As a general rule, James Garner got the better Maverick scripts, partly because of seniority, and partly because he was better at comedy. When Jack Kelly delivered a light line, it tended to thud like a sack of hammers. Being handsome, charming, and amiable would have been a winning combination for any other series, but Kelly didn't complain that he was less popular, comfortably explained that James Garner was Maverick, and he was Maverick's brother.
This episode features some really strong actors. Maverick often won its time spot on Sunday evenings over strong shows on the other networks, so actors were eager to appear on the show, but many of the actors were young and relatively inexperienced, becoming more recognized in their own right in later years.
J. Pat O'Malley was hardly dry behind the ears, though. He'd been appearing in movies and TV for two decades. His winning smile, twinkling eyes, and British manner make him an extraordinarily popular actor, if one that most people cannot name, with credits om 216 productions before his death in 1985. He played two roles in two episodes of Maverick. He was probably best known for playing Harry Burns in 8 episodes of "My Favorite Martian". He played Mr Bundy in 23 episodes of "Wendy and Me", a show that was actually fairly good, although forgotten today.
Pat Crowley is still an active actress - she was in a 2009 "Cold Case" - even though she started out on the Chevrolet TV Theatre in 1950. She plays the less appealing sister in this episode, although she's equally pretty, with a more appealing personality. She played in three roles in three episodes of Maverick.
Ruta Lee plays the sister who steals sister Pat Crowley's boyfriend - just keeping him in the family, sis - and she is treacherous in other ways as well. She's also still active half a century later, having recently shot a movie to be released in 2010. She also played three roles in three episodes of Maverick.
Despite their multiple appearances, these three didn't appear together in any other episode.
Kelly makes reference in the show to Pitcairn Island, with no explanation. In the 1950s, everyone would have understood the reference to the island involved in the recent blockbuster movie, "Mutiny On The Bounty." Today's viewers are more likely to say, "I've heard that name before. Where is Pitcairn Island, and what is the significance?" It probably would have similarly drawn a quizzical look in the year this episode was set in; the real-life mutiny occurred in 1790.
The script is the star of any Maverick episode, and this one is a little on the weak side. Maverick, however, reminds me of my late friend Harry Goldwater, a small town dry goods merchant, who once told me, "When business is good, it's good, and when it's bad - it's not bad." The poorest Maverick episode beats the pants off the best episode of most of today's situation comedies.
This episode features some really strong actors. Maverick often won its time spot on Sunday evenings over strong shows on the other networks, so actors were eager to appear on the show, but many of the actors were young and relatively inexperienced, becoming more recognized in their own right in later years.
J. Pat O'Malley was hardly dry behind the ears, though. He'd been appearing in movies and TV for two decades. His winning smile, twinkling eyes, and British manner make him an extraordinarily popular actor, if one that most people cannot name, with credits om 216 productions before his death in 1985. He played two roles in two episodes of Maverick. He was probably best known for playing Harry Burns in 8 episodes of "My Favorite Martian". He played Mr Bundy in 23 episodes of "Wendy and Me", a show that was actually fairly good, although forgotten today.
Pat Crowley is still an active actress - she was in a 2009 "Cold Case" - even though she started out on the Chevrolet TV Theatre in 1950. She plays the less appealing sister in this episode, although she's equally pretty, with a more appealing personality. She played in three roles in three episodes of Maverick.
Ruta Lee plays the sister who steals sister Pat Crowley's boyfriend - just keeping him in the family, sis - and she is treacherous in other ways as well. She's also still active half a century later, having recently shot a movie to be released in 2010. She also played three roles in three episodes of Maverick.
Despite their multiple appearances, these three didn't appear together in any other episode.
Kelly makes reference in the show to Pitcairn Island, with no explanation. In the 1950s, everyone would have understood the reference to the island involved in the recent blockbuster movie, "Mutiny On The Bounty." Today's viewers are more likely to say, "I've heard that name before. Where is Pitcairn Island, and what is the significance?" It probably would have similarly drawn a quizzical look in the year this episode was set in; the real-life mutiny occurred in 1790.
The script is the star of any Maverick episode, and this one is a little on the weak side. Maverick, however, reminds me of my late friend Harry Goldwater, a small town dry goods merchant, who once told me, "When business is good, it's good, and when it's bad - it's not bad." The poorest Maverick episode beats the pants off the best episode of most of today's situation comedies.
