On video Garner steals show as Wyatt Earp

Press, 21 July 1989, Page 25

On video Garner steals show as Wyatt Earp

By DAVID CLARKSON Ageing or not, James Garner can still turn on a performance as a classic tough guy, as he shows in the mystery video, “Sunset.”

Garner stars with Bruce Willis in a Blake Edwards video of charm and poise, set in 1929 Hollywood, where heroes were expected to be outrageous. Garner plays the role of the legendary lawman, Wyatt Earp, who is hired to act as a technical adviser about his own life and times.

The film will star Tom Mix, played by Bruce Willis. Mix may be a Hollywood cowboy, but it is clear from the opening sequence that he can look after himself reasonably well.

With these two together on the set, a clash of egos might be expected, but instead they get on great guns.

When there is a murder while they are making a business call at a cat

house, they find that they must settle matters on their own because the police and the studio security are crooked. Mixed up in the affair are Mariel Hemingway, Patricia Hodge, and Malcolm McDowell, every bit as nasty as his part in “A Clockwork Orange.” , Gamer steals the show, though. He is awfully comfortable as the laconic lawman, coping with Hollywood’s excesses and instilling confidence in those around him.

Garner has played the character once before, 20 years ago in “Hour Of The Gun,” which was 10 years after his television show, “Maverick.” Even while "Sunset” is turning itself into a hardboiled mystery thriller, with some fine action sequences, the comedy remains. The script has been written with an ear for the good line. First Release Home Entertainment has issued the video in New Zealand.