I think he was in the movie 'Grand Prix' or some Frankenheimer film about auto racing and Frankenheimer insisted on the actors doing some of the driving themselves to get the right shots. He found out how great racing was and even had a team during the late 60's for two or three years.

The studios often tie up a person with contracts that tell them what activities to avoid, so this was really thumbing his nose at the system and not letting them run his life. You don't see this so much anymore but then not many people are under a contract until they are making a film.

I was talking to an old Hollywood guy today and he said Garner would play up his ties to the Democratic Party in the same way Bob Hope did his with the Republicans. Hope told a lot of political jokes, many of them at the expense of the Republicans, but unless you knew Hope's political leanings the jokes fell flat.

Both took their politics to heart, but both knew how to milk it for a joke.

Will Rogers was the same way. When he was asked which political party he belonged to he answered, "I don't subscribe to any organized political party. I am a Democrat."

Yes he was in Grand Prix. It was a great racing movie for its time.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I loved him in Rockford Files. I can even remember seeing him in Maverick reruns.

I was surprised to learn that he served in Korea and earned two purple hearts:

"Later, he joined the National Guard serving seven months in the United States. He then went to Korea for 14 months in the Regular Army, serving in the 5th Regimental Combat Team in the Korean War. He was wounded twice, first in the face and hand from shrapnel fire from a mortar round, and second on April 23, 1951 in the buttocks from friendly fire from U.S. fighter jets as he dove headfirst into a foxhole. Garner was awarded the Purple Heart in Korea for the first injury. For the second wound, he received a second Purple Heart (eligibility requirement: "As the result of friendly fire while actively engaging the enemy"), although Garner received the medal in 1983, 32 years after his injury.[10][13][14][15] Garner was a self-described "scrounger" for his company in Korea, a role he later played in The Great Escape[16] and The Americanization of Emily."

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

As "the Scrounger" in "The Great Escape" he held his own against McQueen, Attenborough, Bronson.

But . . . those Polaroid commericals.

http://youtu.be/StYfOYOrSKQ

I had forgotten he was in that movie.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Which movie?

The Great Escape.

I remember him in the The Dirty Dozen and Grand Prix.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Bronson was in The Dirty Dozen, not Garner.

Yeah, that's right.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Let not an opportunity to pass to insult those whom you disagree with.

One of my favorites. I liked him in Grand Prix. ....and everything else he was in as well.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Leading with the back of hand.

Garner was a unique and charming character. My dad always like the Rockford Files as did I. Not likely to be a replacement.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Selleck appeared in a Rockford episode. It was a funny one.

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Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

There are liberals and there are liberals that are also sleazoids. Hollywood is filled with the latter category.

__________________
2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

There are right wingers who are sleazoids too, but I don't constantly bring them up and act as if all right wingers are the same.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.