuit of bad guys and willing women, always just making barely enough to scrape by. The show is a marvelous time capsule, beginning every episode with someone leaving a message on Rockford's enormous answering machine, which is set up in his run-down trailer -- on what must now be a million-dollar Malibu promontory. (Irrelevant side note: I love this show so much that it was the first thing I streamed when I got my hands on an iPad).

Garner's later roles include an Oscar-nominated performance in "Murphy's Romance" (1985) and a semi-regular role on the ABC sitcom "8 Simple Rules." He's also appeared in literary adaptations: "Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood," "Roughing It" (as Mark Twain) and in "Marlowe" as Raymond Chandler's classic detective.

-- Carolyn Kellogg

More in: books, celebrity, Film, memoir, Television

One of Jim's Birthday Presents

2010-04-26T11:12:00.000-04:00

Gigi Garner sent me this the other day. It was a birthday present for Jim from the artist Pete Emslie. Neat, huh?


Jim Garner from The Great Escape

You Can't Remake The Rockford Files!

2010-03-22T23:41:00.002-04:00

Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » You Can’t Remake ‘The Rockford Files’

You Can’t Remake ‘The Rockford Files’
by John Nolte

This is Jim Rockford. At the tone, leave your name and message, I’ll get back to you.

Here’s the message: You can’t remake “The Rockford Files.” You can call a television show “The Rockford Files.” Hell, you can call your parakeet “The Rockford Files,” but that doesn’t mean it’s “The Rockford Files.”

That show was James Garner, and if you’ve recently watched any of the episodes you know that the thirty-years that have passed since the program went off the air in 1980 have only served to cement its timelessness and status as a true classic. Sure, the sports coats might be a little loud and the sideburns too long, but Mike Post’s iconic theme, that awesome gold Pontiac Firebird and some of the best writing ever seen on television have kept the series as entertaining, compelling and fresh as anything produced today.

Nothing against Dermot Mulroney and Beau Bridges, both are fine actors but they aren’t James Garner and Noah Beery Jr. No one is. And no offense to anyone involved in the creation of the remake, but they aren’t Stephen J. Cannell, Roy Huggins, Chas. Floyd Johnson, David Chase, and Juanita Bartlett — the geniuses involved in creating and sustaining the best example of a television show built around an established star as I’ve ever seen.

The original “Rockford Files,” which ran on NBC from 1974 to 1980, was not just another hour-long detective/crime/mystery show. It was lightning in a bottle, the perfect mix of smart producers and talented writers who understood the unique quality of their star, James Garner, a man who could take an off-beat line of dialogue and make magic from it like no other.

Jim Rockford was also a character Garner had been perfecting for over a decade in films like “The Great Escape, “The Americanization of Emily,” and under-appreciated classics such as “Skin Game” and “Support Your Local Sheriff” — not to mention the television show “Maverick,” which was essentially Rockford on the frontier.

And what a delightfully interesting and endlessly fascinating character he was. On the surface, Jim Rockford was cheap (”I have expenses.”), always looking out for number one, ready to quit whenever threatened, rarely carried a gun (”Because I don’t want to shoot anyone!”), demanded his civil rights at the drop of a hat, and had no ambition beyond covering his monthly nut and going fishing with his dad, Rocky (Beery).

If the former con man and jailbird (for a crime he was innocent of) was ever the hero in any of the 122 mostly self-contained episodes, he was a reluctant one due to a complicated code of honor that somehow managed to remain consistent even as it kept surprising. Unlike his 1970s contemporaries such as Mannix, McCloud, Cannon, and Barnaby Jones, Rockford frequently failed to come out on top (his clients had a way of stiffing him), hated hitting people (it hurt the hand) and most of all, despised The Man: anyone in authority from police captains who forever threatened his license to lazy government bureaucrats who gave off attitude.

Rockford was cynical, glib, petty, a dirty fighter, had a temper, a smart mouth, a non-TV star waistline (tacos and Oreo cookies were a weakness), and chose to retain his fierce independence even though it meant barely scraping together a living in a rusty house trailer that uglied up a beachside Malibu parking lot. Rockford could also be intimidated (temporarily) and though he was always the smartest person in the room, it was surprisingly easy to catch him off guard.

But beneath those flaws and quirks was James Garner, a one-of-a-kind talent who gave this character what he gave all his characters, an unmistakable undercurrent of warmth and competence that kept us on his side. Boiled down to essentials, Jim Rockford was – unless he was running a game on some deserving scoundrel – an honest man who couldn’t help but offer the world a running verbal commentary on life as he saw it. Nothing was sacred, either. Government bureaucracy, pious hypocrites, and Hollywood celebrity would all come away with blisters after any confrontation with the working class PI .

We loved Rockford because he hated stupidity, insecurity, laziness and phonies as much as we did. And we loved him because even though he had led a life that had time and again made clear that there was no profit in doing the right thing, by the time the credits rolled – though he bitched and moaned the whole way there — Jim Rockford always did the right thing. He was also loyal to his friends, sometimes to a fault, and would risk his livelihood and even his life to get them out of a jam.

Much credit is also owed to the show’s creators for assembling an outstanding supporting cast of characters who were as key to the show’s chemistry and success as its star. Even though they bickered as much as anything else, the affection between Rockford and his father was one the best elements of every episode. As Rockford’s best friend, Joe Santos was memorably prickly and funny as put upon L.A. Sgt. Dennis Becker, and as the PI’s on-again off-again girlfriend/lawyer, Gretchen Corbett’s Beth Davenport was as tenacious and intelligent as she was beautiful.

And then there was The Mighty Stuart Margolin who won two well-deserved Emmys for his brilliantly funny portrayal of the hapless and disloyal Angel Martin, whose sole reason for being born must have been to exasperate his former cellmate, Rockford. Usually on the run from a hitman after devising some hare-brained get-rich-quick scheme even Ralph Kramden would’ve rejected, it inevitably fell to Rockford to save Angel’s skin.

Guest appearances were frequently just as memorable. My two favorites were Dennis Dugan as boy-faced Richie Brockelman, a PI/con man wannabe who idolized Rockford; and Tom Selleck’s unforgettable portrayal of Lance White, a handsome, wealthy PI who lived the fabulous life of a television detective in a world where clues were found just in time, wild hunches always paid off, and Rockford could only look on shaking his head at the absurdity of it all.

Over six seasons a caustic, complicated, paunchy, middle-aged Los Angeles PI managed to give almost as good as he got as he eked out a living filled with betrayals, disappointments, reversals, beatings and many a trip to jail. Through it all, though, James Rockford persevered, never once giving up an inch of his dignity or sharply observant sense of humor. This premise brought to life by geniuses and a creative alchemy even they had difficult recreating in a series of “Rockford” television films in the 90s, gave us one of the best one-hour dramas ever created.

So to those involved in this coming remake, I wish you nothing but success and a long run and the vast wealth that comes with syndication. May your show meet with critical acclaim and a shower of Emmys.

Whatever that show is.

Because no matter what you call it, it won’t be “The Rockford Files.”

Tags: "The Rockford Files", Beau Bridges, cbs, Dermot Mulroney, James Garner, Noah Beery Jr.
Posted Mar 19th 2010 at 12:40 pm in Television | Comments (142)

The National Enquirer Strikes (Out) Again!

2009-08-20T20:21:00.000-04:00

This is for those who may have seen or heard about the latest fiction about Jim published in the esteemed National Enquirer. Something like "James Garner's Fight for Life" of some similar sleazy headline. Fear not, fellow Garnerphiles - it's the Enquirer's usual clap trap.

Jim is fine. In fact, he just finished doing some voice work as The Wizard in a half hour Captain Marvel show. Here is the real deal from Jim's long time assistant, Mary Ann Rea:

"There's not too much to say about the N.E. article. You can put it out on the web site - that Jim has not suffered any mini-strokes, no convulsions, none of that stuff since the stroke in May of '08. He also does not slur his words; his speech was not affected one iota by the stroke. He does use the wheelchair, if he has to walk far - his arthritis is very painful and using the wheelchair eases some of the pain."

M.A.

I guess that says it all - with many thanks to Mary Ann for providing us with the truth. Again.

James Garner as Maverick - Nicole Hamilton

2009-06-19T20:03:00.031-04:00

A few days ago I got an email from another Garnerphile named Nicole Hamilton. She told me about what a great fan of Jim's she was and how much she enjoyed this blog.

She is an artist, and she invited me to her site where she had done this wonderful piece called James Garner as Maverick.

If you like this, please follow the link to her site yourself and see how it really looks in High Definition! You will be amazed just like I was.It's always super to meet another longtime Garnerphile, but one as talented as Nicole is a special treat.

Suspect Wins Over Detectives With 'Rockford Files' Reference

2009-05-02T20:13:00.003-04:00

April 23, 2009 | Issue 45•17

Ed note: I guess I'll have to try this if I ever get arrested myself!

PASCO, WA—Having just arrested him on suspicion of aggravated assault and robbery, Pasco police officials dropped all charges against Carl Bradley, 46, after the man made multiple amusing references to The Rockford Files, a 1970s detective series starring James Garner. Just moments after Bradley asked whether the interrogating officer was working for "$200 a day, plus expenses," a roomful of officers began joyously exchanging plotlines and quotes from their favorite episodes. "It's just nice to meet a guy who appreciates The Files like we do," officer Brad Nuter said. "How could anyone who can recite every single answering-machine gag possibly have beaten two newlyweds with the butt of his gun over $30? This man has a code, just like Jimbo Rockford." Following Bradley's release, investigators detained a vagrant who was overheard misquoting the radio banter from the opening credit sequence of Adam-12.

Image via Wikipedia

Happy Birthday, Jim!

2009-04-10T11:14:00.000-04:00

I ran across this post in the Cartoon Cave by Pete Emslie. What a nice birthday greeting for Jim, huh? Not to mention that wonderful sketch! I have Pete's birthday page for Jim from last year on this blog, but you can just follow Pete's link below. Well worth a click!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Happy Birthday James Garner!

Here's a guy I never get tired of sketching, and I've done quite a few of him over the years. As I've mentioned before, James Garner is my all-time favourite actor. Last year on his 80th birthday I wrote a more detailed tribute to the man, which can be found here. When I'm looking to just relax in front of the TV and put on an old series from my youth, nothing beats watching an episode of "The Rockford Files". Garner was just so great as Jim Rockford, the LA private detective who lived in a beat up mobile home permanently parked on the beach, never quite sure whether he'd get enough work to cover that month's expenses.

Read the rest of this post here

Oklahoma Today Says, "Jim Dandy"

2009-03-12T21:03:00.001-04:00

This is from Oklahoma Today, published in early 2006. I don't think I could add anything to what Jim himself says. Click on the article for full size view.

James Garner in Oklahoma Today Magazine

Retro Thing: Picture Frame With That Charmer, James Garner

2009-03-05T20:35:00.000-05:00

This blog caught my eye because I have this picture also - only I got mine when it was first in the stores.

There are a couple of things of interest going on within the glitzy gilt of this picture frame, so I hope that you'll indulge a few random thoughts. First, if you'll look in the upper right corner, you'll see that it took 20-30 years for this frame to be marked down from 88 cents to 80 at the thrift store where I got it. Second, check out the example photo - it's James Garner from his days in the 50's TV classic "Maverick". By the way, if you haven't cast an eye across a fistful of Maverick episodes, you don't know what you're missing. Arguably TV's first anti-hero, the series made the whole enterprise of television look good, and made Garner into a national treasure... but I digress.
Check out the name of the picture frame's purveyor - "Korvettes". Korvettes was a national chain of discount department stores that pre-figure today's bargain giants like Wal-Mart. Starting out as a five and dime store, the chain eventually grew into a number of large stores, and were the first large retailers to plunge into the American suburbs in the 50's and 60's. Korvettes used innovative (some would say sneaky) approaches to discount prices (there used to be strict laws about chain stores selling products below the manufacturer's suggested retail price).
I grew up with a Korvettes store until it was replaced by Kmart in the late 70's. One unusual aspect of the Korvettes I knew was that they had a very nice electronics department in bold contrast to their other rather cheap merchandise. They were the last place I knew of that had listening booths to let you preview a record before you bought it. Check out this commercial for Korvettes that focuses on their large assortment of electronic goodies. I spotted a number of products that we've covered here on Retro Thing, but no sign of my cheapie Maverick picture frame.

The Rockford Files - The Final Season

2009-02-08T20:21:00.093-05:00

Crimespree Cinema: DVD Review: The Rockford Files: Season Six

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Release date: January 20th, 2009

MSRP: $39.98

Stars: James Garner, Noah Beery Jr., Joe Santos

I'm an unabashed James Garner fan and The Rockford Files season six is among his best. By this, thelast season, he's so comfortable in the role he could have done it inhis sleep, but seems to add greater and greater depth to the character. Co-stars like Lauren Bacall, Tom Selleck and Mariette Hartley from thehugely successful Polaroid camera commercials they did together a few years before didn't hurt either. The stories for the most part were a reason to bring Jim and his crew together but that was plenty. And some, like Katheryn Harrolds reprisal of the blind Psychologist and deep love interest Megan, are downright tender, as is Noah Beery's caring but somewhat befuddled father role as Rocky.

For the one or two of you who have been living in a Yurt in Lower Slobovia the last several decades, or are too young, I'll give a brief backstory. Ex-con Jim Rockford is a Private Investigator (a neat trick in itself) barely hanging on. He lives in a trailer in the low rent
district of Malibu. He has a friend, Angel, another ex-con who if he were your or my friend we would throw under a bus A.S.A.P. (My Editor said that would have made a great episode explaining why Jim didn't). Jim is not your usual iron jawed, steel fisted P.I. He gets the stew
knocked out of him at regular intervals and will fight if he has to and run when he can. The anti-hero hero that was a hit because he played you and me only better.

I'm not going to belabor the point. This is good stuff and stands up well considering it's thirty plus year age.

There's something for everyone here from comedy to angst and you youngsters owe
it to yourselves to check it out. Us old schoolers already know.

Order season six of The Rockford Files.

Lee Crawford

P.S. There are no special features.
For more reviews from Lee, and the rest of the Crimespree crew, check out the index of reviews.

Posted by MysterLynch at 2:08 AM

Labels: DVD Review, Lee Crawford, television

Visiting The Troops - 809th Engineer Battalion, Camp Ruam Chit Chai, Thailand

2009-02-05T12:00:00.738-05:00

Photo Gallery - 809th Engineer Battalion, Camp Ruam Chit Chai, Thailand

809th Elephant Mascot

Photo Credits: ¹²
Richard McBrien,

Co C - 809th Engr Bn

James Garner

"Flew in from Korat, stayed a few hours with the Troops, ate with us and shook hands!"

James Garner visits Troops in Troops in the North!

"One of the nicest movie stars anywhere in the world!

Shook hands with every Trooper!"

²⁰Photo Credits:

Bill Sweeney, 281st MP Co

Oklahoman makes AOL’s Top 50 TV Hunks list

2008-12-20T20:09:00.003-05:00

Oklahoman makes AOL's Top 50 TV Hunks list

James Garner in Maverick He rates higher than Johnny Depp and Mario Lopez on AOL’s countdown of TV’s hottest hunks of all time. He’s also ahead of these gorgeous guys: David Boreanaz, Luke Perry, Rob Lowe, Jimmy Smits, Dean Cain and John Schneider.
He is James Garner, who was born in Norman and went on to star in “Maverick” and “The Rockford Files.”
Garner ranks 16th on the list. The AOL editors picked Patrick Dempsey at No. 1.
Here are the 34 TV stars Garner topped in the poll, as well as the 15 picked ahead of him.

AOL’s Top 50 TV Hunks
◊50. Wentworth Miller (”Prison Break”)
◊49. Alex O’Laughlin (”Moonlight”)
◊48. Jack Wagner (”Melrose Place”)
◊47. David Boreanaz (”Bones”)
◊46. John Corbett (”Sex and the City”)
◊45. Jon Hamm (”Mad Men”)
◊44. Luke Perry (”Beverly Hills, 90210″)
◊43. Paul Michael Glaser (”Starsky & Hutch”)
◊42. Patrick Duffy (”Dallas”)
◊41. Mario Lopez (”Saved by the Bell”)
◊40. Chace Crawford (”Gossip Girl”)
◊39. David Duchovny (”The X-Files”)
◊38. David Hasselhoff (”Baywatch”)
◊37. James Denton (”Desperate Housewives”)
◊36. Michael Landon (”Bonanza”)
◊35. Rob Lowe (”Brothers & Sisters”)
◊34. Gary Dourdan (”CSI”)
◊33. Jonathan Rhys Meyers (”The Tudors”)
◊32. Lyle Waggoner (”The Carol Burnett Show”)
◊31. Jimmy Smits (”NYPD Blue”)
◊30. Dean Cain (”Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman”)
◊29. Jared Leto (”My So-Called Life”)
◊28. Lee Majors (”The Six Million Dollar Man”)
◊27. Eric Dane (”Grey’s Anatomy”)
◊26. Chris Noth (”Sex and the City”)
◊25. Blair Underwood (”Dirty Sexy Money”)
◊24. Eddie Cibrian (”Third Watch”)
◊23. Johnny Depp (”21 Jump Street”)
◊22. John Schneider (”The Dukes of Hazzard”)
◊21. Harry Hamlin (”L.A. Law”)
◊20. Jason Lewis (”Sex and the City”)
◊19. Matthew Fox (”Lost”)
◊18. Jensen Ackles (”Supernatural”)
◊17. Benjamin Bratt (”The Cleaner”)
◊16. James Garner (”Maverick”)
◊15. Ashton Kutcher (”That ’70s Show”)
◊14. Erik Estrada (”CHiPs”)
◊13. Pierce Brosnan (”Remjington Steele”)
◊12. Chad Michael Murray (”One Tree Hill”)
◊11. Don Johnson (”Miami Vice”)
◊10. Tom Selleck (”Magnum. P.I.”)
◊◊9. Michael Vartan (”Alias”)
◊◊8. Mark Harmon (”NCIS”)
◊◊7. Taylor Kitsch (”Friday Night Lights”)
◊◊6. John Stamos (”Full House”)
◊◊5. Tom Welling (”Smallville”)
◊◊4. Taye Diggs (”Private Practice”)
◊◊3. Josh Holloway (”Lost”)
◊◊2. George Clooney (”ER”)
◊◊1. Patrick Dempsey (”Grey’s Anatomy”)

–Penny TV
Posted: 10 Dec, 2008 |
Categories: Oklahomans on TV By: television.

New Pictures of Jim

2008-12-13T19:21:00.004-05:00

These pictures of Jim were taken at Efrem Zimbalist Jr's 90th birthday party in November. With great thanks to Jim's long time assistant, Mary Ann, and the Yahoo Rockford Files Group.

Here is Jim with Jane Russel.

And here is Jim with the Birthday Boy, his old friend, Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

As you can see, Jim looks just great. And many happy returns to Efrem Zimbalist Jr!

Gigi Garner's New Book Is Out!

2008-08-08T10:04:00.006-04:00

Girl Talk: Celebrities and Other Extraordinay Women Share Their Secrets by Gigi Garner

Girl Talk by Gigi Garner

Something special happens when women get together and talk - confidences are shared, help and support given, all in the name of sisterhood and friendship. Women are compassionate listeners, knowing intuitively when to offer advice or merely a shoulder to lean on. Gigi Garner captured these intimate moments and compiled them with permission into a book for all women. Contributors include such stars as Naomi Judd, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Shari Belafonte, as well as other women, from a prison warden to an elementary school teacher. Beauty and health tips to advice on careers and relationships, this book covers them all.

$15.95 U.S. / Paperback / Nonfiction
ISBN: 1-58985-051-3
ISBN: 978-1-58985-052-1
www.GirlTalkBook.com
Published by Five Star Publications
P.O. Box 6698, Chandler AZ 85246-6698

© 2006 - 2008 Five Star Publications, Inc.

JAMES GARNER - GARNER'S DAUGHTER: 'DAD'S FINE'

2008-08-06T10:57:00.005-04:00

08/06/2008 01:39:07 AM

The daughter of beloved actor JAMES GARNER has assured fans her father is "doing fine" after recent photographs of the frail star sparked concerns for his health.

Garner was snapped visiting a Beverly Hills, California hospital, looking gaunt and distant, but his author daughter Gigi insists the pictures are deceiving.
She says, "He had a stroke on May 9th but he's doing well. He's doing really well in fact. He's perfect."

The 80-year-old star, who spent three weeks in hospital after undergoing surgery following his stroke, was photographed clutching a cane as a nurse and his driver helped him into a wheelchair.

His representative says, "Jim was at the medical centre for a routine outpatient check up with his doctor."

Garner AIR Vette to be Auctioned

2008-07-31T19:06:00.002-04:00

'68 L88 Racer Previously Driven by Guldstrand, Caplan | Corvette News Blog & Discussions at Vette Magazine

Garner AIR Vette to be Auctioned
'68 L88 Racer Previously Driven by Guldstrand, Caplan
Posted Today 10:43 AM by VETTE Mag
Filed under: Corvette News

No. 44 AIR Corvette

Bonhams & Butterfields is proud to announce that the ex-James Garner/American International Racing '68 Corvette L88 will be added to the epic roster of cars to be sold at their seminal Quail Lodge auction, held August 15th in Carmel, California.

The history of the three James Garner/American International Racing (AIR) cars is unique in automotive history, not simply because Garner's AIR team sponsored them under one banner, and not just because they were all-new L88 Corvettes, but mostly because of the high-profile role of Garner, a Hollywood movie star, semi-pro baseball player, and car fanatic.

Garner's long-standing fascination with cars undoubtedly reached its peak in 1968 when his AIR team purchased three brand-new factory-built L88s. These Le Mans Blue convertible Vettes were the first production models produced by the Central Production Office featuring the new L88 engine with first-generation closed-chamber aluminum heads. These cars, sold to the AIR team, were effectively part of GM's strategy to manage the release of its most powerful cars to a carefully controlled list of approved customers.

The drivers for the AIR team also represented the emerging stars of the day. Car #44 was driven by Dick Guldstrand and the late Ed Leslie, and car #45 was driven by Scooter Patrick, Dave Jordan and Herb Caplan, names that cause a stir even today.

The #44 car, offered by Bonhams, is a magnificent restoration of the original car that Dick Guldstrand first drove at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1968. Upon restoration, Guldstrand was again offered the opportunity to drive it at both the 1999 and 2002 Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca. Sitting in the car, he remarked that it was just as he remembered and that it was a thrill to be reunited with one of the very first cars he'd built. At the Historics Dick drove well, giving the Cobras a good run for their money. And why not? These cars are fast. When the AIR cars first appeared at Daytona in 1968 they set a new course record, neatly wrapping up the first row of the grid in their class. When Jim Herlinger ran the car in 1973, five years later, he set lap records at Willow Springs and Laguna Seca. And the car has apparently lost none of its oomph because today it runs laps faster than it did in '73.

In addition to being beautiful and fast, the historic #44 car is loud. It's one thing to say that the car has appeared (and placed well) in several historic races, but at the Wine Country Classic at Sears Point, where relief is granted from the normal noise limitations, the car tipped the scale at 123 DB. That's louder than a rock concert!

As offered, the car comes with a professionally built aluminum-head 454, built in the same manner as the 1973 engine. The original block and crank from 1968 are offered as part of the sale but are not in the car.

The ex-Garner/AIR racer will be offered alongside such astoundingly rare and historic cars as the '60 Jaguar E2A Prototype, a '39 Ecurie Nice Talbot-Lago T150 C SS, a '30 Scuderia Ferrari Alfa Romeo 6C-1750 Gran Sport, a '28 Streamlined Experimental Rolls-Royce Phantom I Torpedo, a '13 Isotta Fraschini Tipo KM, and an entire collection of Voisin, to name just a few. This remarkable line-up promises to be not only the star auction of this internationally prestigious car week but possibly the sale of the year as well.

The auction takes place Friday, August 15th at the Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California, with a preview being hosted the day before. Discerning collectors interested in registering to bid, either in person or remotely, may call or e-mail the Motoring Department at 415-861-7500 or motors.us@bonhams.com. Please note that entry to the Bonhams & Butterfields preview and auction does not require a ticket to the Quail Motorsports Gathering.

For general information about Bonhams and its 50 specialist departments worldwide, visit www.Bonhams.com.

Jim Is HOME!

2008-07-03T19:47:00.002-04:00

Great news! Jim is now out of rehab and is back home. He is doing great. I don't know if he will decide to work again or not, but knowing Jim, I wouldn't be surprised. At least he can if he want's to.

An extraordinary recovery by an extraordinary man. We love you, Jim!

An Update For All Who Have Had Jim In Their Thoughts And Prayers

2008-06-24T20:07:00.003-04:00

Hello everyone who has been concerned about Jim Garner and his stroke. I have news - wonderful news.

Jim is still in rehab, but should be released soon - completely recovered. His speech is as it always was, his mind is totally intact. He did have some weakness on the left side, but even that is gone. His left side is now as strong as his right.

Jim's brother Jack always said that Jim was tougher than Dick Tracey. I guess Jim proved his point.

Congratulations, Jim. We love you.

Never believe what you read in The National Enquirer.

TV Dads

2008-06-21T11:29:00.002-04:00

I definitely agree with this letter writer. The relationship between Jim Rockford and his dad, "Rocky" was one of the most realistic and touching ever on TV. And the fact that it was the same in real life made it almost unique.

A beautiful thing, on screen AND off.

clipped from www.post-gazette.com

Here's what you had to say about TV dads

Friday, June 20, 2008

In honor of Father's Day, we listed TV dads in three categories: heroes, hapless and hopeless. Now it's your turn. Here are readers' responses on the TV dads they love and those they love to hate.

My favorite TV dad was Josephy "Rocky" Rockford. I loved the close relationship he and Jim had. Jim had a picture of his father dad on his desk. In the made-for-TV "Rockford Files" movies, Rocky had a life-size painting of Jim.

In one of the movies, Jim and Dyan Cannon were visity Rocky's grave. She said, "You were his whole world, Jim. You were No. 1 in his life."

What was really nice is James Garner and Noah Berry were like dad and son off-camera. Jay Leno asked James Garner about Noah Berry's death. His voice cracked and he put his hand over his face. He said, "I can't talk about it."

-- Diane, Wilkins

Get Well Wishes For A TRUE American Idol

2008-05-14T19:59:00.003-04:00

As must be well known by now, Jim Garner is recovering in the hospital, having had surgery following a minor stroke. By all accounts he is expected to make a full recovery, but the details haven't yet been made public.

I'm sure this self-effacing, very private man would prefer that none of this had been made public, but he's long since realized that it's the price of fame. And, despite his shyness, he does deeply appreciate - and has always been puzzled by - the actual love and real concern of his millions of loyal admirers.

I have been among that group since I was 13 and watched the premier of a new western series called Maverick in the fall of 1957. James Garner was my very first celeb crush. Actually, he's also my only celeb crush, because in all these years I've never seen anyone who impressed me quite like he always has.

What started out as a teen crush became something more over the years, as I learned about James Garner the person. He became a father figure to this only child of a man who had never wanted children and never attempted to hide his resentment at my unwanted presence in his life. James Garner came to fill that void for me. He was my male role model as I grew up.

I'd never want to embarrass this wonderful man who can't even understand why people think he is special, but, Jim, you are special. I admire you for so many things - I could never list them all.

But most of all, I admire you for being a real hero - without feet of clay - to a young girl who was badly in need of a hero in her life. You've never let me down in all these many years, and for that I could never thank you enough.

God bless and get well soon.

James Garner 'doing well' after stroke - CNN.com

2008-05-14T10:18:00.004-04:00

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- James Garner, who was hospitalized late last week after suffering a minor stroke, is doing well and should be going home shortly, the veteran television and film star's publicist said Tuesday.

James Garner, shown in 2006, was an Oscar nominee for "Murphy's Romance" opposite Sally Field.

The star of such TV shows as "Maverick" and "The Rockford Files" went to the hospital after becoming ill at home Friday, said his publicist, Jennifer Allen.

"He's still in the hospital, but my understanding is he is doing well and will be going home soon. When, exactly, we have not been told yet," Allen said.

Garner, who turned 80 last month, rose to prominence in the 1950s as the star of "Maverick," playing a wry riverboat gambler who was quicker with a quip than a gun and, unlike his Western counterparts, was faster still to run from trouble than to face it. The show aired from 1957 to 1962, but Garner, who was nominated for an Emmy as Bret Maverick, left in 1960 to pursue a film career.

He has appeared in such films as "The Children's Hour," "Victor/Victoria" and "The Great Escape" and was nominated for an Oscar in 1985 as the small-town pharmacist opposite Sally Field in "Murphy's Romance."

Garner returned to television full-time in the mid-1970s playing Jim Rockford, a modern-day private detective who, like his "Maverick" character, also was not afraid to run instead of fight. He won an Emmy for the role in 1977.

Garner also reprised his Maverick role in the short-lived "Bret Maverick" series in the 1980s.

More recently, he played Katey Sagal's father in the sitcom "8 Simple Rules ... for Dating My Teenage Daughter." Garner joined the cast in 2003 after John Ritter, who played Sagal's husband, died during the show's second season.

E-mail to a friend

Share this on:

Mixx Digg Facebook del.icio.us reddit StumbleUpon Myspace

| Mixx it | Share

Claretta Mariana

2008-04-16T20:35:00.002-04:00

An extra in the telefilm "Promise"

clipped from www.oregonlive.com

One of Claretta's claims to fame was making
"Promise" with James Garner and James Woods,
playing James Garner's mom's best friend. She was
proud to be in a movie with Garner; what a nice man he was,
she said. "I was only an extra," she said. "I
just walked across a room carrying a plate of food."

Grand Prix gave him an appetite for speed

2008-04-10T18:40:00.005-04:00

The North Bay Nugget - Ontario, CA

Posted By malcolm gunn

Posted 1 day ago

The opening scene of the 1966 flick Grand Prix featured actor James Garner in one of the most memorable movie moments of all time.

The green flag drops amid a deafening roar of Formula One machinery. A blur of drivers in their tube-shaped metal envelopes begin their full-scale assault on the streets of Monte Carlo. Split-screen images projected onto the oversized curved Cinerama screen provides an
all-too-real sense of riding along with the drivers as they frantically jockey for position. Suddenly, in a split-second, two cars collide and you're watching, wide-eyed, as one car violently catapults off course - straight into Monaco's yacht-filled harbour. Fortunately, the hero Pete
Aron, played in his usual easy-going style by James Garner, escapes his metal coffin, gasping for air as a trio of scuba divers swims to his aid.

Pure Hollywood fantasy? Well, not exactly. What Grand Prix director John Frankenheimer chose for his movie's opening sequence happened to real-life driver Alberto Ascari at that very spot 11 years earlier while he was leading the event.

For Garner, working on Grand Prix became an example of life imitating art. As a result of the movie he would become hooked on racing and remain actively involved in the sport for many years after this ground-breaking movie was in the can.

Garner's interest in fast cars goes back to his pre-acting days. Born James Scott Bumgarner in 1928, the Norman, Okla., native was driving hot rods around town as a teenager. But this carpet layer's son couldn't afford his own wheels, so he was usually piloting one of his
buddies' modified jalopies.

Following minor stage and small-screen roles, Garner's first of many breaks came in 1957 when he starred in the TV western series, Maverick. After four successful years, he moved to the big screen, where he played the leading man in a number of fluffy romantic comedies
before landing a major role in The Great Escape. This real-life movie vaulted the suave and debonair Garner into bona fide superstar status.

Grand Prix director Frankenheimer actually wanted Steve McQueen for lead roll as Pete Aron, but the deal fell through after a rocky interview that Frankenheimer was unable to attend.

Garner, who badly wanted the part, was picked.

Before shooting began, Garner took lessons from Bob Bondurant, a successful Grand Prix and sports car driver who would eventually begin his own high-performance driving school. Garner followed that with a session at the Jim Russell Driving School in England where he was
joined by some of the other principal actors. The Russell experience taught him plenty, including the fact that the lanky six-foot-three actor was too big to comfortably fit inside the cockpit of a Grand Prix race car. Garner immediately went on a diet, managing to lose nearly 10 kilograms. Even then, he had to drive with the seat removed from the car so his head would be lower than the roll bar.

Frankenheimer's $8-million epic began shooting in late May 1966. The director employed many well-known Formula One stars as background actors, including Graham Hill, Dan Gurney, Jochen Rindt, Chris Amon and Bruce McLaren.

Some of these drivers were also hired to drive camera vehicles that would chase the mostly fake Grand Prix race cars specially constructed by Jim Russell for the movie.

During production, Garner's skill behind the wheel impressed many of the racers involved in the project. Grand Prix opened in late 1966 to rave reviews. Not only was the film exciting to watch on the giant screen, its special effects and camera techniques created specifically for the movie were technical breakthroughs that are still in use today.

Article ID# 977843

New Movie For James Garner

2008-04-10T11:24:00.002-04:00

James Garner is making a new movie with old pal Lou Gossett Jr.

clipped from www.nationalledger.com

BACK TOGETHER AGAIN: Oscar-winning actor Lou Gossett Jr. reports that "Capture the Flag," the indie film he's currently shooting, is a reunion for him and veteran actor James Garner, who holds a special place in his heart. "James put me on the map in the '70s film called 'Skin Game,'" recalls Gossett of the 1971 film about two con artists in the post-Civil War south.

"Capture the Flag," says Gossett, "is about these kids between 10 and 12 in a military academy. I play one caretaker of the school from the Navy, and Garner plays the other caretaker, who's from the Army. We're retired, and our competition is supposed to be peaceful, but it's our last hurrah. It's all very tongue-in-cheek."

Happy Birthday!

2008-04-07T19:40:00.003-04:00

On the occasion of your 80th birthday, Mr. Jim Garner, I just want to thank you. When I became a fan of yours during the first episode of Maverick, I was just turning 13. Instant crush!

Over the years though, a teen crush developed into a deep admiration for you as a person. Not only are you the most fun to watch of any of the actors I've ever seen, you are a genuinely good man. In fact, you were my male role model growing up, and I still think I made a pretty good choice.

So, thank you - not only for all the truly unparalleled performances over the years - but for proving that there really are people worthy of admiration in the way they conduct themselves and live their lives.

I know you'd never think of yourself as a hero, but you are.

Happy birthday, and may there be many, many more.

36 Hours

2008-04-03T20:13:00.005-04:00

36 Hours (1965)

36 Hours takes the typical concept of a war movie and tosses it out the window, instead giving us a cynical, suspenseful, psycho-thriller that will make you smirk, think, and it will surprise you.

James Garner plays US Army Major Jeff Pike, who's dispatched to Portugal on a mission just before D-Day. He's privy to the details of operation Overlord, and the Germans know it. Through their nasty network of Nazi spies they manage to kidnap him, and then the real fun begins.

Read the rest of this great review of 36 Hours at 36 Hours (1965) starring James Garner, Eva Marie Saint, Rod Taylor

Heartsounds

2008-04-02T11:39:00.005-04:00

Heartsounds (1984) – Glenn Jordan helmed one of the finest telemovies of the last thirty years with this delicately-handled yet emotionally charged docudrama about the difficult experiences of Martha Weinman Lear, when her husband, Harold, suffers an ongoing series of heart attacks. As the leads, Mary Tyler Moore and James Garner are nothing short of perfection. Working with Jordan, from a script by Fay Kanin (adapted from Weinman's bestselling memoir) the two actors bring to fruition a series of moments dazzlingly poignant and authentic; seldom has a film struck so many real and deeply resonant chords, mirroring the tensions and emotional contradictions of real life experience. Screens on the Encore Love Stories Channel, 4/1 at 5:45am, 4/5 at 9:10am, 4/15 at 9:30am, 4/25 at 7:15am.

I remember seeing this when it was first broadcast. It is incredible. It's so unfortunate that this wonderful telemovie doesn't seem to be available anywhere - even to watch, let alone purchase. In fact, this is the first time in all these years I've seen it listed at all. If you haven't seen it, don't miss a chance.

This is the very vehicle in fact that made the "big time" critics sit up and take notice of what they had been missing in James Garner's performances. Since then, they've been moaning about how underrated he is as an actor because he makes it look so easy that he doesn't get the credit he deserves for the enormous talent it takes to do that.

So, how come we, his ignoramus fans, knew this all along, while the elite, professional critics missed it for almost 30 years? Makes you wonder, doesn't it...

James Garner interview

2008-03-18T11:34:00.002-04:00

Great interview with Jim during the release of "My Fellow Americans."

James Garner Attacks!

2008-01-28T11:44:00.001-05:00

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?

2008-01-24T20:01:00.001-05:00

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

2008-01-23T11:52:00.001-05:00

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?

2008-01-19T10:54:00.001-05:00

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

2008-01-18T11:41:00.001-05:00

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

2008-01-18T11:37:00.001-05:00

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

2008-01-14T11:16:00.001-05:00

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

Johnny LaRue's Crane Shot: Climb Outta My Tree

2007-12-06T20:37:00.000-05:00

“Counter Gambit” is an entertaining con episode in which Rockford (James Garner) is framed for the theft of a pearl necklace, but manages to get off the hook when he tricks the real crooks into returning the necklace to the safe from which they stole it. Rockford is summoned to the state pen by Moss Williams (Eddie Fontaine), a thug who once tried to kill Jim in prison. Moss hires the reluctant detective to find out whether his girl, Maria Heller (Mary Frann, later Bob’s wife on NEWHART), is cheating on him. The smell of Williams’ retainer—and the rantings of Jim’s dentist, who threatens to repo the detective’s filling if his bill isn’t paid—convinces Jim to take the case, which, in true ROCKFORD FILES fashion, turns out to be nothing like it seems.

Read the entire review at Johnny LaRue's Crane Shot: Climb Outta My Tree

Film festival at Sooner honors James Garner’s visit to Norman

2007-11-19T10:55:00.001-05:00

The Norman Transcript - Actor James Garner, who is best known to some for his roles as the Western man Brett Maverick and the cool private eye Jim Rockford, will pay his hometown, Norman, a visit Oct. 16-18. Weekend events with Garner will be hosted by the Norman Film Society, which includes OU, The City of Norman, the Downtowners Association, Campus Merchants and the Sooner Theatre.

The Sooner Theatre will host the James Garner Film Festival Oct. 17-18. The public is invited to a presentation for Garner as well as a double feature, with films chosen by Garner himself, Oct. 17 at 7:45 p.m. at the Sooner Theatre, 101 E. Main St.

Beginning at 7:45 p.m., Garner will be recognized for his invaluable contribution to films and will be presented with a key to the City by Mayor Ron Henderson. The double feature will follow at 8 p.m. and costs $20, which includes one free popcorn.

There is no confirmation Garner will be at the Sooner later than the award ceremony, said Amy Wood, marketing director of the Sooner Theatre. “Garner is a very private man, so it’s a great honor for him to agree to speak to the audience,” she said. “So many different generations know who James Garner is. From his TV career, to his older films to some of his newer films with Mel Gibson — he spans such an age group that it really hits a vast audience here in Norman."

The James Garner Film Festival will continue Oct. 18 at 9:30 a.m. with a showing of one of Garner’s favorite Westerns at the Sooner Theatre, which is open to the general public. Admission is free on a first-come, first-serve basis (555 seats are available).

Although Garner is not scheduled to be at Saturday’s film screening, the event is something the community of Norman has not had an opportunity to do, Wood said. “This is a unique opportunity for a native to come back to Norman, for us to celebrate his film career and for the public to show their appreciation of his success,” she said.

Wood said people of all ages are going to come see Garner for what they remember him for — “from 50 years ago to 15 years ago. It’s a neat variety and we’re thrilled,” she said.

Jennifer Heavner Baker, artistic director for the Sooner Theatre, said a committee at the Sooner Theatre chose Garner for the festival because he is one of Norman’s favorites. “We just brought back films to the Sooner Theatre a month ago and now we have James Garner,” she said. “It just seemed natural to start with Garner. I’m tickled pink.”

At first, Garner wasn’t sure he would be able to make it to the film festival because of his current production work in England; however, the filming was post-poned and he was able to come for the festival, Wood said.

“I think there are a number of different things people will enjoy about this film festival,” Wood said. “Number one, seeing a double feature in the historic theater. It brings it back what a lot of people remember the theater being — the moviehouse on Saturday afternoons. I think that will be a big draw. Number two, seeing James Garner himself. They’re going to be able to come watch and listen to him talk about his movies.”

The Sooner Theater is lending its space for free for the festival. The City of Norman also donated a film projector to the Sooner Theatre earlier this year, which makes events like the James Garner Film Festival possible, Wood said. “A lot of this would not happen if it were not for the support of the city,” she said. “It not only allows us to do our Sunday films, but we also can do film festivals like this now without any rental fees or costs.”

Although the film titles cannot be named due to advertising restrictions, a screening schedule for the James Garner Film Festival is available at the Sooner Theatre and at www.soonertheatre.net.

When asked which Garner flick was her all-time favorite, Heavner Baker was almost stumped. “Oh my goodness, that’s a hard question for me,” she said. “I love ‘Murphy’s Romance.’ That’s probably one of my favorites. I also love ‘Victor Victoria’ because, you know, I’m Miss Musical Theater.

”The James Garner Film Festival is sponsored by The City of Norman, the Sooner Theatre and the University of Oklahoma.

For more information or for tickets to next Friday’s double feature screening, call the Sooner Theatre at 321-8091 or visit www.soonertheatre.net.

BIOGRAPHY: Born James Scott Bumgarner in Norman in 1928 as the son of an Oklahoma carpet layer, James Garner dropped out of high school at 16 years of age to join the merchant marines. He worked in a variety of jobs and received the Purple Heart when he was wounded during the Korean War.

Garner had his first chance to act when a friend got him a non-speaking role in the Broadway stage play “The Caine Mutiny Court Martial” (1954). The play lead to small television roles, television commercials and a contact with Warner Brothers.

After co-starring in a handful of films from 1956-1957, Warner Brothers gave Garner a co-starring role in the television series “Maverick” (1957). Originally cast as an alternating series between Bart Maverick (Jack Kelly) and Bret Maverick (Garner), the show quickly turned into the Bret Maverick Show.

As Maverick, Garner was cool, good-natured, likeable and always ready to use his wits to get him in or out of trouble. In the early ‘60s, Garner portrayed many character roles similar to “Maverick.” His successful films included “The Thrill of It All” (1963) “Move Over, Darling” (1963) “The Great Escape” (1963) and “The Americanization of Emily” (1964). Garner appeared in the automobile racing movie “Grand Prix” in 1966 and got the bug to race professionally. Soon, this ambition turned to supporting a racing team, not unlike what Paul Newman would do in later years.

Garner found success with his role in a Western comedy “Support Your Local Sheriff!” (1969) and followed it up with “Support Your Local Gunfighter” (1971).

In 1974, Garner became the classic television private eye in “The Rockford Files” (1974), a role that made him a very well-know actor. In 1977, he won an Emmy for Best Actor in his portrayal of Rockford.

In 1985, Garner was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for “Murphy’s Romance.” Three years later, Garner returned to the Western mode and co-starred with the young Bruce Willis in “Sunset,” a mythical story of Wyatt Earp, Tom Mix and Hollywood in the 1920s.

In 1994, Garner reprised his role of the leading Western man in “Maverick,” a movie co-starring Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster.

Garner continues his acting career to this day. In 2002, he starred with Sandra Bullock in “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.” Garner’s lastest project, “Notebook,” is due out sometime in 2004. The film, directed by Nick Cassavetes, stars Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling and Gena Rowlands and centers around a lost love from World War II.

— Pop staff

By Helen PryorThe Norman Transcript

Happy To Give Back

2007-11-17T19:39:00.001-05:00

I think it's fun - and revealing - to see what Jim's old friends and his hometown newspaper have to say about him.

The Norman Transcript - 4/4/03

Best known for his roles in the popular television series “Maverick” and “The Rockford Files,” actor James Garner won over a whole slew of new fans Thursday when he made a $500,000 donation to the University of Oklahoma to create an endowed faculty chair within the School of Drama.

OU will request matching funds from the State Regents for Higher Education to create the James Garner Chair in Drama, the first endowed position in the drama school’s history. The position will be designated for the director of the school.

As OU President David Boren made the announcement to a packed Weitzenhoffer Theatre, drama students and faculty members jumped from their seats and offered up a standing ovation accompanied by loud cheers.

“I don’t think anyone would dispute he’s Oklahoma’s favorite son,” said Boren. “We’re so proud of him. We’re especially proud to claim him because of the kind of person he is. He has never forgotten his roots.”

Garner, a Norman native and former OU student who still keeps up with the Sooners, choked back tears — hidden by dark sunglasses — and requested a box of Kleenex as he addressed the crowd.

“Oh dear. I’m not good at this,” Garner said, voice cracking and admitting he suffers from agoraphobia. “It’s touching to me, as you can see, that I’m at a time in my life where I can come back here and do this.

”The gift to the university was originally something Garner intended to leave in his will, but longtime friend and OU graduate Bill Saxon convinced him about two months ago to go ahead and make the donation.

Garner said he felt privileged and honored to have the means to make the contribution to his alma mater. He said his family members, former high school teachers and a lot of former Norman business owners would be surprised to learn of the gift.

“Having been raised here and watched this university grow, I’m so proud of it,” he said. “It never entered my mind that I’d be able to do this.”

Garner ended his visit by answering questions from OU drama students, offering them words of advice and signing autographs.

“Acting professionally can break your heart,” he told the students. “If you have it in you and you want it, you’ll do it. Just keep in mind who you are.”

Throughout his 50-year acting career, Garner has kept close ties to Oklahoma, Norman and OU. Several members of his family — the Bumgarners — have been active in the community.

Garner has made gifts to OU since 1979 and lends his stardom to OU’s annual Sooners in the Desert golf event in California, served on OU’s Reach for Excellence Committee and as an honorary member of the Campaign Council to build the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. OU awarded him an honorary doctorate of human letters in 1995.

Garner is scheduled to be in Norman again in October when Norman holds its first film festival. The actor said he may not be able to make the engagement, however, because he’ll possibly be in England shooting his next film.

Transcript Entertainment Editor Tami Watson can be reached at 366-3533 or via e-mail at tamiwatson@normantranscript.com.Tami Watson

The Norman Transcript

Fortunately, Jim was able to make the Film Festival. Details later...

James Garner Is Norman's Gem

2007-11-17T11:01:00.001-05:00

The Norman Transcript - 10/20/03

I am sure many people in Norman already know what a down-to-earth, likable, geniunly nice man James Garner is, but I had a first-hand chance to witness it this week during his visit to Norman.

And it’s true. Jim Garner really is Norman’s gem. I spoke with Mr. Garner over the phone for a short interview before his trip to Norman this weekend. His voice and geniune laugh were just as sweet as they are in all of his movies. He was very kind and cooperative to do the interview over the phone, especially since he’s known as a very private man who does not do many interviews. After our conversation, I was beaming.

Garner’s private reception at the depot Friday night was a delight for the star and for all those lucky enough to be invited. Garner graciously chatted with friends, old and new, and even strangers like myself.

Although I had talked with Mr. Garner over the phone, I thought it might be a good idea to introduce myself. I have not met many celebrities in my lifetime, but the ones I have had the pleasure of meeting always stay celebrities in my mind, not real people.When I walked up to Mr. Garner and shook his hand, I felt very at ease. He was a real person to me, a person who grew up in Norman just as I did. He smiled and told me it was nice to meet me and that he remembered our phone conversation. He and his brother Jack, who accompanied Garner on his trip to Norman, were both very gracious, appreciative and friendly to every Norman resident who came their way.

Despite the impression Garner left upon me during the reception at the depot and following at the Sooner Theatre, I know older generations who grew up during Garner’s era appreciate his visits even more. I am more familiar with his later movies such as \“Maverick,” \“Space Cowboys” and \“The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” and have missed out on his earlier works when he portrayed the Western icon Bret Maverick and the cool private eye Jim Rockford.

I missed out on \“Murphy’s Romance” and \“Victor/Victoria” at the Sooner Theatre because I had to work, but now that I’ve met Mr. Garner I have a hankering urge to rent his earlier flicks. I tend to think many people in Norman, especially those who lived in Norman during Garner’s childhood, identify with the actor’s earlier work. Not only do they identify with his early works as an actor, they identify with the person Garner was (and still is) when he roamed the halls of Norman High School and ran down the aisles of the Sooner Theatre.

What a treat to have Jim Garner revisit Norman again. This actor and Normanite spans so many generations it’s hard to think who wouldn’t know him or have seen at least one of his movies. And the added bonus? Despite the initial assumption the star is hiding under those Jack Nicholson red glasses, Norman native Jim Garner completely opens up to the people who share his memories and love of Norman.

Entertainment Editor Helen Pryor can be reached at 366-3533 or via E-mail at helen@normantranscript.comBy Helen Pryor

The Norman Transcript

The Norman Transcript - Dream of Veterans Memorial getting closer to reality

2007-11-16T11:48:00.001-05:00

Dream of Veterans Memorial getting closer to reality
The Norman Transcript

Transcript Staff Writer

Don Schulenberg was looking for a hero.

He's found plenty in his quest to build the Cleveland County Veterans Memorial in the southwest corner of Reaves Park. Schulenberg just needs a few more for the dream of a memorial to honor area veterans to begin coming true.

The American Legion state membership chairman and Norman resident has talked to everyone who will listen to promote building the memorial. It's planned to honor Cleveland County's veterans who have served the United States in war and peace and those who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the freedom enjoyed by every American.

Schulenberg and Roy Hamilton told Norman Kiwanis Club members Tuesday that about $200,000 has been raised toward building the memorial, with about $50,000 left to be raised to get started. The memorial is estimated to total about $350,000 according to the City of Norman's Web site at www.NormanOK.gov.

Schulenberg has found heroes like Norman actor James Garner, who was the first draftee from Oklahoma into the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. While in Korea, Garner was wounded twice and awarded two purple hearts.

Garner has supported the project with his own funds to help honor other veterans as well.

Hundreds of others have contributed funds and even profits from the Moore Bingo facility have helped.

And for all Schulenberg's contributor heroes who have written checks to move the project closer to reality, it's America's military heroes -- its veterans -- that he most wants to honor.

"We want the sacrifices the veterans have made to never be forgotten, and this memorial will honor their names for generations to come," Schulenberg said last year.

The concept for the Cleveland County Veterans Memorial was created by Norman engineer Bob Goins and Marine veteran Clarence Powell and designed by the architectural team of Rick McKinney, Nathan Coffey, Toni Bragg and Bryan Rainbow of the McKinney Architects Partnership.

"We are just trying to provide a space and a palette where they can include all the men and women from as far back as they can go, as far back as they have records," McKinney said.

The concept was to create a five-faceted granite and bronze sculpture.

"And they've settled on this wonderful eagle with an American flag and it's on an about 11-foot high pylon that's a five-sided pentagon. And it refers to the five branches of our service," McKinney said. "There are sloped granite walls around the perimeter. The plaza itself is a large blue-and-white star out of pavers. And the pylon is in the middle with the eagle in the middle."

Veterans who were killed in action or missing in action starting with World War I will be listed on the center pylon in the center of a five-pointed star about 30 feet across. The plaza as a whole will be about 45 feet in diameter and will be constructed in the first phase.

The names of other veterans in wars will be on smaller monoliths that form a wall around the plaza. Forty-six smaller stars will represent Oklahoma as the 46th state of the United States.

It will be sited in the southwest corner of Reaves Park.

"We've worked it among the big oak trees and it sets in that grassy area very nicely. And it will be fully accessible with parking for handicapped and there will be monuments and introductory plaques that will describe the process," McKinney said. "There will be some very large flags that will be illuminated. The whole plaza will be lit up at night 24/7 and it won't go dark. ... It's coming together very nicely."

Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Cleveland County Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 249, Norman OK 73070, in the form of checks, money orders or cashiers checks. Checks may be made payable to the Norman Parks Foundation, Inc. a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization, noting CCVM in the memo section.

Applications to nominate honorably discharged veterans or those who were killed or went missing in the performance of their duty for inclusion on the memorial may be downloaded at the City of Norman's Web site at www.normanok.gov/parks/veterans_memorial.htm. Veterans should have lived or served in Cleveland County. Qualifying documents are requested to review, which could include assignment orders discharge orders, decoration or award orders or other documents to verify service.

For more information, call Schulenberg at 364-7258 or 615-7813.

The Norman Transcript - Dream of Veterans Memorial getting closer to reality

Review of Rockford Files - Season Two

2007-11-11T20:02:00.000-05:00

TV Home / Entertainment Channel / Bullz-Eye Home

The Rockford Files: Season Two (1975)

Starring: James Garner, Noah Beery, Jr., Joe Santos, Gretchen Corbett, Stuart Margolin, Tom Atkins
Director: Various
Category: Drama

As strong as the first season of “The Rockford Files” may have been, it’s interesting to note that, within just a few episodes of season two, the viewer becomes quickly aware that not only has the show truly found its footing, it’s in possession of some of the strongest scripts to hit television during the 1970s.

Just to offer a quick, one-paragraph summary, James Garner is Jim Rockford, an ex-con turned private investigator. He’s not afraid to use his fists, but, then, he’s not really that tough a guy, so he’s just as likely to end up on his ass as kick yours; he’s also not afraid to use chicanery, trickery, or subterfuge to follow a lead or solve a case…which means that his buddy in the police department, Detective Dennis Becker, is always chastising him for his methods, even though he begrudgingly looks the other way on occasion. Jim’s dad, known as Rocky (and played by Noah Beery, Jr.), lives in the area and has been known to get into some of his son’s cases, as does Angel (Stuart Margolin), a former prison buddy of Jim’s…although he’s usually pretty reluctant to get involved. Oh, yes, and Beth Davenport (Gretchen Corbett) is Jim’s attorney…but is she more?

Actually, before the second season is over, she is. We learn that she and Jim came close to having a relationship before, but it didn’t take; before this season is over, however, they successfully start one. Angel also ends up being the focus of more episodes this time around, and he’s always good for a laugh; it’s amazing that Jim keeps him in his circle of friends, given that Angel proves on a regular basis that, history or no history, he’s always willing to sell Jim down the river if it’ll save his own skin.

There are some particularly funny episodes in season two, one of which stars Rob Reiner as a professional football player with an ego that’s a good size larger than most of the fields on which he plays; Louis Gossett, Jr. also has a slightly comedic turn as Rockford’s former parole officer. Surprisingly, though, the most effective dramatic episode is one starring the man who wrote the theme from “Shaft” but won greater fame as the voice of Chef.

Isaac Hayes plays Gandolph “Gandy” Fitch, one of Rockford’s many former prison buddies. Gandy’s just gotten out of the joint after a 20-year stint, and he’s on the lookout for the person who was really responsible for the crime that got him locked away. (Although Hayes was decidedly younger than the character he was playing at the time, his always-shaven head lent him an older look, so all they really had to do was sprinkle some grey in his beard and voila!) Was he really innocent? Well, you’ll have to watch the episode, won’t you? And trust me, you want to. It’s an impressively emotional performance from Hayes, one that will remind you that, although he’s best known for his comedic appearances these days, he’s actually a pretty good dramatic actor, too.

The special features this time around are marginally more impressive than on the first season set. Instead of an interview with Garner, this time we get a conversation with co-creator Stephen J. Cannell, although it’s inaccurately described as Cannell reflecting on the second season; what he really does is reflect on the show as a whole. If he discusses the second season specifically, it’s only briefly and is in no way the main topic of conversation. Also included is the original series pilot, which really should’ve been on the first set, but it also works better here, as it really demonstrates how far the show has come in just one short year. (It’s also interesting to see that the show’s original concept involved Rockford only tackling closed cases from the police files.)

Amazingly, “The Rockford Files” would get even better in its third year, when “Sopranos” creator David Chase took over as executive producer, but there’s still no denying that this was a five-star season for the series.

~Will Harris

wharris@bullz-eye.com

HANGING WITH CARROLL SHELBY, JAMES GARNER AND PARNELLI JONES INTO THE NIGHT

2007-11-11T10:54:00.000-05:00

JUST HANGING WITH JAMES GARNER, CARROLL SHELBY AND PARNELLI JONES ONE NIGHT AT LOS ANGELES' PETERSEN AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM

Written February, 2003, for Gannett Newspapers

Buick. Chevrolet. Oldsmobile. Ford. Rolls-Royce. Toyota. Peugeot. Chrysler. Honda. Mercedes-Benz. Bentley.
And there are more. All great car companies bearing the names of their founders or important figures in their history.

Why doesn’t that happen anymore? A social event we attended in Los Angeles recently got me thinking about it.
We were visiting the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The gala that evening was a tribute to a short-lived race team which was owned by actor James Garner, organized in the late 1960s after he filmed the feature movie “Grand Prix”, which, along with Steve McQueen’s “LeMans”, are considered the two best racing movies of all time.
In “Grand Prix”, Garner portrayed an American racer driving for a Japanese car company just getting started in Formula 1, or Grand Prix, racing. The story was borrowed from the true-life exploits of American F1 racer Richie Ginther and his association with the (at that time) fledgling Honda F1 race team. Yves Montand played another F1 driver, Toshiro Mifune’s character (Mifune his first big English-speaking movie) was modeled after the founder Honda, and Eva Marie Saint played the always-necessary “love interest” shared between Garner and Montand.

Also in the film were race drivers Richie Ginther, Bob Bondurant, Jim Clark, Bruce McLaren, American F1 World Champion Phil Hill and Brit racer Graham Hill, “Black Jack” Brabham and Dan Gurney. The 1966 movie, directed by John Frankenheimer, contains some of the most fantastic racing scenes ever recorded, featuring all the drivers mentioned above in their F1 race cars of the time.

Garner was at the Petersen Museum event, and there was a showing of a 1969 documentary produced and starring Garner called “The Racing Scene”, which was directed by Andy Sidaris, who headed up ABC-TV’s “Wide World of Sports” racing coverage for many years. Sidaris spoke at the event and introduced the film, which chronicled Garner’s road racing and more successful off-road exploits.
We spoke with Garner and also with Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones and legendary racer/race car builder/promoter Carroll Shelby.

It’s all fine and well to speak with some of the past stars and heroes of the automotive world, but when it comes to accomplishing some of the feats these men did (and there were, unfortunately, not many women in the auto business at that time), who are the future great stars? Where are the Shelby’s, Jones’s, Iacocca’s and DeLorean’s, even the James Garner’s, of tomorrow?

The sad truth is, they are few and far between.

Today’s worldwide auto industry is one of committees and stockholders, not individuals. Carroll Shelby told me years ago that what he had accomplished would never be done again, simply because no one person or even medium-sized company has the money and equipment to develop a vehicle from scratch. Even if they did, the costs involved with building and then crash-testing test cars or trucks and then meeting the safety, fuel and emissions requirements of countries around the world is prohibitive for any company except the largest.

Think about it….when was the last time anyone started a car company under their own name? There have been a few sporadic attempts over the years, and the DeLorean project got a lot of press because of the overall fiasco it turned out to be (all that interest about a not-very-good car), but today’s automotive all-stars tend to be people like Carlos Ghosn, the head of Renault, which bought Nissan a few years ago and has managed to turn the company into a money-maker.

One of the last of the “old-timers” still working in the business is 72 year old Bob Lutz, now essentially in charge of cars and trucks for General Motors in North America. Lutz, when he was a top executive at Chrysler, before Daimler took them over, gave the go-ahead for wildly successful and sexy projects like the Viper, Prowler and PT Cruiser. A former Marine fighter pilot who collects, restores and flies European fighter jets as a hobby, is just about the final executive at a major car company who has the authority to make far-ranging decisions and is willing to live with their consequences.

(Interesting aside: The “merger of equals” which Daimler claimed their relationship with Chrysler would be when they bought-out the perennially-struggling automaker a few years has turned into anything but that. In fact, on the new-look DaimlerChrysler Board of Directors, there is but a single American left. Daimler, a notoriously conservative company, now loses almost any American-style zest it may have had. One executive once told me that “casual day” at Daimler in Germany meant taking your suit jacket off during lunch.)

The auto world moved more and more towards being run by “the bean counters” in the late 1960s, when government regulations and the prospect of oil shortages hit the industry hard. Suddenly, egos were out the door (one of the prime reasons DeLorean never became president of General Motors), and executives not taking responsibility became an art form. A degree from the Wharton School of Business is now a ticket to the top of the management heap at any car company worldwide, where in the past an engineer, stylist, race car driver or slick promoter could carry a car from concept to production.

Another prime reason for this sad bureaucratic state of affairs is the sheer complexity of modern cars and trucks themselves. No one person, companies believe, can master all the knowledge necessary to bring a project to market, and therefore a committee-upon-committee system is used to create today’s vehicles. And you know the old joke about a camel being a horse designed by a committee. Think about that the next time you see, say, a Pontiac Aztek!

If Bob Lutz achieves a great degree of success at GM, perhaps the pendulum will swing back towards the power of the individual in the automotive world. But the days of John DeLorean meeting casually Saturday mornings with his engineering staff at Pontiac, taking a 389 cubic inch engine from their big Bonneville and putting it into their small LeMans and calling it a GTO, and doing it all on a lark, as sort of a “neat idea at the time”, well, those days are over.

It’s a shame, too, as I am sure we can all agree. What we can do now is learn about our automotive history, appreciate the characters who populated it and turned it into the greatest and most important industrial movement the world has ever seen. And if we’re lucky enough, sometimes sit at the feet of those who had a hand in it, as we did recently at the Petersen Museum, and --- just listen.

-30-

Posted at 12:08 AM in PAST FEATURE STORIES, AUTO SHOWS, HOW-TO'S, ETC. | Permalink

Barbarians At The Gate

2007-11-10T20:47:00.001-05:00

Barbarians At The Gates (1993) *** 1/2

11.09, 2007 Author: MMM

Director: Glenn Jordan
Starring: James Garner, Jonathan Pryce, Peter Riegert, Joanna Cassidy, Fred Dalton Thompson, Leilani Sarelle, Matt Clark

This Emmy-winning made-for-TV movie takes a humorous look at actual events in a big 1980s takeover war. It falls somewhere between a light drama and a comedy, but the seasoned professional acting (particularly lead James Garner) and experienced direction is far above usual TV standards. There is a pretty good story about excess and the battle for big bucks.

James Garner is F. Ross Johnson, who has gone from being a hardworking paperboy in Winnipeg, Canada to a jet setting, big spending CEO in NYC. When Johnson is faced with an expensive project that seems headed for failure, he chooses to deflect shareholder backlash by trying to raise the money to buy the company himself. It might have worked, but when a couple other green sharks get the whiff of possible profit, the bidding war is on. What follows is corporate juggling, scrambling, and general skulduggery in a world where all the numbers have nine zeroes.

Imagine a Wall Street where Gordon Gekko is a charming, nice guy (but greed is still good) and with a comedy slant, and you will have some idea of what to expect here. All in all, this is a pretty fun way to learn the difference between a corporate takeover and a hostile takeover. Admit it. You have always wanted to know.

The Rockford Files DVD news: Announcement for The Rockford Files - Season 5 | TVShowsOnDVD.com

2007-11-04T11:35:00.001-05:00

The Rockford Files spent six seasons on the air (not counting the eight post-series telefilms which reunited the majority of the cast), and on DVD we're getting close to the end. This morning Universal has announced the January 15th release of The Rockford Files - Season 5. This package will have 20 episodes (two of them double-length: "Black Mirror" and "Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man's Job") running 1045 minutes. Cost is $39.98 SRP for this 5-disc set (all single-sided). Video and audio is as originally shown: full-frame with English mono. There are also English subtitles present, but no word yet on any extras. Stay tuned and we'll update you with cover art and anything else we get from the studio, just as soon as we can! UPDATE: The studio has quickly provided us with box art for this release:Rockford Files - Season 5 box art Link to this page:http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Rockford-Files-Season-5/8284 All news for this show:http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/shownews/Rockford-Files/3585 More info on this show:The Rockford Files

The Rockford Files DVD news: Announcement for The Rockford Files - Season 5 | TVShowsOnDVD.com

Blogged with Flock

Norman's James Garner To Lead State Centennial Parade

2007-10-08T20:23:00.001-04:00

The Norman Transcript - Norman's James Garner will lead state Centennial Parade

Norman native James Garner will serve as the grand marshal of the Oklahoma Centennial Parade, officials with the Oklahoma Centennial Commission announced this week.

The prarade is scheduled for at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 14 in downtown Oklahoma City.

Presented by Noble Corporation, the parade centers around the theme, “Celebrate Oklahoma! A Unique History. An Extraordinary Future.”

The parade will fill downtown Oklahoma City streets with floats, giant helium-filled balloons of state icons and children's favorite characters, performance groups and marching bands.

“Throughout the years, James Garner has been a wonderful ambassador for our state, not only spreading the word about his home state, but also returning frequently to contribute to Oklahoma projects,” said Lee Allan Smith, chairman of Centennial projects and events. “We are proud to feature this Oklahoma treasure in the parade of a century.”

Best known for his roles in television's Maverick and Rockford Files, Garner was born on April 7, 1928 in Norman.

His father, Weldon Bumgarner, was of European ancestry and his mother, Mildred, was one-half Cherokee. After a brief stint in the Merchant Marines at 16-years-old, Garner moved to Los Angeles to join his father.

After serving in the Army during the Korean War, Garner — who won two purple hearts — decided to try his hand at acting. His first on-camera appearance was with Clint Walker on the TV series Cheyenne. His feature film debut came in Toward the Unknown.

He also gave an acclaimed performance as Marlon Brando's friend in the hit film, Sayonara, which led to his first big break - the starring role in the television series Maverick, which brought him true stardom. He shortened his last name to “Garner,” after a studio miscredited him in a film.

Since then, he has starred in roughly 40 films, including The Children's Hour, The Great Escape, The Americanization of Emily (his personal favorite), Grand Prix, Cash McCall, The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, The Great Escape, Move Over, The Notebook, Support Your Local Sheriff, The Skin Game, The Thrill of It All, Victor/Victoria. Next up for Garner will be the 2008 release of the animated feature Terra in which he is the voice of the character Doron.

Garner has also received his share of state honors.

In 1986, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and three years later, was named Ambassador of Cultural Arts for the State of Oklahoma. Graner was inducted into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in March 1990 and received the Western Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement in Film and Television from the Gene Autry Museum.

In 1995 he received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the University of Oklahoma. In April 2006 a statue of Garner depicting him as “Maverick” was created by the noted artist, Shan Gray. A Centennial project, the statue is now a destination for visitors from all over the world.

The Centennial Parade is free and open to the public. For information about the parade route, parking and shuttles, please visit www.okcentennialparade.com.

Sooner Ties Help Bind Family-Friendly Ultimate Gift

2007-09-14T19:31:00.001-04:00

By Matthew Price
Staff Writer

"The Ultimate Gift” has a message for everyone. But the film may find special favor with Oklahomans, as star James Garner and Jim Stovall, author of the original book, both hail from the state.

Garner plays Red Stevens, the benevolent businessman who wants to leave his grandson more than simply money.

Stovall, a fan of "The Rockford Files” and "Maverick,” said Garner's casting was serendipitous, with the movie coming out during Oklahoma's Centennial, and shortly after Garner was honored with a statue in his hometown of Norman.

"When our casting people brought him to me as a selection, I don't think they ever thought about the fact that we were both Oklahomans, but it was such a tremendous thing,” Stovall, of Tulsa, said.

"He has been just everything you would hope he would be,” Stovall said. "He just instantly became Red Stevens to me.”

"The Ultimate Gift” is the story of Red Stevens and his grandson, Jason. When Red dies, he leaves Jason a mysterious inheritance. To receive the inheritance, Jason must complete 12 "gifts,” to learn lessons imparted by Red in his will.

"Since nearly 4 million people have read the book now, it was very important to me to get all 12 of the gifts in there,” Stovall said. "One of the things we did, while the credits are rolling at the end: Each of the gifts, there's a little vignette that plays from the movie showing what the gift was, just so people know it's all really still there.

"But obviously, to have a commercial movie, we had to have a little romance and a little danger.”

At the heart of the romance, and the danger, is Drew Fuller, who was cast as Jason Stevens. Fuller bought into the "Ultimate Gift” message, and in fact, still takes part in special events promoting the book and the message.

Stovall talks to students across the country about "The Ultimate Gift,” which is taught in many curriculums. Fuller recently appeared with Stovall to talk to the students about the message.

"These are people who made this movie over a year ago, but they still believe in what we're doing and they come out and do things with us,” Stovall said.

Also starring in the movie are Brian Dennehy, Lee Meriwether, Bill Cobbs and Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine.”)

"Abigail Breslin, who plays little Emily, when we got her to do this film, it was really before ‘Little Miss Sunshine' had hit and earned an Academy Award nomination, and that was a real gift to us,” Stovall said. "Because right now, we probably couldn't afford to get Abby on a film like this, so that was a great opportunity.”

Stovall said Dennehy's portrayal of Texas rancher Gus Caldwell motivated Stovall to add the Gus character into the sequel to "The Ultimate Gift.”

"Gus was not going to appear in the next book, but once I experienced Brian playing Gus, now he's in the new book,” Stovall said.

The next book, called "The Ultimate Life,” is due out in October and follows the continuing adventures of Jason Stevens.

Stovall was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disorder at age 17; by age 29, he lost his sight. He is founder of the Narrative Television Network, which makes movies and television accessible for the nation's 13 million blind and visually impaired people and their families.

"As a blind person myself, my characters are kind of sketchy to me,” Stovall said. "These characters, since I was involved in making the movie, they came to life and were real people to me. So, it was more fun for me to write the next book.”

A Soft Hearted Maverick

2007-09-02T20:54:00.001-04:00

First, click on the title of this post to go to its home page, then click on each frame to read the pages in HTML format

Terrorism In The Heartland

2007-07-30T10:40:00.000-04:00

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building Bombing From James Garner's 1995 Commencement speech at Oklahoma University ~

"If this tragedy has one bright spot, its that its shown the character, dignity, and strength of the Oklahoma people as they go about their lives. It makes every Oklahoman, no matter where they are, proud to be from Oklahoma. "

A Small Trivia Quiz

2007-07-05T10:46:00.000-04:00

Quite a few trivia sites mention that Jim had the nickname "Slick" when he was a teen. Ah, but does anyone know how he came to have that moniker?

If I don't get any guesses - right or wrong - I guess you'll never know...

James Garner - The Quintessential American

Jon Winokur to Discuss His James Garner Book at Library

Related articles

The Last Real Man - People Magazine, April 22, 1985

Related articles

James Richmond Barthé (January 28, 1901 – March 5, 1989) was an African American sculptor known for his many public works

Related articles

James And Gigi Garner from "The Garner Files"

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

A Thank You To James Garner

Please Thank Them Before They Go: James Garner

Related articles

Dear James Garner Fans by Gigi Garner

Related articles

Why James Garner Is the Real Star of His Era

The Rockford Style

By CLIVE JAMES

The Garner Files: A Memoir

By James Garner and Jon Winokur

Related articles

Related articles

Jim And Korean Orphan

Related articles

The Rap Sheet - Grilling Garner

Related articles

The Garner Files: A Memoir by James Garner – Book Review

James Garner’s Acting Career

Cars, Car Racing, and Golf

Politics

James Garner has always been outspoken about his feelings and in the book he continues his straightforwardness. He definitely has strong feelings about many issues and at one time was approached about running for Governor of California.

The Book

Related articles

Jack Garner Dies At Age 84

Lessons From James Garner

MAVERICK'S DAUGHTER: Rockford's Daughter Is A Real-Life Private Eye

A Newly Released DVD Collection and Memoir James Garner Him Some Long-Overdue Recognition

James Garner's career spans decades, but a newly released DVD collection and memoir give him some long-overdue recognition

Pblished: Sunday, May 22, 2011, 8:03 AM

Related articles

TV Weekend; James Garner as a Curmudgeon Pulled Back Into Life

James Garner - Marlowe, 1969

I really enjoyed this film when it came out. In retrospect, it's a great "preview" of The Rockford Files that came a few years later.

Trivia Quiz: What line in this film was also used in an episode of The Rockford Files in a similar situation?

This is from Rock! Shock! Pop!.com

Marlowe

Happy Birthday, Jim! 83 Years Young!

Related articles

Not Just For April 1st!

James Garner will publish a memoir, 'The Garner Files,' with Simon & Schuster

Related articles

One of Jim's Birthday Presents

You Can't Remake The Rockford Files!

Related articles by Zemanta

The National Enquirer Strikes (Out) Again!

James Garner as Maverick - Nicole Hamilton

Suspect Wins Over Detectives With 'Rockford Files' Reference

Happy Birthday, Jim!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Happy Birthday James Garner!

Oklahoma Today Says, "Jim Dandy"

Retro Thing: Picture Frame With That Charmer, James Garner

The Rockford Files - The Final Season

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Visiting The Troops - 809th Engineer Battalion, Camp Ruam Chit Chai, Thailand

Oklahoman makes AOL’s Top 50 TV Hunks list

New Pictures of Jim

Gigi Garner's New Book Is Out!

JAMES GARNER - GARNER'S DAUGHTER: 'DAD'S FINE'

Garner AIR Vette to be Auctioned

Jim Is HOME!

An Update For All Who Have Had Jim In Their Thoughts And Prayers

TV Dads

Get Well Wishes For A TRUE American Idol

James Garner 'doing well' after stroke - CNN.com

Share this on:

Claretta Mariana

Grand Prix gave him an appetite for speed

New Movie For James Garner