Bret Maverick entire run
Adam H. Kerman
have to rewatch the pilot and "Welcome to Sweetwater" and one other episode
I missed in this rotation because the DVR didn't record it for some reason.
I didn't remember several of the episodes, so I must have missed them when
they were in first run. But a number of them were quite familiar.
The best of the lot, hands down, is "A Night at the Red Ox" by Lee David
Zlotoff. Are any of you familiar enough with his work that you remember which
tv show he's best known for?
This story fleshes out Tom's backstory and gives the character real depth.
It's actually one of the few episodes of the series in which Maverick is
seen working with Tom and is genuinely helpful. Tom's character has some
darkness to it. Even at the end of this episode, it's still an open question
if Tom committed the murder he's accused of.
Tom is played by Ed Bruce, the most likeable of the series' characters.
He's actually a country songwriter with several major hits, and a singer.
It's his voice on the opening theme. The show was his first television
acting credit.
The trouble with the series is James Garner simply isn't playing Maverick
as Roy Huggins created the character. Huggins' criticism of the show has
always been on the mark: You do not tie Maverick to a fixed abode. Tom is
a real violation, too. Maverick isn't supposed to have a partner either.
But those aren't the only problems. The show attempts to explore celebrity
and myth creation and reputation, but does it poorly. Maverick is beset
with problems because he's become as legendary as the theme from the original
television series said he was.
The most serious problem is the biggest change in the character of all:
He's a con man. He won't cheat at cards, but he will at everything else.
This Maverick has always been a con man. With his fame, many of his potential
marks recognize him and won't participate. He also takes advantage of his
friends relying on them to bail him out of problems he creates. There were
always a few confidence games in "Maverick" but not every single week.
One episode does feature a long con, and even that's not all that
entertaining: two-part "Faith, Hope and Clarity". The con is the Big Store,
finished by literally playing Red Dog. The mark is Robert Webber, so it's
too bad this wasn't better. The problem is that the con itself is ripped off
of "The Sting" so there are no surprises.
There are weaknesses in the supporting characters. Many episodes, I found
Mary Lou little more than an antagonist with little personality, but she's
given more to do in other episodes. She's the love interest, but Tom's,
not Maverick's, which I think I failed to clarify in another message.
Sheriff Mitch is unlikeable due to total incompetance. His incompetance is
a constant plot device, an easy explanation for why Maverick is so easy
to target.
There are several episodes in which Maverick is the target of assassination.
James Whitmore Jr. turns up in one of those.
Marion Hargrove, who wrote several of the best-loved episodes of the
original series, wrote "Hallie", featuring a Samantha Crawford-like con
woman who regularly bests Bret played by Dixie Carter. It's just ok.
The opening titles use a couple of different photographs, for the sheriff
and the main cast photo. I wonder if it was meant to air earlier in the
series.
The best supporting character is Cy, the ranch foreman. Richard Hamilton,
actually born in Chicago, absolutely looks like he belongs in the Old West.
Garner regular Stuart Margolin is there as Philo, sort of an Angel on drugs.
He hears voices and kind of believes his own lies. In a few of the episodes,
the script does something with the character, but then there's no follow
through. In his best episode, he steals a steer from Maverick and hides
her in his home, realizing too late that there's a waste disposal problem.
Ever present at the bar are Jack the bartender and Shifty Delgrado. One guess
as to who plays 'em.
Brother Bart finally makes an appearance in the final episode.
There are probably a few other actors that worked with Garner on Rockford
and Maverick that turned up that I've forgotten.
Series created by Gordon Dawson, who wrote the memorable "The Hammer of
C Block" and 8 weaker episodes of "The Rockford Files". He wrote much of
"Bret Maverick". Zlotoff wrote the rest.
The sets are terrific, truly evocative of Westerns, and most of the actors
in supporting parts look like they belong in Westerns.
Just wish the scripts weren't generally so weak. This should have been
a lot more entertaining. But Garner and Huggins weren't going to work
together during this period.