I'm still not sure how I feel about James Garner. A TV giant absolutely - I was never a fan of Maverick or The Rockford Files but I recognise his skill in them and his status as a TV star... also in a series of high quality TV movies in the late 80s. His track record is a movie star is patchier - I agree with the critic who once said he seemed to make movies he was in seem like TV shows, but he appeared in a decent number of classics: The Great Escape, The Americanisation of Emily, Support Your Local Sherriff.
There's lots about him to admire - a marriage of over forty years (albeit with some separations - I did hear he had a fling with Lauren Bacall hence his appearance in The Fan) to a woman who had a daughter with polio to another man when they met, a strong work ethic, a respect for the script (he doesn't like going off book), a willingness to sue Warners over their harsh contracts and also Universal after ripping him off, a strong civil rights record (including taking part in the March on Washington).
He has a prickly side, a temper - he admits to punching out Tony Franciosca (on the set of A Man Could Get Killed), Glenn A Larson and someone who heckled him at golf. He can be pompous and up his own arse, and takes these swipes at Rog Huggins (was it Garner and not Huggins who added the humour in Maverick - really?)
In this books he also skims over stuff which would have been worth talking about in greater detail (or at least I would've liked to hear about it more) - doing cocaine with John Belushi, a fifty year marijuana habit (his life long smoking led to heart surgery). Instead we get long-winded chapters on his interest in golf, football and racing cars. I did like his chapter on how he approached acting. I would've liked to have heard more about his films and TV shows but appreciate the chapter at the back of the book where he goes through all of them.
Garner had a rough upbringing - his mother died when he was young (a botched abortion), he was passed around to various relatives, dad drank and one of his new wives was physically abusive, it was the depression. After school he bummed around from job to job and saw active service in Korea (proper service to - he took part in battles, shot at people, was injured - this is a good section of the book).
He was lucky, too - blessed with beauty (he earned some money modelling), and a childhood friend was Paul Gregory who he bumped in to and suggested Garner try acting. Gregory promptly put him in a stage production of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial which went to Broadway - Garner's role was only small but he was in a hit and got to watch Hank Fonda and Lloyd Nolan act. He learned lessons well and was signed to Warner Bros who eventually put him in Maverick.
The book has a few digs and claps for Steve McQueen (a neighbour in the Hollywood Hills for a time), a strong dislike of Charles Bronson and Charlton Heston. There's a dull chapter where Garner's family and friends talk about how great he is. I have a lot of respect for Garner but after this, I get the feeling that I don't like him. I'm sure he wouldn't care a toss!
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