RIP James Garner

Cafe Society
101

He was a Hero, no matter what he played. He had a smile that just made people forget the rest. I think women loved that smile; guys just shook their heads & marveled at him for being a Truly Magnificent B-stard.
Rockford was a guy who tried to do the right thing and was perpetually punished for living his beliefs. The role hurt him badly and I know there were hard feelings, but you could tell that there was SO much of Jim Garner in that role.

I wished him happy birthday once on twitter & his daughter actually responded; she was very sweet & said he was extremely happy to have been remembered. I was always happy that for maybe 10 seconds I might have made him smile when for years
and years he had made me smile.

He and I shared a birthday when he was alive. (mine was quite a few years later though)
If he read that, I’d imagine him laughing & smiling & saying, “…not That many.” :wink:

102

Then he went to James Franciscus’ house and hit him, because everyone always got those two confused.

103

This was just posted.

104

I never knew that… but you know something? I could see that happening… :wink:

105

I don’t believe in using violent methods for things like this, but if someone is going to get violent these seem like relatively less discreditable reasons.

106

There’s a James Garner Marathon starting at 6:00 AM on Monday, 28 July.

I’ll be recording Toward The Unknown.

107

I got Victor/Victoria in the mail from Netflix yesterday and will be watching it today with my wife (who has never seen it).

108

“Support Your Local Sheriff” and “Support Your Local Gunfighter” were brilliant takes on the reluctant hero, each would have made a great TV series. Garner was essential to the success of each film, mostly playing the straight man to a brilliant ensemble cast, but getting in some good comedic lines of his own.

Discussing the arrival of a gunfighter in town who’s out to kill Garner’s character (Jason):

Jason McCullough: Why do these jaspers always have to hit town at meal time?

Prudy: You gonna kill another man?

Jason McCullough: Well, I’m sure we all hope it turns out that way.
Jason McCullough: [Fingering dented badge] That must have saved the life of whoever was wearin’ it.

Mayor Olly Perkins: Well, it sure would have, if it hadn’t been for all them other bullets flyin’ in from everywhere.
[after Pa Danby leaves the sheriff’s office]

Jason McCullough: You know… he strikes me as bein’ a lonely man.

Jake: Lonely? Danby? Why he’s a mean, no-good, lowdown bushwhacker!

Jason McCullough: Well, there you see? No wonder he’s lonely.
Mayor Olly Perkins: [talking about Prudy] She’s had some terrible shocks this year. She got wealthy almost overnight - I think maybe it unhinged her a little bit. Then she was always kind of big for her age and “pooberty” hit her hard - that’ll do it you know.

Jason McCullough: I didn’t know that.

Mayor Olly Perkins: Well, it will!

[after more conversation with the mayor, Jason is leaving the house and looks up the stairs to where Prudy ran off]

Jason McCullough: “Pooberty”

Excellent actor, it’s a shame he’s gone.

109

“You hit that feller from behind!”

“Just as hard as I could.”