Bret Maverick: The Complete Series

Long-awaited from Warner Bros., who above all the other studios seem to achieved the largest number of 'great' westerns over decades and nearly to the present, but darn sorry that it look for big Jim Garner - surely the most beloved of the westerners since Duke Wayne - to leave us this month of 2014 for people who would not have previously seen this to be allowed to appreciate all that he had to bring to the screen. He was also a man who never once brought his politics to his performance or his productions, which seems one mean feat for people today.When he began starring in and co-producing BRET MAVERICK (1981-82) James Garner was massively overworked, beleaguered by protracted court battles from having been cheated by the big studios to the point where his main super-hits were all interpreted by their accounts departments as having lost money when it came to his remuneration and share of profit! This and his range of business and creative responsibilities - physical and celebral - had made him quite severely ill, compounded by a sustained attack on a highway of deranged proportions which nearly left him dead. Typical of the man, none of this shows in his performance, but a certain sparkle has gone out of his eye.The pilot movie by the multi-talented Stuart Margolin - a loss to westerns as a filmmaker and a loss to all current filmed entertainment as a character star - is the best thing. The ensuing episodes are compromised by a lack of western faces - since even the most outlandish examples of western film ventures know they must get someone from the 'club' in to give it almost a letter of authenticity. As another reviewer has pointed out, this is however a nice combination of THE ROCKFORD FILES he had just left, with the standard WB western, together with the original MAVERICK (though not too much of it), and NICHOLLS (1971). With his previous hit in mind, one would have liked some more of the faces from THE ROCKFORD FILES (that weren't bound by Universal City exclusive contracts) in it also, as some of the show's directors did follow - including William Wiard - whose name went on 1980's McQueen western TOM HORN. Neither of these casting disappointments detract from the general entertainment value.

I haven't seen this since it was broadcast, just once, on BBC-1 in the '80s. It's excellent, a fine example of the late, great James Garner's easy-going humour and acting style. Lots of ensemble acting here, with some of James Garners' mates from the Rockford Files turning up (notably the excellent Stuart Margolin, who played Angel in Rockford and here appears as a similarly wily character named Philo Sandeen).Apparently Bret Maverick received good ratings at the time but US TV executives often seem, sadly, to have a habit of pulling the plug on anything slightly unconventional before they have a chance to get established. And Bret Maverick is indeed slightly unconventional as a western, as was its predecessor, the original Maverick, from the 50s/early 60s.If you like the better known Alias Smith & Jones (which is itself so classy it stands almost in a genre of its own) you'll probably like this too. Recommended.

I like it but those who want western action, this is not for you. But those who like to travel through those Western days and have fun too with a story, this is highly recommended.

In a new situation, as a steady farmowner, James Garner comes back in his old role as gambler and hustler, and now in a more advanced society

James Garner in a role he was born to play. What more can be said!

very good thank you

This is not the classic Maverick series from the late 50's early 60's but an attempt to relaunch it for the 1980's again with James Garner. I enjoued the series, but to be honest I would recommend the original black and white series with Jack Kelly.

yo cowboy! as he sails off into the wind: where was Bart maverick??