In a previous article, Bret Maverick, a revival of the original 1957-1962 ABC series, was discussed. Ending in 1982 after only one season, the revival had its merits, and star James Garner was nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his iconic portrayal of Maverick.
Throughout the series short run, it is often mentioned by various characters showing up in the town of Sweetwater that they want to play cards, meet, or just plain shoot Bret. Seems he has become quite famous, or maybe notorious, over the years, and he hates that, never wanting his picture taken.
One episode, "The Not So Magnificent Six" focuses on a newspaper owner hiring six gunslingers to kill Maverick. The owner’s intent is to write up the incident and sell it to the major magazines back East.
A Wiser, Mature Bret Maverick
Some fans of the show dislike the idea of Maverick settling down, which is exactly what he does in this show. He purchases a ranch and part ownership in a saloon, so his adventures are confined to the town of Sweetwater.
Remember, Garner was not portraying Maverick as a 30-year-old, but as a 53-year-old who has spent his entire life drifting from town to town. It is possible a gambler like Maverick might eventually tire of being thrown into jail or getting told to leave every town by the sheriff after winning considerable stakes.
The Supporting Cast, Featuring Stuart Margolin and Ed Bruce
The supporting cast is largely unknown, except for actor Stuart Margolin as con artist Philo Sandeen. Famous for playing Garner’s friend "Angel" on The Rockford Files, Margolin plays virtually the same role here, except in a western environment.
Ramon Bieri plays the mayor of the town. Although his name is mentioned in the opening credits, he appears in only about half of the episodes. For fans of late '60s and '70s TV, his face has popped up on numerous shows, including Gunsmoke. He resembles actor Aldo Ray.
Actor, writer, and singer Ed Bruce plays the part-owner of the saloon and friend of Maverick. He had several country hits during the late '70s and early '80s, and he co-wrote the hugely successful “Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys” for Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. He also sang and wrote the “Theme From Bret Maverick” that opens each episode.
Jack Garner, James’ real-life older brother, plays a kind barkeep in the series. He regularly appeared in every episode. Basically, Jack is a skinnier, thinning hair version of James.
Other characters in the supporting cast include a newspaper editor, portrayed by pretty Darleen Carr, her staff, the current sheriff, and Maverick's ranch foreman. So, for the first time, Maverick features a regular supporting cast.
Maverick: Still Not On DVD
It's high time the original “Maverick” series gets an official season by season DVD set. Once that happens, hopefully "Bret Maverick" will follow suit. Until then, fans can continue to enjoy the episodes, commercial free and uncut, on Encore Westerns each Saturday morning.
References
- Internet Movie Database: Bret Maverick entry. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081837/
- Starz: Encore Westerns....Bret Maverick entry. http://www.starz.com/series/BretMaverick
Jeremy Roberts - A 2008 graduate of the University of Georgia with a Masters of Agricultural Leadership, Jeremy enjoys telling a story. Writing about ...
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