The Rockford Files

This episode contains probably one of the best dialogues of the series, between James Garner and Del Monroe.

Rockford is hired by a woman to help her find a small fortune stashed by her husband before he was sent to prison. Unfortunately she only knows the name of the town, because the directions he gave to his old partner in crime. Forced to work together to find the loot, Rockford has his hands full trying to keep the peace and deal with the other ex-cons looking for an easy score. The top-notch performances make this a very watchable and above-average episode.

Rockford is assaulted and a potential client kidnapped. A day or so later he's arrested for filing a false police report, as the man denies everything. In an attempt to clear himself, Rockford starts to ask questions about the man’s employer, Fiscal Dynamics Inc. Soon he’s threatened with a $10 million lawsuit by the president of FDI and is hired by the wife of a previous employee. Rockford figures out the scam and nails the bad guy. An excellent two-parter, with the garbage disposal unit ultimately saving the day.

Beth hires Rockford to investigate the disappearance (and death) of an old friend working as a model for a fashion company. Here he uncovers a mob money-laundering setup. An average episode.

Rockford overnights in a small Nevada town and, as they have no bank, entrusts $10 000 to the safe of a land developer. Next morning the person who had signed the receipt is non-existent and the money gone. Jim enlists the help of Rocky and a conman to get to the bottom of things. A very enjoyable episode in typical Rockford fashion.

In the light of all the real estate developments in my area, this episode is disturbingly applicable. Like Rocky said: “Out there where there’s nothing but sand and jack-rabbits, he tried to sell me a boat. A boat!”

Rockford is hired by a woman to investigate the suicide of her sister, only to discover that it was all a setup by another P.I. to lure the cops away from an insurance recovery. Problem is that Rockford believes the sister was really murdered. A good episode, with Stefanie Powers giving a cracker performance. I especially enjoyed the “you’re a lousy shot” remark by her to the bad guy.

Rockford is hired by a reporter to investigate a six-and-a-half year old murder. So-so episode, with Jim’s usual gorilla-suit line reversed on him the probable highlight.

Angel hides $30 000 in the panel of the left door of Rockford’s car. Soon some nasties arrive and Angel is implicated in the swindle of the year. Jim conceives a con involving a shell-game with several briefcases at Angel’s funeral to resolve the matter. Does it work? Good, solid episode.

Rockford is hired to act as an agent in the purchase of a sculpture that might be part of a priceless set – only to be assaulted and the artwork smashed. Nevertheless, he’s retained to purchase the other two birds. But when these are also deliberately destroyed, Jim starts to investigate and uncovers a diamond smuggling operation. Good episode which again draws on Rockford’s initial confused state to create humour along with suspense.

The granddaughter of a friend of Rocky is kidnapped. Or so it seems at first, because the grandfather is murdered and the granddaughter returns from a business trip. Rockford investigates and uncovers a real estate shake-down. One of the weaker episodes.

Rockford is hired by his old parole officer to investigate a possible basketball fix, but soon finds himself in a big mess when things are not as they were presented. Not much of a story, but Louis Gossett makes the episode as the smooth-talker down on his luck.

Rockford is asked by an old girlfriend to deliver some escrow papers. Only problem is that the briefcase contains funny money and Jim gets nailed by the Feds. Released with a tail, he investigates and uncovers a scam within a scam. Nicely done.

An old friend of Rocky is declared incompetent, so that his greedy son-in-law can sell his farm to developers. Rockford investigates. A very good two-parter, which personally strikes a bit close to reality.

This episode links with The A-Team episode There Goes The Neigborhood in that here Canoga Park is about to be built and there it takes place in the suburb.

Rockford is hired by a writer to track down the associates of an old movie director. Everything snowballs, as the old director had ties with the Hermann Göring of Luftwaffe-fame, and the Sûreté and former members of the Abwehr are trying to recover a stolen painting. Throw in a thirty year old murder and we see Jim as confused as he never was. Cracking good episode.