Maverick (1994)

Bret Maverick, needing money for a poker tournament, faces various comic mishaps and challenges, including a charming woman thief.

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers:

Roy Huggins (television series Maverick), William Goldman

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Bret Maverick
Jodie Foster	...	Annabelle Bransford
James Garner	...	Marshal Zane Cooper
Graham Greene	...	Joseph
Alfred Molina	...	Angel
James Coburn	...	Commodore Duvall
Dub Taylor	...	Room Clerk
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Matthew Wicker / Eugene, Banker
Paul L. Smith	...	The Archduke
Dan Hedaya	...	Twitchy, Riverboat Poker Player
Dennis Fimple	...	Stuttering
Denver Pyle	...	Old Gambler on Riverboat
Clint Black	...	Sweet-Faced Gambler
Max Perlich	...	Johnny Hardin
Art LaFleur	...	Poker Player (as Art La Fleur)

Storyline

Maverick is recreated from the character James Garner created in the 1950s TV program. Maverick is a gambler who would rather con someone than fight them. He needs an additional three thousand dollars in order to enter a Winner Take All poker game that begins in a few days. He tries to win some, tries to collect a few debts, and recover a little loot for the reward, all with a light hearted air. He joins forces with a woman gambler with a marvelous, though fake, southern accent as the two both try and enter the game.

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Plot Keywords:

yosemite national park | character name as title | playing card | bow the weapon | arrow | 

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Taglines:

The greatest gambler in the West has finally met his match.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Thriller | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild sensuality, language and some western action

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the producers decided to cut out the scenes involving The Magician (played by Linda Hunt), some scenes had to be re-shot. Re-shoots were scheduled for the weekend of March 20-21, exactly two months before the movie's premiere.

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Goofs

In the 1.33:1 version during the digitized, recreated opening credits, when Maverick is riding a donkey to the bank while exploring St. Louie, the camera cuts to a man who just about finishing during a male patron. For Randy Newman's 'Music by' credit, it cuts back to the last few seconds of the previous shot before cutting to the start of the next shot. The camera then cuts to the patron leaving in that same shot in-progress. There is no change in the soundscape/score.

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Quotes

Annabelle: Well, they're Indians. They probably just stole the ponies!
Maverick: Not everybody's like you, Mrs. Bransford.
Annabelle: What is it with you and Indians anyway?
Maverick: Oh, nothing. I try and shoot one a day, if possible, before noon. How 'bout you, Coop? I figure it's their fault for being on our land before we got here.

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Alternate Versions

Several unusual cases of overdubbing occur on the TV print to mask swear words. The term "son-of-a-bitch" is overdubbed "snake in the grass". At one point, Maverick says "I worked my hand off..." instead of the original "I worked my ass off..."

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Another Top 10 Epic Movie Cameos (2016)

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Soundtracks

I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
(uncredited)
Written by Thomas Payne Westendorf
[Instrumental version played on piano during riverboat sequence]

User Reviews

Rip-roarin' fun!

I laughed throughout this movie. Mel Gibson still managed to stay suave and handsome as usual even though his character is supposed to be "bumbling." He and Jodie Foster had amazing chemistry. I enjoyed Danny Glover's cameo and reference to the "Lethal Weapon" movies. And James Garner, the original Maverick, was a delight. The movie had a bunch of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. (Mel's bathtub scene helped, too.)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Maverick

Filming Locations:

Lee's Ferry, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,248,545, 22 May 1994

Gross USA:

$101,631,272

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$183,031,272

Company Credits

Production Co:

Donner/Shuler-Donner Productions, Icon Entertainment International, Icon Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1