Rare footage: Clint Eastwood getting the shit beaten out of him
Here's something you don't see every day -- someone beating the living crap out of Clint Eastwood. But James Garner, as the nattily dressed Maverick does just that. I imagine Clint said, "I don't care where you hit me, just don't touch the hair."
Garner was a classy guy. Always looking out for other actors in salary matters and not afraid to fight - and beat - the studios (twice - Warners and Universal) when he thought he was cheated. Highly recommend his book THE GARNER FILES.
I once sat next to Mr. Garner at a Raider game. He was friendly, down to earth and funny. A fan asked him for an autograph, he saw that O.J. Simpson had already signed the same item, and immediately said; "So O.J. can write, or is that a stamp? ". He was a lovely man.
That fight changed a lot of people's lives. The old man in the wheelchair got so upset he moved out to the Shady Rest in Hooterville. The badass who got beat up vowed not to let it happen again and he became a cop in San Francisco, where he was harassed by lunatics and his supervisors. Maverick said the hell with gambling and started a private detective agency in LA -then he started getting beat up.
Clint and Garner were roommates at one time and close friends. Garner is one of my all time favorites, especially Maverick and Rockford Files (which was just the best TV detective ever). One aspect of Garner that is strange is how he went out of his way to criticize Steve McQueen. I detected some jealousy that McQueen was a much bigger movie star than Garner. Garner was just terrible, calling McQueen a poser, a non-actor, etc. Shows a unusual bitterness he had about Steve. Yet he claimed McQueen was insecure, I think Mr Garner protested a bit too much. What was sad is they waited too long to bring back Rockford Files in the form of TV movies,by then he had that Andy Griffin like temper, and the story lines were weak.
I've lost two comments to moderation, so I'll try for a third.
"I talk to the chair, but it doesn't listen to me..." I was surprised to see Clint speaking at the Republican Convention. Clint is well known as a life-long jazz fan, with a son who's a successful jazz musician. I thought he liked black people.
Ah, those cool Western shows that I fondly remember as a kid --- just like in the ROCKY movies, neither fighter even tries to block the other man's punch.
This leads to a question I bring up from time to time. Remember those rotary desk-top phones? (Yes, I have an actively working one at home). Which old-school television drama had the most instances of someone getting clocked in the head with one? I contend it's either Rockford Files or Baretta.
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In PLAY MISTY FOR ME he gets the shit beaten out of him by Lucille Bluth.
ReplyDeleteThat was Edgar Buchanan (Uncle Joe from Petticoat Junction) in the wheel chair, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteThanks Ken! I needed that.
ReplyDeleteThey included this episode in the special features of UNFORGIVEN. I f*cking love me some MAVERICK (and its remake ROCKFORD FILES).
ReplyDeleteGarner was a classy guy. Always looking out for other actors in salary matters and not afraid to fight - and beat - the studios (twice - Warners and Universal) when he thought he was cheated. Highly recommend his book THE GARNER FILES.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteClint Eastwood "singing" in 1969's "Paint Your Wagon". Something else you don't see every day.
There is probably a reason.
I once sat next to Mr. Garner at a Raider game. He was friendly, down to earth and funny. A fan asked him for an autograph, he saw that O.J. Simpson had already signed the same item, and immediately said; "So O.J. can write, or is that a stamp? ". He was a lovely man.
ReplyDeleteThat fight changed a lot of people's lives.
ReplyDeleteThe old man in the wheelchair got so upset he moved out to the Shady Rest in Hooterville.
The badass who got beat up vowed not to let it happen again and he became a cop in San Francisco, where he was harassed by lunatics and his supervisors.
Maverick said the hell with gambling and started a private detective agency in LA -then he started getting beat up.
ReplyDeleteClint and Garner were roommates at one time and close friends. Garner is one of my all time favorites, especially Maverick and Rockford Files (which was just the best TV detective ever).
One aspect of Garner that is strange is how he went out of his way to criticize Steve McQueen. I detected some jealousy that McQueen was a much bigger movie star than Garner. Garner was just terrible, calling McQueen a poser, a non-actor, etc. Shows a unusual bitterness he had about Steve. Yet he claimed McQueen was insecure, I think Mr Garner protested a bit too much. What was sad is they waited too long to bring back Rockford Files in the form of TV movies,by then he had that Andy Griffin like temper, and the story lines were weak.
I've lost two comments to moderation, so I'll try for a third.
ReplyDelete"I talk to the chair, but it doesn't listen to me..."
I was surprised to see Clint speaking at the Republican Convention. Clint is well known as a life-long jazz fan, with a son who's a successful jazz musician. I thought he liked black people.
Both had every hair in place to the bitter end ....
ReplyDeleteClint's knock-down, drag-out fight when he was a guest star on "Mr. Ed" was better.
ReplyDeleteAh, those cool Western shows that I fondly remember as a kid --- just like in the ROCKY movies, neither fighter even tries to block the other man's punch.
ReplyDeleteHe also gets beaten up in one of the Every Which Way but Loose movies.
ReplyDeleteThis leads to a question I bring up from time to time. Remember those rotary desk-top phones? (Yes, I have an actively working one at home). Which old-school television drama had the most instances of someone getting clocked in the head with one? I contend it's either Rockford Files or Baretta.
ReplyDeleteRichard
Milwaukee, WI
What has Clint Eastwood ever done that would make you think he doesnt like Black people?
ReplyDelete