I agree that I think James Garner captures the character the best, but I'm intrigued by your idea that Jack Kelly made him more well-rounded and real. I think I need to watch more Bart episodes.... I've never taken to him as much as Bret, for several reasons, one being that I felt he didn't have as much personality as Bret and even Beau and another being that he seems like more of a smarmy prankster with Bret than vice versa and pranksters usually aren't my favorite character types. I did love him a lot in The Goose-Drownder, though, and I've meant to try more solo Bart episodes because of that. I think I've only seen maybe two or three other solo Bart episodes.
I think Bart can be a prankster by not smarmy at all, he usually pranks those who deserve it or he pranks in a good nature way where no one would get seriously hurt. He wouldn't take advantage of anyone who couldn't take it or again who didn't deserve it
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Yeah, they both prank the bad guys and they thankfully never do anything that would physically harm anyone. That's not what I'm talking about; I just mean specifically that Bart seems to prank Bret more than Bret does Bart. Have you seen Two Beggars On Horseback? It seemed to me that Bart was pulling most of the pranking there, whereas Bret wanted him to settle down and stop being so silly so they could work things out. And I thought Bart was a little obnoxious at the end of The Rivals, too.
I totally agree there. :) They all seem a lot better than their Pappy's teachings make it sound like he is. (And yet when Pappy was onscreen, he seemed nicer than his teachings made him sound, too.)
Indeed, the fact that the scripts were written for Bret didn't help. I like the way you've been able to piece together Bart's character anyway, though. :) It definitely was all a matter of what Jack could bring to the role, since the dialogue was virtually the same.
I just mean specifically that Bart seems to prank Bret more than Bret does Bart. Have you seen Two Beggars On Horseback? It seemed to me that Bart was pulling most of the pranking there, whereas Bret wanted him to settle down and stop being so silly so they could work things out.
Haven't seen it yet but I know of the episode and I know Bret stops once he knows Bart is in trouble. I am sure Bart would have done the same if the opposite occurred. Usually Bret and Bart work together in the series and help each other but it's not uncommon for brothers to compete with one another from time to time. I always felt Bart was the younger brother too so I think it is natural for him to try harder to beat Bret. Bart knows how good his brother is so I am sure he does try hard to beat him, but I don't think he would have done anything to truly harm his brother (and same for Bret).
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I agree that I think James Garner captures the character the best, but I'm intrigued by your idea that Jack Kelly made him more well-rounded and real. I think I need to watch more Bart episodes.... I've never taken to him as much as Bret, for several reasons, one being that I felt he didn't have as much personality as Bret and even Beau and another being that he seems like more of a smarmy prankster with Bret than vice versa and pranksters usually aren't my favorite character types. I did love him a lot in The Goose-Drownder, though, and I've meant to try more solo Bart episodes because of that. I think I've only seen maybe two or three other solo Bart episodes.
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I totally agree there. :) They all seem a lot better than their Pappy's teachings make it sound like he is. (And yet when Pappy was onscreen, he seemed nicer than his teachings made him sound, too.)
Indeed, the fact that the scripts were written for Bret didn't help. I like the way you've been able to piece together Bart's character anyway, though. :) It definitely was all a matter of what Jack could bring to the role, since the dialogue was virtually the same.
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Haven't seen it yet but I know of the episode and I know Bret stops once he knows Bart is in trouble. I am sure Bart would have done the same if the opposite occurred. Usually Bret and Bart work together in the series and help each other but it's not uncommon for brothers to compete with one another from time to time. I always felt Bart was the younger brother too so I think it is natural for him to try harder to beat Bret. Bart knows how good his brother is so I am sure he does try hard to beat him, but I don't think he would have done anything to truly harm his brother (and same for Bret).
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