His Silly Politics never seemed to fit with his personal and professional Self Reliance: James Garner, 1928-2014

The Lib-Democrat who acted like a rugged individualist Republican. It never quite fit.

I'll miss him! Bet most of us will. m/r

Chemistry Lessons: James Garner, 1928-2014 :: SteynOnline

by Mark Steyn
Ave atque vale
July 21, 2014

watchable in almost anything, even commercials. He had great sexual chemistry, which is why his leading ladies loved working with him. For my money, when it comes to Sixties sex comedies, he was better with Doris Day than Rock Hudson was, and not just for the obvious reason. InMove Over, Darling, Doris and Polly Bergen crank it up a tad too much too soon, and it's Garner dialing it back and reeling it in who keeps the picture's contrivances from getting too much. Over a third of a century, he made three movies with Julie Andrews, and made her seem desirable, which is a trick not every leading man could pull off. And, of course, he and Mariette Hartley turned those Seventies/Eighties Polaroid commercials into such mini-masterpieces of effortless charm that most viewers assumed the relationship had to be real. The chemistry was so good Miss Hartley began going around in a T-shirt proclaiming "I am NOT Mrs James Garner."

On the other hand, he had great non-sexual chemistry with Donald Pleasence in the chick-less Great Escape. Indeed, it's the only really personal relationship in the picture, as Garner's breezy, affable "Scrounger" assumes personal responsibility for the fate of the shy British document-forger as he loses what little eyesight he has left.

After his turn in the otherwise bland Mel Gibson movie version of Maverick in the Nineties, I thought that he'd enjoy a grand Clint-like old age on the big screen.

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