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Wonderful James Garner Memoir: The Garner Files (Review)

November 14, 2021 By Joi

The Garner Files by James Garner and Jon Winokur

The Garner Files, A Memoir by James Garner

If you’ve ever seen one of my “top 10” favorite actor lists, you already know that James Garner is one of my absolute favorites. Like Lucille Ball (another absolute), James Garner wasn’t just phenomenal on the small screen, he left his mark on the big screen as well. He was masterful at drama, comedy, westerns, romantic films… there simply wasn’t a role this talented actor couldn’t play.

Like a handful of stars from “Hollywood Yesterday,” he has another distinction I believe would make him very, very happy: He’s one of those actors everyone seems to like! Does he make everyone’s list of top 10 favorite movie actors? No… not everyone’s, but that’s only because they’ve yet to see…

  • Murphy’s Romance
  • Support Your Local Sheriff!
  • Victor Victoria
  • Support Your Local Gunfighter
  • The Notebook
  • Marlowe
  • How Sweet it Is
  • Duel at Diablo
  • Etc!

However, everyone LIKES James Garner. He had a wonderful personality, wasn’t involved in embarrassing scandals, and tried to make the world a better place for everyone… not just himself.

Anyone who has seen any of this wonderful actor’s films knows what I’m talking about when I say he had something extra special – a once in a lifetime charisma and likability that came through every scene. Debbie Reynolds, Eve Arden, Jimmy Stewart, Ann-Margret, Jack Lemmon, and James Garner are six stars I think of immediately when I think of this extra special quality.

(Continued below one of my cats, Delilah, clearly a James Garner fan as well…)

Delilah, a James Garner Fan

James Garner and One of His Adoring Fans, Delilah

As I’ve often said, I read A LOT about stars from old Hollywood, classic television, old music, and old radio shows. Call it a passion… or call it an obsession – either shoe fits. I’ve read about far too many men and women to even begin to count but there are a few who always, always, always stand out as having been almost too good to be true.

James Garner is one of these “too good to be true” stars. He was incredibly talented, outrageously colorful, charismatic, a very GOOD person, a loving family man, and genuinely cared for other people and animals. Civil rights and animals were particularly important to him.

Let’s just go ahead and state the obvious… he was one in a million.

The wonderful book pictured here is The Garner Files: A Memoir (Amazon link) by James Garner and Jon Winokur and it’s one of my all-time favorites. Ever seen an episode of The Rockford Files or one of the best romantic comedies (and a movie I am in love with!) Murphy’s Romance? The book reads as though Jim Rockford or Murphy Jones is visiting with you.  Come on… how are you going to beat that?!

Product Description:
Told in the charming and self-deprecating style that has made him one of America’s most beloved celebrities—the real story behind Hollywood legend James Garner, from his Depression-era childhood to his colorful career.

His incredible story, in his own words.

One of Hollywood’s all-time great leading men, James Garner enjoyed a remarkable career spanning six decades, and whether you know him as Bret Maverick or Jim Rockford, his appeal bridges generations. Few know the real story, now told in this intimate memoir of growing up in Depression-era Oklahoma and triumphing in Hollywood.

After physical abuse at the hands of his stepmother, Garner left home at fourteen. He was Oklahoma’s first draftee of the Korean War, receiving two Purple Hearts for combat wounds. Back in Los Angeles in need of a job, Garner reluctantly tried acting and was surprised to find his career taking off. Working with such luminaries as Julie Andrews, Marlon Brando, Steve McQueen, and Clint Eastwood, he became a star in his own right. He threw himself into his work, and despite stage fright and bouts of depression, constant physical pain and epic battles with the Hollywood establishment, he became the acting equivalent of a national monument.

Written with Jon Winokur, The Garner Files is a wry, engaging self-portrait chronicling the vagaries of a screen career along with the cast of personal and professional characters that helped shape a great American life. – From Amazon

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James Garner and Sally Field, Murphy’s Romance

“[an] enjoyable memoir…there’s plenty to love in this book. Garner…has a knack for telling a story and finding the perfect quote to tie it all together…charming…[It] resembles a conversation with an old friend who loves to tell colorful stories.” –PublishersWeekly.com

James Garner has been one of my favorite stars for as long as I can remember. When I was a little girl, I watched him on reruns of Cheyenne and Maverick with my dad and then, when it came to The Rockford Files, it was watched and celebrated each week like a University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball game (if you’re familiar with basketball fever in Kentucky, you’ll know how huge this was!).

We also never missed one of his movies. He was my dad’s favorite actor and he quickly became one of mine as well. He still is – right up there with James Stewart, Henry Fonda, and Buster Keaton.

Being such a fan of this actor, I have read countless articles, quotes, and books. Before reading The Garner Files: A Memoir (Amazon link), I thought I knew a great deal about him and believed I had a pretty good mental picture of the actor as a person.

I was wrong. I didn’t even know half as much as I thought I knew. Not until reading about his childhood, career, and much loved family in his own words did I understand the many facets and layers to this wonderful actor and quality human being.

“Garner follows his own heroic dictum: Plenty of self-deprecating, humor, a general air of live-and-let-live, but when it comes down to it, no pulled punches. For Garner fans, ‘The Garner Files’ is catnip…it is a fine, frank and fun collection.” –LOS ANGELES TIMES

James Garner as Jim Rockford

James Garner as Jim Rockford

I want desperately to give away fascinating (and often as juicy as a summer peach!) details and quotes, but (as I often say with my book reviews and movie reviews, too, for that matter), I want future readers to come across the treasure as unexpectedly as I did.

Suffice to say, you will laugh and you will cry. He was, by all accounts, as likable, honest, and funny as the many lovable characters he brought to life.

“Garner tells his life story with the same wry, self-effacing charm that characterized his classic TV characters: the laidback cowboy Bret Maverick and the down-on-his-heels gumshoe Jim Rockford…Garner comes across as likable on the page as he does on screen.” –“Kirkus Reviews”

I hope you’ll grab a copy of The Garner Files: A Memoir (Amazon link) as soon as you can and dive right in. James Garner was all class and even more entertaining and charismatic than all of his characters combined. Yes, even including Murphy and Jim!

About the Author
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.

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.


Filed Under: James Garner, Old Hollywood Book Reviews Tagged With: book review, James Garner, Old Hollywood Autobiographies, Old Hollywood Biographies

How Sweet It Is with James Garner, Debbie Reynolds, and Maurice Ronet

March 25, 2021 By Joi

How Sweet It Is Lobby Card

How Sweet It Is! (1968)

James Garner and Debbie Reynolds are two of my absolute favorites, so (in spite of its lack of popularity) I had high hopes for How Sweet It Is (1968). When I saw that it also starred the hilarious Paul Lynde (in a relatively small, but VERY memorable role), the hopes went through the roof.

As soon as the opening sequence began, I knew this was going to be a 60s-licious experience. The Sixties had a vibe, a charisma, and a magic not seen in any other decade. You see it in the colors, you see it in the fonts used, you see it in the hairstyles, clothes, cars, peace signs, and furnishings and you hear it in the music. Frankly, I love every single second and lap it up like a kitten does cream.

The movie hits the ground running and never slows down. You know how some movies (even the ones that end up being great) start slow or maybe hit a dip somewhere in the middle? The sort of scenes you fast-forward through when you’re rewatching them? How Sweet It Is doesn’t have a single scene I’d fast-forward through if… make that when… I revisit it.

Now, if you were to launch out and read other reviews from critics (something I’d certainly never recommend doing… more on that in a minute), you may see that the humor was lost on some. The problem is, I’m not sure even half of people who watch movies are capable of just watching a movie for what it is – entertainment. People ask too much from a movie, in my opinion.

I keep it pretty simple. I don’t want it to bore me. That’s it. That’s what I ask from it – keep me entertained… keep me thinking… keep me engaged in some manner. Just don’t bore me!

I don’t care if a movie doesn’t make perfect sense every step of the way (I mean, seriously, if it’s REALITY someone is looking for, why bother turning on a movie in the first place?).

How Sweet It Is has an outrageously good time and I couldn’t have enjoyed joining in on the fun any more than I did. James Garner, Debbie Reynolds, Maurice Ronet, and Paul Lynde were hilarious and seemed to very much enjoy working together.

Debbie Reynolds and James Garner, How Sweet It Is

How Sweet It Is… Hilarious Movie!

I hope you’ll find and watch this colorful movie, yourself, soon.  Life is seldom sweeter than it is when you’re smiling and laughing – two wonderful side effects of watching this film.

You can find How Sweet It Is on dvd (Amazon link) or watch on Prime Video!

Maurice Ronet, How Sweet It Is Lobby Card

Maurice Ronet

Filed Under: Debbie Reynolds, James Garner, Maurice Ronet, Picture of the Day Tagged With: 60s movies, Debbie Reynolds, James Garner, Maurice Ronet

James Garner and Sally Field Make Murphy’s Romance a PERFECT Movie

February 10, 2021 By Joi

James Garner and Sally Field: Murphy's Romance Publicity Photo

When I hear the words “perfect movie,” a particular little group of personal favorites comes to mind. One of the first ones to come to mind is represented here by its phenomenal stars, Sally Field and James Garner…. Murphy’s Romance.

What an absolutely breathtakingly wonderful movie it is!

I recently revisited the movie (for probably the 10th time since first seeing it in 1985). What can I say… I’m completely obsessed with this movie?!

Murphy's Romance Promotional Art

Sally Field and James Garner: Perfect Cast, Perfect Movie

The only reason I don’t have 1,000 posts on Hollywood Yesterday about Murphy’s Romance is simple… I only started branching out to include movies from the 80s. Let’s face it – we’re getting further and further from a decade that often feels like was 10 years ago. I won’t ruin your day with the math, but a movie from 1985 more than qualifies for a blog celebrating great films and stars of yesterday – even if many from its cast are still very much with us and working on a daily basis.

In honor of Murphy’s Romance, I just created a category titled, “Perfect Movies” and I am in love with the idea of this movie representing the first movie in the category.

You can (and SHOULD) find Murphy’s Romance on Prime Video or, do like I do with my very favorites, add it to your collection on dvd (Murphy’s Romance on dvd – link to Amazon).

Murphy's Romance Promo Picture

PERFECT

Filed Under: James Garner, Perfect Movies, Picture of the Day, Sally Field Tagged With: James Garner, Murphy's Romance, Sally Field

James Garner: The Rockford Files

January 15, 2021 By Joi

James Garner and Julie Sommars, The Rockford Files

James Garner and Julie Sommars, The Rockford Files (The Kirkoff Case, 1974)

I inherited a lot from my wonderful dad – freckles from the sun, addiction to coffee, and a great love for cooking, laughing, Westerns, animals, and flower gardening. I also inherited his passion for great television shows. Some of his favorites quickly became my favorites and they are to this day: Gunsmoke, The Rockford Files, The Lone Ranger, The Big Valley, and Bonanza to name a few.

When I first realized his love for James Garner and The Rockford Files (1974–1980), I was caught off guard. I honestly thought my dad only watched movies or shows with cowboys in them! Then it quickly occurred to me – Jim Rockford was a cowboy.

He just didn’t need a hat to get his point across or a horse to chase you down.

Fellow fans of this outrageously fun, well-written, and edge-of-your-recliner entertaining series can find dvds for their collection on Amazon:

The Complete Series of The Rockford Files on dvd.

The Rockford Files Movie Collection Volume One

The Rockford Files Movie Collection Volume Two

James Garner as Jim Rockford

James Garner, The Rockford Files

Filed Under: James Garner, Picture of the Day, The Rockford Files Tagged With: James Garner, The Rockford Files

Welcome to Hollywood Yesterday!

Ann Sheridan, It All Came True

Ann Sheridan
My name is Joi (“Joy”) and I created Hollywood Yesterday as my personal tribute to Old Hollywood. It’s my effort to help keep the stars from Old Hollywood, Classic Television, and Old Radio Shows alive and shining forever. Old Hollywood was positively magical and I see no reason for the magic to ever die.

Be warned, I am (by nature) overtly positive, I never take anything too seriously, I say extraordinary so often you’d think I invented the word, and I overuse exclamation points to distraction. I’m perpetually over-caffeinated.. we’ll blame that.

Read more about Hollywood Yesterday (and see my personal favorites) here!

Old Hollywood Actresses

Lena Horne, Meet Me in Las Vegas

See the Old Hollywood Actresses page for the index of Classic Hollywood Actresses and Classic TV Actresses.

Old Hollywood Actors

Henry Fonda, Behind the Scenes The Grapes of Wrath

See the Old Hollywood Actors page for the index of Old Hollywood and Classic TV actors.

Old Hollywood Book Reviews

Ann Dvorak: Hollywood's Forgotten Rebel by Christina Rice

I love reading old Hollywood biographies and memoirs as much as I love watching classic movies, and that’s truly saying something!

To see my Old Hollywood book reviews, please see the index listed here: Book Reviews.

Pictures of the Day

Maureen O'Hara, The Parent Trap

Maureen O’Hara

The Old Hollywood & Classic TV Pictures of the Day are published as regularly as possible. If I miss a few days, please just know that the husband, daughters, sons-in-law, grandbabies, and/or my cats were demanding my attention. I’ll be honest, nothing comes before any of them! Not even Maureen O’Hara or Henry Fonda.

Priorities, y’all.

Movie Collections on Amazon

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Thank you so much for visiting Hollywood Yesterday! You truly HONOR me with your presence. ~ Joi (“Joy”)

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My main goal with Hollywood Yesterday is to keep the names, faces, and films of the stars that mean so much to me shining brightly. When I’m guilty of focusing more time on my personal favorites (such as Olivia de Havilland) than other stars, I hope you’ll forgive me. I am, by all indications, very human!

Also, please know that I try to keep my posts (except for book reviews) short and to the point, so you can enjoy the pictures, grab the information, and get back to your life. I don’t appreciate anything that’s overly wordy, so I don’t want to do that to others. For better or worse, I write as I talk, so if you ever feel like you’re reading the words of someone who’s a cross between Lucy Ricardo, Daisy Duck, and a Jerry Lewis character, that’s just because you are!

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Old Hollywood Movies

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There’s nothing quite like watching a movie from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whether it’s a Musical, Western, Comedy, Romance, Film Noir, or Drama – if it’s on, I’m not too far away… with popcorn and raspberry tea in hand and a couple of cats nearby.

Below are a few Old Hollywood movie reviews I’ve done on the blog. There are, as you’d imagine, a lot more to come. – Joi (“Joy”)

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The White Sister (Helen Hayes, Clark Gable)

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Howard Keel, Jane Powell, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar)

Rio Bravo (John Wayne, Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan)

El Dorado (John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt, Michele Carey)

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Legalities…

Aside from pictures of books I review, I do not claim to have taken any of the pictures on this website, nor do I own the pictures – the ones of the stars or the affiliate (product) pictures.  Other, far more talented photographers than me have the credit for the beautiful photos you see. If you would like credit for a photograph or would like one removed, please e-mail me (joitsigers@gmail.com).

Movie posters and promotional photos are used in the belief that they qualify for the Fair Use law. Fair use is a doctrine in the law of the United States that permits limited use of copyrighted material without having to first acquire permission from the copyright holder. Fair use is one of the limitations to copyright intended to balance the interests of copyright holders with the public interest in the wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.

When you click through an affiliate (product, book, dvds..) link, I earn a small portion of the money you spend IF you purchase anything. This does not cost you any extra money, of course. This is how I am able to work from home and support my cats! – Joi (“Joy”)

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