James Garner was the only actor willing to give newcomer Tom Selleck a chance; the other men too insecure to be seen on screen with Selleck . Now that is a cool guy.
Steve as Norman Jewison said was “ a movie star” I ride motorcycles with Steve in the late 1960’s and 70’s. He was a great guy on and off the bike. Willing to help anyone. I’m old and broken now but have great memories. Off the bike very insecure guy. Was always afraid of being taken advantage of Jim Garner was a tremendous actor and person. RIP both
McQueen was a Marine, so was I. That much I respect. I never worked with him. I worked for Garner on ''Maverick'' in 1993. I admired and respected him.
@@richardm3023 Mr Garner was in the Merchant Marine at the tail end of WWII. He got out after a year unable to tolerate seasickness. He later enlisted in the California Army National Guard, and was called up for active duty in the Korean Peace Action, serving as a Rifleman with the 5th RCT of the 24th Infantry. He was in country for 14 months. He was not a Marine but he was a combat Grunt.
@@HootOwl513 Could have sworn I saw an interview that he did his boot camp at Ft.Pendleton. Maybe it was Lee Marvin I'm thinking of. Dunno. You sound like you know a lot more about it than I do.
@@richardm3023 Lee Marvin was a Marine. He did Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego, and advanced training at Camp Pendleton. He said they filmed a lot of his platoon training there for some war movie. Marvin was assigned to be in Logistics/Supply. He was sharp and on the ball and got promoted to Corporal. But he'd be stuck Stateside. He deliberately misbehaved so he'd get busted bact to PVT, and then volunteered for a combat MOS. He was then trained as a Scout/Sniper. This was after the Marine Raider batallions were disbanded and before Force Recon was created. He went ashore at night with a team in rubber boats before major landings commenced and blew Japanese stuff up. He did this many times -- like 66 missions ? -- and then decided he was pushing his luck and asked to transfer out of the Scout Snipers to a line platoon. His request was granted, but on his first mission -- Saipan -- he was shot in the butt by a Japanese sniper. Medevac-ed, and after a long recovery, he was returned to duty, but found wearing 782 gear rubbed on his wound. The Sciatic nerve was involved, [I think. Not a Dr.] And so PFC Marvin was medically discharged. I met Lee Marvin at the Oro Valley [AZ] garbage dump. He was a real nice guy. We talked about the Corps, and our individual experiences. The guys who ran the dump knew Lee, and let him shoot rats after closing time. I was invited, but hadn't brought my pistol. He chewed me out for not being armed. It was too late in the day to go home and get my Luger. I served right after VietNam. I was an Air Winger. I was out in the WestPac, but never in country in Nam. He encouraged me to get into the film industry and even gave me the name of the IATSE Business Agent to call. I wish I could have run into him again, but his time was very short then. He went into the local VA hospital for another shrapnel pulling operation, and came out feet first. I've been an IATSE Union member for 37 years, now. One of the Brothers interviewing me for union admission, had been a Navy Corpsman on Iwo Jima. When I said Lee sent me, I was in like Flynn.
You should look up Robert Mitchum's critique on McQueen's acting. John Wayne said James Garner was the best actor around, he said he can do anything, extremely well.
Grew up watching James in all his tv series and movies, as a child of the 60s and a teen of the 70s. He had a respectable persona in all his characters. My number one actor. RIP
McQueen didn't get on with Yul Brynner on the set of The Magnificent Seven, McQueen kept trying to upstage Brynner. Brynner was relieved when Robert Fuller took McQueen's place in the sequel.
Say what you want about Steve. The Sand Pebbles, Great Escape, Thomas Crowm Affair, Magnificent Seven, The Cincinnati Kid, Papillon, Bullitt, Nevada Smith, The Reivers, The Towering Inferno, The Getaway...were great. Saw them all growing up. That's all that matters. Thank you so much Steve, you were awesome.
You could see Steve's acting chops coming up short during his initial confrontation with the camp Kommandant played by Hans Messemer, himself a former P.O.W. of the Russians, he managed to escape and make it back to Germany on foot.
Steve McQueen was never beaten and humiliated by a 5'7 guy who grabbed his gold chains and coke spoon. "Jimbo" was. After 15 years of Tonight Show appearances about wanting to "pop" this studio exec or that one, he got into a streetfight against a guy 6 inches shorter and used the martial art of moaning and feigning unconsciousness. McQueen: better actor, better man. Garner: leftist bully and coward.
Thurber may have spoken in rather general terms but a lot of authors have mentioned Steve McQueen's insecure and immature behavior on the sets of various motion pictures.
Steve McQueen and James Garner are two of my very favorite actors. Like Garner, McQueen also had a terrible childhood. It seems strange how two people can go through similar experiences and come out so different.
My Dad liked the Rockford Files, and we rented it at the library and did too! - I've yet to hear anyone say McQueen was anything but an ass, and I never could see him as a "Mr. Cool," or "King of Cool," whatever, a nickname ~he~ probably started!
Garner was a better actor and a more down to earth and a no nonsense guy, I heard Steve was not so cool off camera but hey , they both made some great films.
mcQ an insecure actor? Perish the thought. The audience likes them both, but only one of them was an actor and a real life tough guy. I knew Jack Kelley in passing. He had basically been bypassed by Garner’s Brett Maverick role. Rather than any chagrin, he exuded enthusiasm for Garner as a person and a dramatic presence. Last vote: Ask Donald Pleasance, a real World War 2 hero, what he thought of McQueen in contrast to Garner.
James Garner is correct about McQueen. The fact that he could look at the situations with McQueen in a balanced way says alot about Garner. I am a Professional Actor. James Garner is much admired in my profession and in my Union as a fine actor and an fine human being.
As one who vastly prefers movies made in the 1960's, 70's, 1980's, and into the 1990's, vs the vast majority of present day films, I very much agree with your conclusion that James Garner was a better actor than Steve McQueen, "the king of cool," ever thought of being. I like watching McQueen's movies just as I enjoy Garner's, but the always "laid back" Garner will always be a joy to me to watch, read about and try to emulate. Wonderful analysis with this well-considered video. Thank you! Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Hawaii.
Garner was the Roy Hobbs of Hollywood. Never was there a more natural actor. McQueen could only wish. That said, I respect both of their impressive career accomplishments. Their movies share my voluminous library of re-watches.
@@curtgottler9961i didnt like a rebel without a cause but i saw east of eden and i found myself looking atvdean and wondering what he's thinking. he was doing all these expressions. it worked for me and i understand why people thought he was engaging.
I've never understood the deal with James Dean. Right place at the right time i.e. Rock n Roll years or something maybe. In Giant, he just seemed 'odd', compared to everyone else.
Brando, especially. Could never understand the hype. Dean was patchily good, mostly in east of eden, but McQueen was fun to watch, even though he was mostly playing the same character - not always, but mostly. Loved James Garner in pretty much everything he did from Maverick onwards.
Garner's voice always had a natural sarcasm tone to it which was great. I can barely recall what McQueen's voice sounded like. It seems like he was working too hard at acting. Most famous actors over the years always had great voices that were recognizable and not so much nowadays with some of the newer actors. Jimmy stewart, Clark gable, Edward G robinson, John wayne, and many others. It seems like an actor's looks take priority over their voices which is backwards.
James Garner was 72 when he made Victor Victoria and he still looked pretty good and was great in the role. I had to Google how old he was when he made that movie and I was shocked. I thought maybe he'd be in his fifties.
McQueen was famous for his jealous actions toward Yul Brynner in the Magnificent Seven- Brynner created the western style Seven Samurai, he cast the film, choose the location, but from day one of filming according costar Robert Vaughn McQueen bitched all the time about Brynner to even complaining Brynner's gun was shined more then his, Vaughn said he reminded McQueen Brynner was the star and McQueen just stood there in shock and walked away! After McQueen kept using actions known as tropes to try and keep the camera's focus of he McQueen, even in one scene were a gunfight is about to start and McQueen keeps adjusting his hat ( who in a gunfight would fool with their hat?).
This afternoon, I was telling my wife about the cast listing order in the movie Road to Perdition which was in order of appearance giving the young boy actor the first mention as opposed to the famous row between McQueen and Newman in the Towering Inferno. All of this was verbal. Nothing online whatsoever. This evening I got served this video. Google is definitely not listening in.
From all of the different accounts I've read and heard regarding Steve McQueen, Jim Garner was spot on. I think Jim was actually a good man and actor. I always enjoyed films he was in.
I grew up around the Hollywood industry and I had several family members who worked in the business. I even briefly worked in the business myself at a very small level. I was never any kind of "star chaser" like many fans because I have always known that there are good and bad folks in the industry just like every other aspect of life. I have however always been very interested in the production end of film making (behind the camera) and some actors are CLEARLY the best of the best~! James Garner was always someone that you could count on to give an extraordinary performance regardless of his role. He was on the same level as John Wayne and the other greats who were real professionals who deeply cared about their craft. I completely agree with James Garner pointing out the difference between a REAL skilled actor who is absolutely believable in a role, compared to an actor who is struggling to make it look as if they are believable in a role. When you watched James Garner in any role that he portrayed, he was absolutely believable, and the audience could therefore become much more involved in the production/story line. Most actors struggle to be believable in roles that they play, and it does detract from the story if the audience knows that they are constantly seeing someone "fake it" as opposed to someone who is completely believable in a role~! I miss the astounding actors that "we" (society) had at one time in the Hollywood industry, because the best has unfortunately passed away and can never be replaced. I don't even watch Hollywood movies anymore because the scripts are usually terrible, the acting is poor most of the time, and the current level of "special effects" do not create the kind of "magic productions" that Hollywood was once so famous for being capable of producing.... Thank you, James Garner, for helping to make our society better by your hard work over the decades~! Thank you to all of the Hollywood greats who contributed so much to so many generations of folks who needed your wonderful skills during difficult times~! M
From the first James Garner film I saw, it was plain to me this actor would be much liked throughout his career. As you said, a genuine likeable person. Just love the moment with Donald Pleasance escaping together, sums he up perfectly! (great escape)
I was a teenager when McQueen died, at the rather young age of 50. I don't recall a single kid or adult giving a sh8t or taking notice. On the other hand if garner, Jim Rockford had died around that age/time, it would have been a very big deal.
I liked MvQueen, but he was so Very insecure. Garner was so incredibly confident that he was comfortable making fun of himself. Few man can laugh when the joke is on them. He reminds me of my husband who was the most likable and confident man i ever knew. I have to admit that this is a character that is a magnet for women
In roman Polanski's autobiography he told about a night him and his then girl friend who i can't remember but she is very well known were partying with McQueen and they went for a ride in his huge dune buggy with romans and McQueens girl in the back. They sped over hills and dunes in the desert near palm springs and Polanski could hear the women screaming in terror in the back and begging him to slow down. Both women were roughed up very badly. Polanski said it convinced him that McQueen was an Ass. I think this was before he was married to Sharon Tate.
I always got a friendly vibe from Garner while McQueen gave me an uncomfortable feeling. Like if they both beat the shit out of me Garner would throw my hat at me when I was on the ground and then walk away, while McQueen would hurl insults and keep kicking me. Loved them both.
Retired, professional film/TV critic here; I have a great respect for James Garner. I only disagree with him on one point. Actor to actor, Steve McQueen fell far short of Mr Garner's, all-'round, outstanding talent. Mr Mcqueen always played the same, or very similar, portrayals, no matter what his character. A lack of range and diversity is always a strong indication of an actor lacking in genuine talent. Cheers, Bill H.
i think the biggest quality is this mysterious engaging personality. Some people just command thr screen somehow. lots if actors arentvsuch great actors but their look is engaging. I only temember two movies with mcqueen, the getaway and the great escape. Flawless as far as i see for those movies
John wayne too... was he a goid actor ir did he just have thos mysterious charisma. John ford said he was a crappy actir didnt he? It didnt matter. its impossible to say if Clint eastwood or john wayne were talented actors They did yhemselves perfectly
Garner was a true gentleman he never forgot those who were his friends he always fund time to talk with men he grew up with and he served with in the military. A real gentleman
I love the comparisons of McQeen to Paul Newman. McQueen finds it imperative to act cool. Newman is cool. Also Mitchum said about McQueen there’s nobody home upstairs.😅
I believe Steve McQueen was a good movie star that took his movie rolls from his attitudes in real life. McQueen was a risk taker and a dare devil where, now I listen to an apparently the still alive Garner, who was jealous of McQueen. I think Garner is projecting onto McQueen his reality, his acting ability and his less daring life and movie career. McQueen exuded realism that is hard to act. Garner exuded acting in an attempt to reproduce real life. Some below mention Rockford Files and others. To me these look stilted. McQueen died young and you know how, but Garner is now fat, rich and still jealous of McQueen.
Who cares. McQueen played a role that everyone loved. Because of that , that movie is still popular today. You think some quiet guy without an ego could have done as well ? 😅
McQueen had a HORRIBLE childhood. It doesn't excuse anything but it explains a lot. Stepfather beat him so severely, Steve ran away at nine years old. He spent the rest of his childhood fighting with his stepfather. Not arguing. Being punched in the face.
Brutal??? What's brutal? the correct B word is baloney. This isn't Garner saying anything. It's you saying Garner said without any substantiation. Just a YT click bait hit piece.
It's always the chronically unfaithful who are the most paranoid about their significant other being unfaithful. McQueen seems to have been yet another deeply unpleasant narcissist, unfortunately life rewards people like that.
I like them both equally. Garner could do comedy as well. He also fought in the Korean War and won medals for bravery in the field. Respect to Mr. Garner. Other Korean War heroes who became actors; Dan Blocker,James McEachin and Sir Michael Caine. God bless all of them for their Service
In the Towering Inferno Paul Newman found out McQueen demanded to have the same amount of dialogue as Newman, the main character. So he had the scriptwriter add more or less lines everyday so to mess with McQueen. Steve Mcqueen also refused to put Bruce Lee in his movies because he said he didn't want Bruce to get famous off his movies. I liked Mcqueen but he was terribly insecure.
Didn't think it was brutal, just accurately honest..At the end of the day, as Joe Public, all I have is the film, and McQueens part in it, memorable, but so was Bronson, Garner, Pleasence, Attenborough etc..I think the extra input that was eluded to by Jim helped make the film what it has become, a classic and holiday must.Loved Jim btw..Great guy.
The only film I can think of that Steve McQueen was not so much a movie star but played a role that was different and "not so movie starish" was The Hunter.
while McQueen had talent & drew audiences in, he also had some excellent costars that helped him. Blame it on growing up in a poverty-laden childhood during the Depression. it definitely affected some. Garner was absolutely a straight forward guy with a grasp on real life. both men served their country and should be respected for that.
I like the performances of both men. Neither was a part of my life, didn’t personally impact me. I knew that Garner was well liked & McQueen was not. However, if rating the movie performances of each Mc Queen gets the nod! Near the end of his life McQueen became more giving & less insecure! Maverick & The Rockford Files are two of my favorite TV series! Garner’s real life values are admirable & emulated by good happy people!
I love both of them. You cant compare them because they are so different. Steve had a more raw, dangerous quality. You could call it charisma, or magnetism. Each one of Steves films were unique. Bullitt, The Sand pebbles, The Towering Inferno. Steve was a box office superstar, like Eastwood and Paul Newman. Jim Garner was different kind of actor. Jim was never a top box office draw, like McQueen, and Paul Newman. McQueen and Garner are to different to compare them.
I have known so many twerps like Steve McQueen in my life & at first, I found them attractive, but in reality they were toxic & it was best to stay far away from as them.
Have the most respect for both McQueen and Garner. I do think Garner complain too much about McQueen. Fact is Steve was a far bigger film star than Garner, not even close. Domestically and internationally. This bugged Garner so much he couldn't leave it alone. Even years later. No doubt McQueen was a pain in the ass, but he won at the box office. Frankly I favored Garner for his epic work on Maverick and Rockford. Both super talent.
yeah that’s probably true. The getaway. yhe great escape. Mcqueen was actually right about getting those scenes. the mororcycle scenes and the scenes in the lockhouse are classic
James Garner was the only actor willing to give newcomer Tom Selleck a chance; the other men too insecure to be seen on screen with Selleck . Now that is a cool guy.
10/10....
Good point ! Both really superior actors, great films and for Garner really good films and TV
I know the episodes of Rockford files you are talking about Very funny but very dark if you pay attention
@ I’m glad you said that I really liked it but was very young , so like that’s confirmation for me 😎👍
And a war hero to boot! Good looking, funny, sexy and casually confident, James Garner was just so incredibly likable. No wonder he was so likable
The Rockford files still is the best series ever.
It's on antenna TV now. Awesome
Amazing show and still a great watch
With the possible exception of Justified
I even love the opening credits. James Garner had so much style.
@@LWebber-k7x I like that he could have had any car. But he said no, nothing but second best for Rockford, Lol.
Garner was a cool dude.
Absolutely 😎👍
There is a consistent theme of stars saying McQueen was narcissistic and difficult, and equally having nothing but praise for Garner.
I’ve read that too.
But you can bet these "stars" didn't say a peep to McQueen! He would likely have split their lip.
@@theaccountant5133 Which proves their point.
James Garner served in two wars namely WW2 and in Korea. Received numerous medals for his service including two purple hearts.
Glad he made it to the other side.
James Garner was spot on about McQueen. I liked everything Garner appeared in, most especially THE GREAT ESCAPE & SPACE COWBOYS. RIP Mr. GARNER.
Steve as Norman Jewison said was “ a movie star”
I ride motorcycles with Steve in the late 1960’s and 70’s. He was a great guy on and off the bike. Willing to help anyone. I’m old and broken now but have great memories.
Off the bike very insecure guy. Was always afraid of being taken advantage of
Jim Garner was a tremendous actor and person.
RIP both
McQueen was a Marine, so was I. That much I respect. I never worked with him.
I worked for Garner on ''Maverick'' in 1993. I admired and respected him.
James Garner was a Marine. He served in Korea.
@@richardm3023 Mr Garner was in the Merchant Marine at the tail end of WWII. He got out after a year unable to tolerate seasickness. He later enlisted in the California Army National Guard, and was called up for active duty in the Korean Peace Action, serving as a Rifleman with the 5th RCT of the 24th Infantry. He was in country for 14 months. He was not a Marine but he was a combat Grunt.
@@HootOwl513 Could have sworn I saw an interview that he did his boot camp at Ft.Pendleton. Maybe it was Lee Marvin I'm thinking of. Dunno. You sound like you know a lot more about it than I do.
Sempre Fi Always Faithful
@@richardm3023 Lee Marvin was a Marine. He did Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego, and advanced training at Camp Pendleton. He said they filmed a lot of his platoon training there for some war movie. Marvin was assigned to be in Logistics/Supply. He was sharp and on the ball and got promoted to Corporal. But he'd be stuck Stateside. He deliberately misbehaved so he'd get busted bact to PVT, and then volunteered for a combat MOS. He was then trained as a Scout/Sniper. This was after the Marine Raider batallions were disbanded and before Force Recon was created. He went ashore at night with a team in rubber boats before major landings commenced and blew Japanese stuff up. He did this many times -- like 66 missions ? -- and then decided he was pushing his luck and asked to transfer out of the Scout Snipers to a line platoon. His request was granted, but on his first mission -- Saipan -- he was shot in the butt by a Japanese sniper. Medevac-ed, and after a long recovery, he was returned to duty, but found wearing 782 gear rubbed on his wound. The Sciatic nerve was involved, [I think. Not a Dr.] And so PFC Marvin was medically discharged.
I met Lee Marvin at the Oro Valley [AZ] garbage dump. He was a real nice guy. We talked about the Corps, and our individual experiences. The guys who ran the dump knew Lee, and let him shoot rats after closing time. I was invited, but hadn't brought my pistol. He chewed me out for not being armed. It was too late in the day to go home and get my Luger. I served right after VietNam. I was an Air Winger. I was out in the WestPac, but never in country in Nam. He encouraged me to get into the film industry and even gave me the name of the IATSE Business Agent to call. I wish I could have run into him again, but his time was very short then. He went into the local VA hospital for another shrapnel pulling operation, and came out feet first.
I've been an IATSE Union member for 37 years, now. One of the Brothers interviewing me for union admission, had been a Navy Corpsman on Iwo Jima. When I said Lee sent me, I was in like Flynn.
James Garner was a great actor and human being. Not many like him😊❤
Growing up, I wanted to BE Steve McQueen. Growing up...I wanted be James Garner's friend.
You should look up Robert Mitchum's critique on McQueen's acting. John Wayne said James Garner was the best actor around, he said he can do anything, extremely well.
I have always loved James Garner -
Good comment! Robert Mitchum was a REAL 'man's man" and also a great actor~! M
RIP James Garner. You are missed, but not forgotten.
Anything James Garner was in was worth a watch. He did always play the same character but I really like that character
Huge fan of James Garner, I still like The Rockford files and always will.
Garner has a right to his opinion of McQueen. He knew the guy! I liked both of thier works!
Much as I like Steve McQueen's movies? I think James Garner's assessment of him was... absolutely right...
Grew up watching James in all his tv series and movies, as a child of the 60s and a teen of the 70s. He had a respectable persona in all his characters. My number one actor. RIP
McQueen didn't get on with Yul Brynner on the set of The Magnificent Seven, McQueen kept trying to upstage Brynner. Brynner was relieved when Robert Fuller took McQueen's place in the sequel.
Would have liked to hear Garner say these things more than hear this guy SAY that Garner said it...
Yes Hear Say - not evidence in Court
Don’t believe he said those things
Absolutely!
He was quoting from his book.
@@MikeM-rh7yq Fair enough, never read it...yet
Garner was a real one
Say what you want about Steve. The Sand Pebbles, Great Escape, Thomas Crowm Affair, Magnificent Seven, The Cincinnati Kid, Papillon, Bullitt, Nevada Smith, The Reivers, The Towering Inferno, The Getaway...were great. Saw them all growing up. That's all that matters. Thank you so much Steve, you were awesome.
@@michaelsapoznik5984 Those were great films, but they were fantasies. Real life is what truly matters.
Great fan ofJam3s Gardner but disagree about Steve's acting. He was in my opinion one of the best actors around.
It's very true that's all that matters the rest is just gossip
FairPoint but you don't know these people you're just a consumer watching entertainment what do you care what they're like in real life
@ The purpose of this video was to talk about the real person, not their public image.
I emulated Steve for many years. But Garner's assessment of Steve is spot on.
You could see Steve's acting chops coming up short during his initial confrontation with the camp Kommandant played by Hans Messemer, himself a former P.O.W. of the Russians, he managed to escape and make it back to Germany on foot.
Yes I agree Gardner was a class act. He reminds me of the character he played in the Great Escape. Good role model indeed.
I remember Eli Wallach calling Steve McQueen arrogant. But he also went on to say you just knew he was going to be a big star.
James Garner is right on the money about the person such as Mc Queen Garner had personality and Mc Queen never had it
James Garner was a man, McQueen was a boy.
And you know this how? I’m a fan of both. Garner appears to be of higher character. Appearance isn’t fact.
Steve McQueen was never beaten and humiliated by a 5'7 guy who grabbed his gold chains and coke spoon. "Jimbo" was. After 15 years of Tonight Show appearances about wanting to "pop" this studio exec or that one, he got into a streetfight against a guy 6 inches shorter and used the martial art of moaning and feigning unconsciousness.
McQueen: better actor, better man. Garner: leftist bully and coward.
Thurber may have spoken in rather general terms but a lot of authors have mentioned Steve McQueen's insecure and immature behavior on the sets of various motion pictures.
@ As with many workplaces, I imagine there are many in the film industry who have axes to grind.
Basically, that's it.
James Garner was not only a great actor, he was quite versatile. Frankly, Steve McQueen was overrated.
Garner was the better actor in my opinion, McQueen was image and he picked the rolls that he knew would make him look cool.
Steve McQueen and James Garner are two of my very favorite actors. Like Garner, McQueen also had a terrible childhood. It seems strange how two people can go through similar experiences and come out so different.
Ego
My Dad liked the Rockford Files, and we rented it at the library and did too! - I've yet to hear anyone say McQueen was anything but an ass, and I never could see him as a "Mr. Cool," or "King of Cool," whatever, a nickname ~he~ probably started!
In fairness Garner would be better company, McQueen I'd watch at a distance.
Garner was a better actor and a more down to earth and a no nonsense guy, I heard Steve was not so cool off camera but hey , they both made some great films.
I was a big fan of Steve McQueen till I read a biography of him. 'Antics' doesn't get close.
mcQ an insecure actor? Perish the thought. The audience likes them both, but only one of them was an actor and a real life tough guy. I knew Jack Kelley in passing. He had basically been bypassed by Garner’s Brett Maverick role. Rather than any chagrin, he exuded enthusiasm for Garner as a person and a dramatic presence. Last vote: Ask Donald Pleasance, a real World War 2 hero, what he thought of McQueen in contrast to Garner.
Garner was a very good actor and quite a man. I liked them both but McQueen wasn't as talented.
James Garner is correct about McQueen. The fact that he could look at the situations with McQueen in a balanced way says alot about Garner. I am a Professional Actor. James Garner is much admired in my profession and in my Union as a fine actor and an fine human being.
As one who vastly prefers movies made in the 1960's, 70's, 1980's, and into the 1990's, vs the vast majority of present day films, I very much agree with your conclusion that James Garner was a better actor than Steve McQueen, "the king of cool," ever thought of being. I like watching McQueen's movies just as I enjoy Garner's, but the always "laid back" Garner will always be a joy to me to watch, read about and try to emulate. Wonderful analysis with this well-considered video. Thank you! Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Hawaii.
You nailed it. All true. Garner was the better actor for sure, but McQueen had a bigger screen presence.
Garner was the Roy Hobbs of Hollywood. Never was there a more natural actor. McQueen could only wish. That said, I respect both of their impressive career accomplishments. Their movies share my voluminous library of re-watches.
Never saw McQueen as cool. Too self-conscious, clinically depressed. Garner is admirable.
I always thought that McQueen, Brando, and Dean were overrated. Sure they made some good movies, but I think they were mediocre actors at best.
Finally someone I can agree with.
Especially Dean, hammy actor.
@@curtgottler9961i didnt like a rebel without a cause but i saw east of eden and i found myself looking atvdean and wondering what he's thinking.
he was doing all these expressions.
it worked for me and i understand why people thought he was engaging.
I've never understood the deal with James Dean. Right place at the right time i.e. Rock n Roll years or something maybe. In Giant, he just seemed 'odd', compared to everyone else.
Brando, especially. Could never understand the hype. Dean was patchily good, mostly in east of eden, but McQueen was fun to watch, even though he was mostly playing the same character - not always, but mostly. Loved James Garner in pretty much everything he did from Maverick onwards.
Garner's voice always had a natural sarcasm tone to it which was great. I can barely recall what McQueen's voice sounded like. It seems like he was working too hard at acting. Most famous actors over the years always had great voices that were recognizable and not so much nowadays with some of the newer actors. Jimmy stewart, Clark gable, Edward G robinson, John wayne, and many others. It seems like an actor's looks take priority over their voices which is backwards.
James Garner was 72 when he made Victor Victoria and he still looked pretty good and was great in the role. I had to Google how old he was when he made that movie and I was shocked. I thought maybe he'd be in his fifties.
McQueen was famous for his jealous actions toward Yul Brynner in the Magnificent Seven- Brynner created the western style Seven Samurai, he cast the film, choose the location, but from day one of filming according costar Robert Vaughn McQueen bitched all the time about Brynner to even complaining Brynner's gun was shined more then his, Vaughn said he reminded McQueen Brynner was the star and McQueen just stood there in shock and walked away! After McQueen kept using actions known as tropes to try and keep the camera's focus of he McQueen, even in one scene were a gunfight is about to start and McQueen keeps adjusting his hat ( who in a gunfight would fool with their hat?).
Loved James Garner such a real man. He was strong and sweet.
This afternoon, I was telling my wife about the cast listing order in the movie Road to Perdition which was in order of appearance giving the young boy actor the first mention as opposed to the famous row between McQueen and Newman in the Towering Inferno. All of this was verbal. Nothing online whatsoever. This evening I got served this video. Google is definitely not listening in.
Well, when you're right, you're right! And James Garner was right, about Steve McQueen! He wasn't a bad guy, just insecure!
From all of the different accounts I've read and heard regarding Steve McQueen, Jim Garner was spot on.
I think Jim was actually a good man and actor. I always enjoyed films he was in.
Even on things I didn't agree with Garner on. He was honest and a straight shooter. Probably one of the best guys on and off the set.
I grew up around the Hollywood industry and I had several family members who worked in the business. I even briefly worked in the business myself at a very small level. I was never any kind of "star chaser" like many fans because I have always known that there are good and bad folks in the industry just like every other aspect of life. I have however always been very interested in the production end of film making (behind the camera) and some actors are CLEARLY the best of the best~! James Garner was always someone that you could count on to give an extraordinary performance regardless of his role. He was on the same level as John Wayne and the other greats who were real professionals who deeply cared about their craft. I completely agree with James Garner pointing out the difference between a REAL skilled actor who is absolutely believable in a role, compared to an actor who is struggling to make it look as if they are believable in a role. When you watched James Garner in any role that he portrayed, he was absolutely believable, and the audience could therefore become much more involved in the production/story line. Most actors struggle to be believable in roles that they play, and it does detract from the story if the audience knows that they are constantly seeing someone "fake it" as opposed to someone who is completely believable in a role~! I miss the astounding actors that "we" (society) had at one time in the Hollywood industry, because the best has unfortunately passed away and can never be replaced. I don't even watch Hollywood movies anymore because the scripts are usually terrible, the acting is poor most of the time, and the current level of "special effects" do not create the kind of "magic productions" that Hollywood was once so famous for being capable of producing.... Thank you, James Garner, for helping to make our society better by your hard work over the decades~! Thank you to all of the Hollywood greats who contributed so much to so many generations of folks who needed your wonderful skills during difficult times~! M
Three sides to every story.
Who cares what anyone says. Steve McQueen was Steve McQueen.
From the first James Garner film I saw, it was plain to me this actor would be much liked throughout his career. As you said, a genuine likeable person.
Just love the moment with Donald Pleasance escaping together, sums he up perfectly! (great escape)
Jimmy was my fave actor of all time,compassion, action and human frailty. RIP Jim the great!
I was a teenager when McQueen died, at the rather young age of 50.
I don't recall a single kid or adult giving a sh8t or taking notice.
On the other hand if garner, Jim Rockford had died around that age/time, it would have been a very big deal.
McQueen always had a "look how cool I am" expression on his face. Never liked him.
McQueen the Outlaw
James Garner the Cowboy
Out of alk Mcqueens films there are only a handfull of films i think he really starred which were Papillon The Great Escape &Sand Pebbles
I liked MvQueen, but he was so Very insecure. Garner was so incredibly confident that he was comfortable making fun of himself. Few man can laugh when the joke is on them. He reminds me of my husband who was the most likable and confident man i ever knew. I have to admit that this is a character that is a magnet for women
Decent, good hearted, honest. James Garner, McQueen meh!
In roman Polanski's autobiography he told about a night him and his then girl friend who i can't remember but she is very well known were partying with McQueen and they went for a ride in his huge dune buggy with romans and McQueens girl in the back. They sped over hills and dunes in the desert near palm springs and Polanski could hear the women screaming in terror in the back and begging him to slow down. Both women were roughed up very badly. Polanski said it convinced him that McQueen was an Ass. I think this was before he was married to Sharon Tate.
Polanski was always a humane protector of women
James Garner's jacket? Pure class.
Ali. MacGraw thought Steve had issues also.
I always got a friendly vibe from Garner while McQueen gave me an uncomfortable feeling. Like if they both beat the shit out of me Garner would throw my hat at me when I was on the ground and then walk away, while McQueen would hurl insults and keep kicking me. Loved them both.
Damn dude, you went deep. You get it. More please.
McQueen always wanted to be James Garner - the epitome of cool at the time.
Are you sure and what source are you referencing?
Garner cool? I think he was more of an everyman.
Steve mcqueen had a cool persona.
Garner was i dint kniw he was a friendly guy... a regular guy.
McQueen couldn’t have carried James Garner’s jock strap
James Coburn also said that McQueen was a real diva. Steve did a lot of whining. James Garner wasn't one to cheat with other guy's wives.
Both those guys aren’t with us anymore. Time to move on
Retired, professional film/TV critic here; I have a great respect for James Garner. I only disagree with him on one point. Actor to actor, Steve McQueen fell far short of Mr Garner's, all-'round, outstanding talent. Mr Mcqueen always played the same, or very similar, portrayals, no matter what his character. A lack of range and diversity is always a strong indication of an actor lacking in genuine talent. Cheers, Bill H.
i think the biggest quality is this mysterious engaging personality. Some people just command thr screen somehow.
lots if actors arentvsuch great actors but their look is engaging.
I only temember two movies with mcqueen, the getaway and the great escape.
Flawless as far as i see for those movies
John wayne too... was he a goid actor ir did he just have thos mysterious charisma.
John ford said he was a crappy actir didnt he?
It didnt matter.
its impossible to say if Clint eastwood or john wayne were talented actors
They did yhemselves perfectly
Garner was a true gentleman he never forgot those who were his friends he always fund time to talk with men he grew up with and he served with in the military. A real gentleman
I love the comparisons of McQeen to Paul Newman. McQueen finds it imperative to act cool. Newman is cool. Also Mitchum said about McQueen there’s nobody home upstairs.😅
Newman was charming rather than cool i think.
Clint is cool. Robert Mitchum was cool...
Agreed.
Always most cases - disrespect, mean, hateful to others indicates a deep rooted insecurity feeling - put down others so you feel big.
I believe Steve McQueen was a good movie star that took his movie rolls from his attitudes in real life. McQueen was a risk taker and a dare devil where, now I listen to an apparently the still alive Garner, who was jealous of McQueen. I think Garner is projecting onto McQueen his reality, his acting ability and his less daring life and movie career. McQueen exuded realism that is hard to act. Garner exuded acting in an attempt to reproduce real life. Some below mention Rockford Files and others. To me these look stilted. McQueen died young and you know how, but Garner is now fat, rich and still jealous of McQueen.
Who cares. McQueen played a role that everyone loved. Because of that , that movie is still popular today.
You think some quiet guy without an ego could have done as well ? 😅
McQueen had a HORRIBLE childhood. It doesn't excuse anything but it explains a lot. Stepfather beat him so severely, Steve ran away at nine years old. He spent the rest of his childhood fighting with his stepfather. Not arguing. Being punched in the face.
Talk about being traumatized over and over! Sad.
Brutal??? What's brutal? the correct B word is baloney. This isn't Garner saying anything. It's you saying Garner said without any substantiation. Just a YT click bait hit piece.
Total gentleman! I loved James Garner. A class act and a beautiful human being.
It's always the chronically unfaithful who are the most paranoid about their significant other being unfaithful. McQueen seems to have been yet another deeply unpleasant narcissist, unfortunately life rewards people like that.
I like them both equally. Garner could do comedy as well. He also fought in the Korean War and won medals for bravery in the field. Respect to Mr. Garner. Other Korean War heroes who became actors; Dan Blocker,James McEachin and Sir Michael Caine. God bless all of them for their Service
WHY , don't you let Garner speak for himself ?
From everything I've seen and read about each man, I believe Garner had McQueen pegged.
In the Towering Inferno Paul Newman found out McQueen demanded to have the same amount of dialogue as Newman, the main character. So he had the scriptwriter add more or less lines everyday so to mess with McQueen. Steve Mcqueen also refused to put Bruce Lee in his movies because he said he didn't want Bruce to get famous off his movies. I liked Mcqueen but he was terribly insecure.
A bit like the Duke, John Wayne always played John Wayne.
except he was secure with himself and smiled a lot. Dud mcqueen smile? without it being a self conscious smile?
Didn't think it was brutal, just accurately honest..At the end of the day, as Joe Public, all I have is the film, and McQueens part in it, memorable, but so was Bronson, Garner, Pleasence, Attenborough etc..I think the extra input that was eluded to by Jim helped make the film what it has become, a classic and holiday must.Loved Jim btw..Great guy.
I think if McQueen had brown eyes, he would have never been famous.
The only film I can think of that Steve McQueen was not so much a movie star but played a role that was different and "not so movie starish" was The Hunter.
while McQueen had talent & drew audiences in, he also had some excellent costars that helped him. Blame it on growing up in a poverty-laden childhood during the Depression. it definitely affected some. Garner was absolutely a straight forward guy with a grasp on real life. both men served their country and should be respected for that.
I like the performances of both men. Neither was a part of my life, didn’t personally impact me. I knew that Garner was well liked & McQueen was not. However, if rating the movie performances of each Mc Queen gets the nod! Near the end of his life McQueen became more giving & less insecure! Maverick & The Rockford Files are two of my favorite TV series! Garner’s real life values are admirable & emulated by good happy people!
I love both of them. You cant compare them because they are so different. Steve had a more raw, dangerous quality. You could call it charisma, or magnetism. Each one of Steves films were unique. Bullitt, The Sand pebbles, The Towering Inferno. Steve was a box office superstar, like Eastwood and Paul Newman. Jim Garner was different kind of actor. Jim was never a top box office draw, like McQueen, and Paul Newman. McQueen and Garner are to different to compare them.
Two legends of a bygone era. Steve most assuredly had an edge in my opinion. Garner came off as more of a nice guy.
I have known so many twerps like Steve McQueen in my life & at first, I found them attractive, but in reality they were toxic & it was best to stay far away from as them.
Have the most respect for both McQueen and Garner. I do think Garner complain too much about McQueen. Fact is Steve was a far bigger film star than Garner, not even close. Domestically and internationally. This bugged Garner so much he couldn't leave it alone. Even years later. No doubt McQueen was a pain in the ass, but he won at the box office. Frankly I favored Garner for his epic work on Maverick and Rockford. Both super talent.
I agree that Garner was a much better actor than Steve McQueen.
McQueens time wasn't during Hollywoods 'Golden Era'.
Steve McQueen did finally accept Jesus before he passed!. James Gardner was a great actor too! Both are favorites!
Seems every costar he had. All said he was overbearing an arrogant. Many said he wasn't a great actor
Does it matter what he was like off camera. When the film was rolling...sheer magnetic power. That was his job. That's what we paid for.
yeah that’s probably true.
The getaway. yhe great escape. Mcqueen was actually right about getting those scenes.
the mororcycle scenes and the scenes in the lockhouse are classic
Correct. But it mattered to his co-stars who had to live and work with him!
Loved McQueen in “The Sand Pebbles ”