Characters Indeed

Episodes where, relatively new James Garner (Bret Maverick) and veteran Jack Kelly (Bart Maverick) played off each other made the show. Expecially gems such as “Shady Deal at Sunny Acres” (37), “Game of Chance” (42), “Two Beggars on Horseback” (44). and “Maverick Springs” (66). Those were the magic moments of Maverick.

 

Add that to recurring performances by Leo Gordon (1, 3, 24, 37, 53),  Efram Zimbalist, Jr. (as” Dandy Jim” ala James Aloysius Buckley (21, 32, 35, 37, 45, 90 (Character is mention in 18, 42, 54)), Peter Breck (as “Doc” John Henry Holliday (106, 116, 120, 124 (Character is mentioned in 121),  Diame Brewster (as Samantha Crawford (3, 20, 23, 37 (Character is mentioned in 42 & 47)),  Kathleen Crowley (as Melanie Blake (66, 78), Maria (112, 122),  & Modesty Blaine (124)), Arlene Howell (as Cindy Lou Brown (30, 37, 50), Mona Freeman (as Modesty Blaine (58, 70), Gerald Mohr (as “Doc” John Henry Holliday (12, 27), Edward Ashley (as “Nobby” Ned Wingate/Wyngate (69, 76), and Mike Road (as “Pearly” Gates (112, 122) and you have a winning combination of moral lessons, comedy, and adventure.

 

The supporting actors were also strong. Whether old hands of Western television series and movies such as Edgar Buchanan, William Fawcett, John Albright, Chet Brandenburg, Robert Bray, John Carradine, Art Felix, Sam Flint, Herman Hack, Silver Harr, Jack Kenny, Tom London, Cactus Mack, Billy McCoy, Francis McDonald, Kenneth McDonald, Kansas Moehring, Bud Osborne, Jack O’Shea, Hank Patterson, Jack Perrin, Steve Raines, Mike Ragan, Ford Raymond, Glenn Strange, Jack Tornek, or up-and-comers such as Dan Blocker, Peter Brown, Edd Byrnes, Clint Eastwood  Robert Conrad,  Adam West, Chad Everett, William Reynolds, Ty Harden, Martin Landau, Doug McClure, Roger Moore, Ed Nelson, the totally unknown Robert Redford (making his first television appearance), and Lee Van Cleef, the supporting actors presented the framework of each episode upon which the main characters would play.

 

It does seem somewhat strange that so many of the old hands appeared on Maverick, given Roy Huggins desire to debunk the Western “hero” image. However, what better foil for the comedic leanings of the antics of the Maverick boys than those dyed in the wool, easily recognized Western supporting actors.

 

 

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