One of Hollywood's great leading men, James Garner boasts a career that spans six decades. Whether known as Bret Maverick, Jim Rockford, or Noah Calhoun, Garner's mass appeal transcends generations, but few know the true story of his life, now told in his intimate memoir of growing up in Oklahoma and making it in Hollywood. After suffering physical abuse at the hands of his stepmother, Garner left home at fourteen. He went on to become Oklahoma's first draftee of the Korean War and was honoured for his bravery with two Purple Hearts. Garner eventually returned to Los Angeles where his acting career took off. Working alongside some of the most renowned celebrities - among them Julie Andrews, Marlon Brando, Clint Eastwood - Garner became a star in his own right. Despite struggles with stage fright and depression, he threw himself into his work and was known in the public eye as one of the most revered actors of his generation. The Garner Files offers a compelling portrait of the life of a true Hollywood legend and household name as he navigates the turmoil and unpredictability of a life on screen.
The Garner Files: A Memoir
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About the Author
James Garner has starred in numerous television shows and films, from Maverick and The Rockford Files to The Great Escape with Steve McQueen and Victor Victoria with Julie Andrews.
Jon Winokur is the author of various nonfiction books, including The Portable Curmudgeon, Zen to Go, and Advice to Writers. He lives in Los Angeles.
Jon Winokur is the author of various nonfiction books, including The Portable Curmudgeon, Zen to Go, and Advice to Writers. He lives in Los Angeles.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
"Listen now to my voice;" -- Exodus 18:19 (NKJV)
When I was in elementary school, a friend's mother asked me what my favorite television program was. I didn't blink an eye before announcing, "Maverick." She looked surprised, and I explained that I enjoyed watching a show about someone who first tried to think of a solution rather than just use violence. I also mentioned that I thought the show was very funny. From that show's appeal, I followed James Garner and enjoyed watching The Rockford Files and some of his better movies, such as The Americanization of Emily.
Knowing that actor memoirs are often vacuous, I decided to take a chance on finding out more about James Garner. I was glad that I did. There's interesting material here for James Garner fans.
I was fascinated to find out how little training (essentially none) he had before launching into being a successful actor. He credits much of his success to simply observing what outstanding actors did and to being fully present in a scene, no matter how many times the scene is reshot. Clearly, he must be very observant and able to adjust his mind and body to reflect what's going on around him. I was even more interested to learn that he had become a pretty decent golfer through employing a similar method.
The book also succeeds in portraying him as a person who cares about others and does so in respectful ways.
Since the story is leavened with humor, the bromides and insider stories go down a little more smoothly than usual.
I knew that he had struggled with chronic pain for decades (try being humorous through that!), but I didn't know that he also has quite a temper and suffered from greater than usual amounts of stage fright.
While you probably won't come away from this book with much of personal value, I believe you will probably feel a little more encouraged to persevere at whatever you do, to take life with humor, to look out for others, and to pay attention when you have a chance to improve.
Live a positive life, as best you can.
When I was in elementary school, a friend's mother asked me what my favorite television program was. I didn't blink an eye before announcing, "Maverick." She looked surprised, and I explained that I enjoyed watching a show about someone who first tried to think of a solution rather than just use violence. I also mentioned that I thought the show was very funny. From that show's appeal, I followed James Garner and enjoyed watching The Rockford Files and some of his better movies, such as The Americanization of Emily.
Knowing that actor memoirs are often vacuous, I decided to take a chance on finding out more about James Garner. I was glad that I did. There's interesting material here for James Garner fans.
I was fascinated to find out how little training (essentially none) he had before launching into being a successful actor. He credits much of his success to simply observing what outstanding actors did and to being fully present in a scene, no matter how many times the scene is reshot. Clearly, he must be very observant and able to adjust his mind and body to reflect what's going on around him. I was even more interested to learn that he had become a pretty decent golfer through employing a similar method.
The book also succeeds in portraying him as a person who cares about others and does so in respectful ways.
Since the story is leavened with humor, the bromides and insider stories go down a little more smoothly than usual.
I knew that he had struggled with chronic pain for decades (try being humorous through that!), but I didn't know that he also has quite a temper and suffered from greater than usual amounts of stage fright.
While you probably won't come away from this book with much of personal value, I believe you will probably feel a little more encouraged to persevere at whatever you do, to take life with humor, to look out for others, and to pay attention when you have a chance to improve.
Live a positive life, as best you can.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
182 reviews
120 of 127 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth reading for Garner fans
Nov 1 2011
By K. Corn
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've enjoyed watching James Garner through the years and so I was eager to read his memoir (this review is based on the Kindle edition, available before other editions shipped.).
Fans looking for biographical details about Garner should be satisfied. For example, who would have guessed that Garner hates public speaking and had to battle this to work on screen? He never grew fond of acting on stage.Readers can discover how and why he grew to dislike performing live, an adversion rooted in traumatic childhood experiences.
Although there are plenty of fascinating gems about Garner in his book it is a slow read at first. Garner starts with recollections of his childhood and then moves on to his first love, time spent in the military, and struggles as an actor in the 50's - alongside Clint Eastwood and others who weren't yet famous. The book does pick up speed and finally falls into a comfortable pace.
I felt that the section about his childhood and family roots could have been tighter, focusing more on the pivotal moments rather than drier parts about his family tree. Looking at these sections from the perspective of prospective readers it is likely that they'll be eager for events to " cut to the chase" sooner.
It was inspiring to see how Garner's tenacity serves him well, keeping him from giving up when even respected acting coaches told him he'd never succeed. Friends such as Henry Fonda allowed Garner to observe and pick up valuable techniques.
All in all, well worth reading for anyone interested in Garner's take on life and acting.
Bonus features: introduction by Julie Andrews and a special section where family and friends include recollections of Garner. They include Doris Day, Tom Selleck, and Joel Grey.
Fans looking for biographical details about Garner should be satisfied. For example, who would have guessed that Garner hates public speaking and had to battle this to work on screen? He never grew fond of acting on stage.Readers can discover how and why he grew to dislike performing live, an adversion rooted in traumatic childhood experiences.
Although there are plenty of fascinating gems about Garner in his book it is a slow read at first. Garner starts with recollections of his childhood and then moves on to his first love, time spent in the military, and struggles as an actor in the 50's - alongside Clint Eastwood and others who weren't yet famous. The book does pick up speed and finally falls into a comfortable pace.
I felt that the section about his childhood and family roots could have been tighter, focusing more on the pivotal moments rather than drier parts about his family tree. Looking at these sections from the perspective of prospective readers it is likely that they'll be eager for events to " cut to the chase" sooner.
It was inspiring to see how Garner's tenacity serves him well, keeping him from giving up when even respected acting coaches told him he'd never succeed. Friends such as Henry Fonda allowed Garner to observe and pick up valuable techniques.
All in all, well worth reading for anyone interested in Garner's take on life and acting.
Bonus features: introduction by Julie Andrews and a special section where family and friends include recollections of Garner. They include Doris Day, Tom Selleck, and Joel Grey.
77 of 82 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
"The Garner Files" Just like a one on one with Jim.
Nov 2 2011
By Robert A. Howe
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
Reading "The Garner Files" James Garner's long awaited memoirs written with Jon Winokur is like being in the room with Jim having a "one on one" conversation. Jim's voice comes through loud and clear (Very loud when the need arises). Having spent two years on the set of "The Rockford Files" I can attest that Jon Winokur does an excellent job of letting Jim do the talking. Jim's wonderful sense of humor, dry wit and yes his shyness comes through revealing a man who in my opinion is so good at his craft, he doesn't have to brag about his talents, he lets the work speak for itself.
His love of golf and his "Antics" on the links are some of the funniest moments of the book. Reading Jim's telling of his ability "To bury a golf club in the turf" I swore I was sitting in Jim's motor home on the set of "Rockford" laughing along with everyone else. I am so thrilled that Jon Winokur was able to do what biographers for years have been unable to do. To get James Garner to talk about...James Garner.
Whether he's Rockford, Maverick, Murphy Jones, Charlie Madison or any of the other wonderful characters Jim has played in over fifty years of acting, in "The Garner Files" you get Jim Garner, and his no holes barred approach to life, love, acting, politics all in that warm voice that comes off the page and touches our hearts like James Garner has done for 83 years.
His love of golf and his "Antics" on the links are some of the funniest moments of the book. Reading Jim's telling of his ability "To bury a golf club in the turf" I swore I was sitting in Jim's motor home on the set of "Rockford" laughing along with everyone else. I am so thrilled that Jon Winokur was able to do what biographers for years have been unable to do. To get James Garner to talk about...James Garner.
Whether he's Rockford, Maverick, Murphy Jones, Charlie Madison or any of the other wonderful characters Jim has played in over fifty years of acting, in "The Garner Files" you get Jim Garner, and his no holes barred approach to life, love, acting, politics all in that warm voice that comes off the page and touches our hearts like James Garner has done for 83 years.
55 of 61 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jimmy...We Hardly Knew Ye...Till Now!!
Nov 2 2011
By Thomas McGaughan
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
First of all, I have to say that I have been waiting and hoping that this book would be written for the past 20 years. I bought the Kindle version for PC and stayed up until 3:30AM this morning reading this quality work. You can hear Jim's voice through the words written and I thoroughly enjoyed his self-effacing comments on and about his career choices. His descriptions of how other actors' personalities were in real life were refreshing to read. Usually every year around the holidays, I watch the entire Rockford Files collection that I have on DVds, a marathon of sorts! It is going to be much better this year since I know so much more about my favorite actor. If you want to read about how a real 'Maverick' came to be an actor, movie star and frustrated golfer than this is a book you won't want to put down...I didn't...Thanks again for a great book Jim and one that I will be able to reread every year around the holidays...!!
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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