User Reviews

"Percentage" is an okay episode, but it doesn't involve much poker or flim-flamming. Although the bit where Bart avoids a "dead hand" thanks to casino owner Dave's set-up is cute. As is Dave's reaction to discovering that Bart outsmarted him.

Speaking of Dave's reaction, Gerald Mohr playing him is the best thing about the episode. Mohr is always a class act, and he's as good here as he was in his other 'Maverick' appearances. As well as his appearances on other shows of the period: I particular remember him from "The Thimblerigger" on 'Lawman'. He's suave and his characters have personality, even if "Percentage" doesn't display Mohr at his finest. Still, Dave manages to remain a centerpiece of the episode through his charm and cunning.

Myra (Karen Steel) is okay. She's another 'Maverick' femme fatale, stuck into the noir atmosphere of "Percentage". Which is what most of the episode is: a Western film noir. As the Bret episodes demonstrate, and even the Beau ones I've seen, 'Maverick' could be so much more than that. "Percentage", more than any other episode, demonstrates that Garner got the comedy episodes while Kelly got the "serious" episodes later. Particularly after Garner left. There's not much chance for Kelly to demonstrate his comedy chops in "Percentage". And without the 'Maverick' comedy (not even a "Pappy said"!), the show isn't any better than most Westerns of the period.

FYI, my local network, MeTV, cut off the part where Bart talks to Pop on the way into town. Which makes a lot of the plot hash. Which is kinda important in a mystery story. And you wonder what the significance is of Pop, when the opening scene sets him up.

But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?

Funny, suspenseful, touching and a jolly good mystery with red herrings enough to sink a commercial fishing boat, this episode 3:4 is IMHO what "Maverick" was all about. While as a teen I preferred Bret to Bart (and I give place to no one as a fan of James Garner) I have come to a greater appreciation of Jack Kelly's Bart as I watch them now. I really think that Kelly was under-appreciated in his time both as an actor and as a comic actor. Karen Steele is at her loveliest as the girl just trying to make her way in a man's world. Gerald Mohr, an actor I liked as much "back then" as "now", gives his consistently solid performance; speaking of unappreciated actors! This is a taut little episode that deserves an attentive viewing. My only problem is that someone failed to notice that at the very beginning Bart's outfit mysteriously changes between the saddle jacket in the cemetery, to his town clothes while riding in and back to saddle gear in the hotel.