''The New Maverick'' is a 1978 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

television film based on the 1957–1962 series ''

Maverick Maverick, Maveric or Maverik may refer to: History * Maverick (animal), an unbranded range animal, derived from U.S. cattleman Samuel Maverick Aviation * AEA Maverick, an Australian single-seat sportsplane design * General Aviation Design Burea ...

'' starring

James Garner James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor. He played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including '' The Great Escape'' (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy Chayefsky's ''The Ameri ...

Bret Maverick ''Bret Maverick'' is an American Western television series that starred James Garner in the title role, a professional poker player in the Old West. The series aired on NBC from December 1, 1981 to May 4, 1982. It is a sequel series to the 1957- ...

. ''The New Maverick'' stars Garner as Bret Maverick,

Charles Frank Charles Reser Frank (born April 17, 1947) is an American actor noted for playing Bret Maverick's cousin Ben Maverick in the 1978 TV-movie ''The New Maverick'' with James Garner and Jack Kelly, and in the short-lived 1979 television series '' ...

as newcomer cousin Ben Maverick (son of Beau Maverick), Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick, and

Susan Sullivan Susan Michaela Sullivan (born November 18, 1944) is an American actress. Sullivan is best known for her roles as Lenore Curtin Delaney on the NBC daytime soap opera '' Another World'' (1971–76), as Lois Adams on the ABC sitcom ''It's a Living' ...

as Poker Alice Ivers. James Garner and Jack Kelly had been 29 and 30 years old, respectively, at the beginning of the

original series Original programming (also called originals or original programs, and subcategorized as "original series", "original movies", "original documentaries" and "original specials") is a term used for in-house television, film or web series productions ...

and were 50 and 51 while filming ''The New Maverick''. The TV-movie was a pilot for the series ''

Young Maverick ''Young Maverick'' is a 1979 television series and a sequel to the 1957–1962 series ''Maverick'', which had starred James Garner as roving gambler Bret Maverick. Charles Frank played Ben Maverick, the son of Bret's first cousin Beau Maverick, ma ...

'', which featured Frank and only lasted a few episodes. Directed by

Hy Averback Hyman Jack Averback (October 21, 1920 – October 14, 1997) was an American radio, television, and film actor who eventually became a producer and director. Early years Born in Minneapolis, Averback moved to California with his family when he w ...

and written by

Juanita Bartlett Juanita Bartlett (28 February 1927 – 25 February 2014) was an American screenwriter and television producer best known for her work on ''The Rockford Files'' and ''The New Maverick'', both starring James Garner. She also worked on Garner's s ...

, the movie was filmed while Garner's series ''

The Rockford Files ''The Rockford Files'' is an American detective drama television series starring James Garner that aired on the NBC network from September 13, 1974 to January 10, 1980, and remains in syndication. Garner portrays Los Angeles private investigator ...

'' was on hiatus. Garner would later star in ''

'', another attempt at a series revival inspired by this TV-movie, for the 1981-82 season. Garner wrote in his memoir that the film "didn't quite make it," calling it "a near miss."

Cast

as Ben Maverick * Jack Kelly as Bart Maverick *

Poker Alice Alice Ivers Duffield Tubbs Huckert (February 17, 1851 – February 27, 1930), better known as Poker Alice, Poker Alice Ivers or Poker Alice Tubbs, was an English poker and faro player in the American West. Her family moved from Devon, Englan ...

* Susan Blanchard as Nell McGarahan *

Eugene Roche Eugene Harrison Roche (September 22, 1928 – July 28, 2004) was an American actor and the original " Ajax Man" in 1970s television commercials. Personal life Roche was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Mary M. (née Finnegan ...

as Austin Crupper *

George Loros George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...

as Vinnie Smith, Train Robber hired by Crupper *

Woodrow Parfrey Sydney Woodrow Parfrey (October 5, 1922 – July 29, 1984) was an American film and television actor from the 1950s to the early 1980s. He is often remembered as "one of TV's great slimeball villains". Early life Parfrey was born on October 5, ...

as Leveque, Man from New Orleans * Greg Allen as Dobie *

Helen Page Camp Helen Page Camp (December 27, 1930 – August 1, 1991) was an American actress. Early years Born to Austin and Helen (née Landes) Camp in Washington, D.C., Camp's career began onstage, most notably Off Broadway in New York City. Career Her fir ...

as Mrs. Flora Crupper *

Jack Garner Jack Garner (born Jack Edward Bumgarner; September 19, 1926 – September 13, 2011) was an American actor. He was the elder brother of James Garner. Early life and career Garner was born in Norman, Oklahoma, the son of Mildred Scott (née Meek) ...

as Homer, Vinnie's henchman *

Graham Jarvis Graham Powley Jarvis (August 25, 1930 – April 16, 2003) was a Canadian character actor in American films and television from the 1960s to the early 2000s. Early years Jarvis was born in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Margaret Biddulph (Scratche ...

as Undertaker Lambert *

Macon McCalman Willis Macon McCalman (December 30, 1932 – November 29, 2005) was an American television, stage and big screen movie actor. Acting career Nicknamed "Sonny", McCalman helped form the Front Street Theatre in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. ...

as Vanders the Las Vegas Hotel Desk Clerk * B.J. Ward as B.J. Vinnie's Henchman

References

External links

1978 television films ABC network original films American television films Western (genre) television films Films based on television series Television series reunion films Television films based on television series Films directed by Hy Averback Maverick (TV series) {{US-tv-film-stub