Bret Maverick(1981-1982)

Information from IMDb

Plot Summary
Set in Sweetwater, Arizona in the 1880s with solid citizen Bret
owning a ranch and part of the Red Ox Saloon. Stable cast with varying stories,
often centered on conflict between the ambitious sheriff and everyone else.

Series Cast
James Garner ... Bret Maverick (18 episodes, 1981-1982)
Ed Bruce ... Tom Guthrie (17 episodes, 1981-1982)
David Knell ... Rodney Catlow (17 episodes, 1981-1982)
Jack Garner ... Jack the Bartender (17 episodes, 1981-1982)
Luis Delgado ... Shifty Delgrado (17 episodes, 1981-1982)
John Shearin ... Sheriff Mitchel Dowd (17 episodes, 1981-1982)
Richard Hamilton ... Cy Whittaker (17 episodes, 1981-1982)
Ramon Bieri ... Elijah Crow (17 episodes, 1981-1982)
Darleen Carr ... Mary Lou 'M.L.' Springer / ... (16 episodes, 1981-1982)
Tommy Bush ... Deputy Sturgess (13 episodes, 1981-1982)
Priscilla Morrill ... Estelle Springer (7 episodes, 1981-1982)
Stuart Margolin ... Philo Sandeen (7 episodes, 1981-1982)
Marj Dusay ... Kate Hanrahan (4 episodes, 1981-1982)
Robert Webber ... Everest Sinclair (2 episodes, 1982)
James Staley ... Brother Samuel Workman / ... (2 episodes, 1982)
Simone Griffeth ... Jasmine DuBois (2 episodes, 1982)
Tony Burton ... Arthur (2 episodes, 1982)
Ed Bakey ... Deacon Tippett / ... (2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Richard Libertini ... Fingers Wachefsky (2 episodes, 1982)
Jameson Parker ... Whitney Delaworth III (2 episodes, 1982)
Kathleen Doyle ... Angela (2 episodes, 1982)
David H. Banks ... Delta Fox / ... (2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Norman Merrill Jr. ... Desk Clerk / ... (2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Ruth Estler ... Lady / ... (2 episodes, 1981)
David Banks ... Delta Fox / ... (2 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Directed by
Ivan Dixon (3 episodes, 1981-1982)
William Wiard (3 episodes, 1981-1982)
Leo Penn (3 episodes, 1982)
Stuart Margolin (2 episodes, 1981)
John Patterson (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Produced by
Gordon T. Dawson .... supervising producer (7 episodes, 1981-1982)
Geoffrey Fischer .... producer (7 episodes, 1981-1982)
Mark Horowitz .... associate producer (7 episodes, 1981-1982)
Chas. Floyd Johnson .... producer (7 episodes, 1981-1982)
Meta Rosenberg .... executive producer (7 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Writing Credits
Gordon T. Dawson (12 episodes, 1981-1982)
Lee David Zlotoff (7 episodes, 1981-1982)
Geoffrey Fischer (3 episodes, 1982)
Paul L. Ehrmann (2 episodes, 1982)

Series Original Music by
J.A.C. Redford (18 episodes, 1981-1982)
Murray MacLeod (7 episodes, 1981-1982)

Series Cinematography by
Andrew Jackson (6 episodes, 1981-1982)
Frank Thackery (unknown episodes)

Filming Locations
Laramie Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Sable Ranch - 25933 Sand Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California, USA
Stage 20, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Stage 21, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Bret Maverick is a 1981-82 American Western television series starring James Garner
in the role that made him famous in the 1957 series Maverick:
a professional poker player traveling alone year after year through the Old West
from riverboat to saloon. In this sequel series,
Maverick has settled down in Sweetwater, Arizona Territory, where he owns a ranch
(The Lazy Ace) and is co-owner of the town's saloon (The Red Ox).
However, Maverick is still always on the lookout for his next big score,
and continues to gamble and practice various con games whenever the chance arises.
The series was developed by Gordon Dawson, and produced by Garner's company
Cherokee Productions (mistakenly dubbed "Comanche Productions" on the end credits)
in association with Warner Bros. Television.

User Review

Quote

An underrated achievement for James Garner
9 November 2009 | by Thomas Chacko(United States)

On the heels of his fabulous series THE ROCKFORD FILES, James Garner took the risk of reviving the character that made him a household name. However little faith NBC placed in this series, it remains a treat for Garner fans, far superior to the previous effort, THE NEW MAVERICK (starring Charles Frank), and thoroughly enjoyable for anyone who appreciates a Western done with style and class. Fortunately the prints are in good shape, helping us to appreciate the colour photography and production design.

The main attraction, of course, is the star, who once again had a series tailored to his own unique and very likable persona. Some have dismissed this as Jim Rockford in the Old West, but I consider that an asset. As an older, slightly heavier actor - and former stuntman plagued by injuries - Garner could not simply replay the Maverick of 25 years earlier. Instead he made the attempt to gear more lighthearted plots and characters to a 1980s audience. (Perhaps the attempt was futile, considering what most of '80s television turned out to be!)

Garner is aided by a good cast, among them Richard Hamilton, as his "Lazy Ace" ranch hand; Ramon Bieri, as the snooty bank president; Darleen Carr, as the thorn-in-the-side reporter; and Stuart Margolin, his "Rockford" colleague, as a half-Indian con-man. Country singer Ed Bruce plays Maverick's taciturn partner in the Red Ox Saloon, and lends his writing and singing talents to the delightful theme song ("Maverick Didn't Come Here to Lose").

Pity that this series lasted only for one year. My thanks, however, to the Encore Westerns Channel for providing a pleasant, uninterrupted 50 minutes of television. It sure as shootin' brightens my day!

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