BEST JAMES GARNER PROJECTS
“Maverick” (1957-62) Though he left the popular, often-lighthearted Western series early over a contract dispute (not the only one he’d have in his career), Garner became a star as gambler and ladies’ man Bret Maverick.
“The Great Escape” (1963) In this alltime-great adventure movie, based on a true story, Garner plays one of the Allied prisoners plotting a getaway from a World War II camp.
“The Thrill of It All” (1963) Easily one of Garner’s best romantic comedies casts him as a doctor perplexed by his wife’s (Doris Day) sudden stardom in soap commercials.
“The Americanization of Emily” (1964) This romantic wartime comedy-drama, teaming him with Julie Andrews in a Paddy Chayefsky screenplay, was cited by Garner as his favorite of his films. It’s included in a tribute to him that runs for most of the day Tuesday, Jan. 17, on Turner Classic Movies.
“Duel at Diablo” (1966) Director Ralph Nelson’s terrifically gritty Western features Garner as a former frontier scout who combines a personal revenge mission with his search for a runaway wife (Bibi Andersson).
“Grand Prix” (1966) Director John Frankenheimer’s drama, which uses exciting driver’s point-of-view and split-screen techniques plentifully, sees Garner lead an all-star cast as a veteran of the international racing circuit.
“Hour of the Gun” (1967) Garner makes a fine Wayatt Earp in this mature Western that reunited him with “The Great Escape” director John Sturges.
“Support Your Local Sheriff!” (1969) After making several serious Westerns, Garner spoofed the genre in this comedy about an unlikely lawman who grows into the job.
“The Rockford Files” (1974-80) Garner’s famously laid-back personality gave him another television hit, as he played a flawed private detective who still managed to get his cases solved. After the weekly run ended, Garner made several TV-movie sequels.
“Victor/Victoria” (1982) Reunited with Julie Andrews and directed by her husband, Blake Edwards, Garner plays a Chicago gangster who can’t believe her character is the female impersonator she’s posing as.
“Murphy’s Romance” (1985) Garner earned his only Oscar nomination as a pharmacist who develops a May-December romance with a divorced mom (Sally Field, who has called Garner the best kisser she ever worked with) new to his small town.
“Promise” (1986) This Emmy-winning drama boasts superb work by Garner as a man who has to assume custody of his troubled younger brother (James Woods).
“Barbarians at the Gate” (1993) This terrific, fact-based cable movie takes a whimsical approach as Garner plays the chief of RJR Nabisco, whose bid to take over the company sets up a labyrinth of financing complications,
“The Notebook” (2004) One of Garner’s most popular projects came toward the end of his career, a relationship drama that spans several decades. And if you don’t have tissues for the ending, at least you’ve been forewarned.