Synopsis
Includes:
The Rockford Files: A Deadly Maze (1977)
The Rockford Files: The Queen of Peru (1977)
The Rockford Files: Forced Retirement (1977)
The Rockford Files: Hotel of Fear (1977)
The Rockford Files: Second Chance (1977)
The Rockford Files: Trouble in Chapter 17 (1977)
The Rockford Files: Irving the Explainer (1977)
The Rockford Files: Quickie Nirvana (1977)
The Rockford Files: Requiem for a Funny Box (1977)
The Rockford Files: The Dog and Pony Show (1977)
The Rockford Files: The Mayor's Committee From Deer Lick Falls (1977)
The Rockford Files: The Battle of Canoga Park (1977)
The Rockford Files: Beamer's Last Case (1977)
The Rockford Files: The Paper Palace (1978)
The Rockford Files: The House on Willis Avenue, Part 2 (1978)
The Rockford Files: The House on Willis Avenue, Part 1 (1978)
The Rockford Files: The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall (1978)
The Rockford Files: The Attractive Nuisance (1978)
The Rockford Files: The Competitive Edge (1978)
The Rockford Files: South By Southeast (1978)
The Rockford Files: Dwarf in a Helium Hat (1978)
The Rockford Files: The Gang at Don's Drive-In (1978)
The Rockford Files: White on White and Nearly Perfect (1978)
The Rockford Files: A Deadly Maze
Hired by Dr. Eric Albach (Larry Linville) to find the doctor's missing wife Tracy (Corinne Michaels), Jim is confused by Albach's seeming lack of concern over whether Tracy is brought back dead or alive--or at all. In fact, the farther Jim gets away from solving the woman's disappearance, the more money Albach lavishes upon him. It turns out that Albach is using Jim as the unwitting guinea pig in an elaborate behavioral experiment...and by the time Jim figures this out, a murder has been committed and an aging movie star (J. Pat O'Malley) has been sucked into the intrigue! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The Queen of Peru
While in the middle of delicate negotations to ransom the fabled Borland Diamond from a gang of thieves, Jim is pestered by the Wronko family, an annoying pack of tourists from Peru, Indiana who have parked their RV next to Jim's trailer. The Wronkos end up in the thick of things when one of the thieves stashes the diamond in Jim's barbecue grill. Unaware of the danger they're bringing upon themselves, the tourists steal the grill and high-tail it to California--with both hero and villain hot on their trail! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: Forced Retirement
Beth (Gretchen Corbett) asks Jim (James Garner) a favor on behalf of her current client (and her onetime college rival) Susan Kenniston (Margaret Impert). Jim is to check up on Richard Lessing (a pre-Dallas Larry Hagman) the principal investor in a suspicious-looking undersea research project in which Susan is involved. When murder rears its ugly head, both Jim and Susan find themselves in the direst of dire peril. This is the episode in which Jim's girlfriend Beth makes a crucial career decision which not only changes her life but also precipitates the exit of series regular Gretchen Corbett. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: Hotel of Fear
After witnessing a murder committed by notorious mob hitman Del Kane (Madison Arnold), Angel (Stuart Margolin) is placed in protective custody by the authorities. Much to the dismay and disgust of Jim Rockford (James Garner), Angel is set up in a luxurious hotel with unlimited room service. And much to the dismay and disgust of the cops, Angel's testimony is discredited and Kane goes free! Now it's up to Jim to save Angel from being bumped off himself. . .and he ever gets out of this mess alive, Angel hopes to write a book about his near-death experience. Future Simon & Simon star Gerald McRaney appears as a harried DA in this episode, which represents perhaps the only instance in TV history wherein a character is tied to a freeway trestle. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: Second Chance
Once again, Jim (James Garner) crosses paths with his old prison "pal" Gandy Fitch (Isaac Hayes), who is now managing the singing career of his girlfriend Thea (Dionne Warwick). Unfortunately, Thea has a hot-tempered ex-husband named Joe Moran (Tony Burton), who up until recently was serving time for murder. Released from prison as part of a touchy-feely "Second Chance" program, Moran uses HIS second chance to kidnap Thea and spirit her away. All this rigmarole is tied in with a hidden "treasure", stuffed in an old stereo system. It's up to another of Jim's prison buddies, Angel Martin (Stuart Margolin) to provide a most appropriate coda to this latest chapter in the saga of Gandy Fitch. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: Trouble in Chapter 17
Jim (James Garner) hires on as bodyguard for novelist Anne Louise Clement, whose politically incorrect "perfect-wife" bestseller has incurred the wrath of several militant feminists. When Anne claims that she's been threatened with death, Jim thinks she's pulling a publicity stunt--until her agent Marty Bach (Tasha Martel) turns up murdered. In his efforts to save Anne's life, our hero is stymied by his client's tendency to stretch the truth...and what exactly is Anne's "doting" husband Bud Clement (Arthur Roberts) up to at the moment? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: Irving the Explainer
Jim (James Garner) is hired by a woman identifying herself as Karen Hall (Barbara Babcock), who claims to be researching the career of Alva Korper, a German film director notorious for his Nazi sympathies during WW2, and for his mysterious death in a suspicious car crash. It soon develops that "Karen Hall" is actually Korper's daughter, and she is one of several shady characters searching for a priceless 18th century painting stolen years earlier by the Germans. With Jim being pursued by everyone from ex-Nazis to French police detectives, and with no idea of what is really going on, he must turn to a college coed (Irene Tsu) majoring in "logic" to straighten things out. The title of this episode (directed by film star James Coburn) refers to the last-act expositional dialogue heard in every mystery story, usually delivered by the hero or (as in this case) the villain. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: Quickie Nirvana
Jim (James Garner) quickly has good reason to wish that he'd never met overaged hippie Sky Aquarian (Valerie Curtin), who gets him into plenty of trouble by using his telephone for certain questionable transactions. Before long, Jim is being strongarmed by hoodlums demanding that he fork over the $30,000 being held by Sky on behalf of her ex-boss Alan Bayliss (Kenneth Gilman). Perhaps inevitably, Bayliss turns up murdered and both Jim and Sky are placed under suspicion. This episode is distinguished by the presence in the cast of two actors who later went on to greater success as screenwriters: Valerie Curtin and Quinn Redecker. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: Requiem for a Funny Box
This episode is something of an amalgam of the Martin-and-Lewis legend and the much-later TV series The Sopranos). Jim (James Garner) is hired to protect over-the-hill comedian Kenny Bell (Chuck McCann) from his mean-spirited former partner Lee Russo (Robert Quarry), only to find himself implicated in Russo's murder. At the same time, Kenny must ransom his "funny box", a catalogue of jokes that has been stolen. These two plot strands are connected by a sex scandal within a Mob family, which certain parties are determined to keep secret at any cost! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The Dog and Pony Show
Attending a group therapy session, Jim (James Garner) and Angel (Stuart Margolin) make the acquaintance of former mental patient Mary Jo Flynn (Joanne Nail). Insisting that her life is in danger because she has met a government spy who was being held against his will in a psychiatric hospital, Mary Jo has trouble convincing Jim of her plight--until he, too, finds himself up to his neck in peril. It all has something to do with a Chilean military coup, and a crisis of loyalty within a mob family...and this being The Rockford Files, the estimable Angel (Stuart Margolin) is mixed up in the intrigue! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The Mayor's Committee From Deer Lick Falls
Four small-town businessmen hire Jim (James Garner) to help them purchase a fire engine--or at least that's their story. Sizing up the detective and jumping to the conclusion that he will do anything for $20,000, the men instruct Jim to murder a young actress (Priscilla Barnes) who threatens to reveal that they've been defrauding the IRS. Of course, they're wrong--but Jim is equally wrong when he assumes that the police will believe him when he tries to inform on the foursome. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The Battle of Canoga Park
Not long after Jim (James Garner) hides his .38 in a cookie jar, he is charged with murder when the weapon is used in a gas station holdup. Can the pilfering of the pistol have anything to do with Viola Wenke (Nora Marlowe), the new cleaning lady that Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) talked Jim into hiring? Perhaps--but first the detective must figure out the connection between the murder of a gas station attendant and a radical paramilitary group headed by one Lee Ronstadt (Adrienne Marden). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: Beamer's Last Case
The Rockford Files opens its fourth season as detective Jim Rockford (James Garner) returns from a vacation in Puerto Rico, only discover that someone has stolen his clothes, his car, his trailer. . .and his identity. Nerdy garage mechanic Fred Beamer (James Whitmore Jr.) has always dreamed of becoming a private eye, and has taken advantage of Jim's absence by making his dream come true. Posing as Jim, Fred has accepted some rather dangerous cases, including one from a gentleman with homicidal tendencies named Manny Arturis (Roger Loggia). Now the REAL Rockford is stuck with the duel task of rescuing Fred and saving himself from the consequences of Fred's whimsical behavior. This episode marks the second Rockford Files reteaming of James Garner with his former Maverick costar Jack Kelly, who may or may not be the villain of the piece. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The Paper Palace
Rita Moreno makes her first series appearance as freewheeling prostitute Rita Capkovic, who is one of Dennis Becker's most reliable (but least welcome!) street informants. When Rita is attacked by a couple of shady French-speaking characters, she hires Jim (James Garner) to find out who is trying to kill her and why. The trail of clues leads to a Canadian hockey team, which in turn is linked with Rita's best friend Maggie...who turns up dead before the final fadeout. This episode earned an Emmy award for guest star Rita Moreno. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The House on Willis Avenue, Part 2
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim Rockford (James Garner) and rookie private eye Richie Brockelman (Dennis Dugan) continue to investigate the suspicious death of their mutual mentor Joe Tooley. When the trail of clues leads to crooked computer-company CEO Garth McGregor (Jackie Cooper), he uses his influence to frame the two detectives and force them to take it on the lam. Ingredients essential to the outcome of the story are an underground storage silo, a conspiracy involving a corrupt congressman, and a wild helicopter-chase finale. This final episode of The Rockford Files' fourth season served to introduce the character of Richie Brockelman, who was subsequently spun off into his own TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The House on Willis Avenue, Part 1
In the first half of a two-part story, Jim (James Garner) investigates the mysterious death of his mentor Joe Tooley (Paul Fix) on the Ventura Freeway. Assisting Jim--in a manner of speaking--is greenhorn detective Richie Brockelman (Dennis Dugan), who likewise suspects that Tooley's demise was no accident. The evidence leads to a crooked city councilman and a sinister data-storage firm called the Credit Computer Centre. This episode and its followup served to introduce the character of Richie Brockelman, soon to be spun off into his own eponymously titled TV series. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The Prisoner of Rosemont Hall
Jim heads to Rosemont College to investigate the disappearance of student Paul Douglas, the son of an old friend. At the same time, two middle-eastern types draw a bead on Jim and begin questioning him about the whereabouts of an Iranian prince. The key to the mystery lies somewhere within the confines of the Chi Rho Zeta frat house, which is for reasons unknown being zealously guarded by flinty-eyed campus security chief Max Gilmore (Kenneth Tobey). Also playing a major role in the intrigue is journalism teacher Leslie Callahan (Frances Lee McCain), who pays the price for loving neither wisely nor well. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The Attractive Nuisance
Rocky (Noah Beery Jr.) decides to open up a roadside restaurant with a chance acquaintance named Vinnie Whithead (Ken Lynch). From the outset of this enterprise, Rocky can't help but notice that an elderly man is watching every move he and Vinnie make. . .and no sooner has the restaurant opened than someone breaks into the joint. Investigating, Jim (James Garner) discovers that Vinnie is a retired mob boss, and that his trail has been dogged for the last 50 years by retired federal officer Eddie LaSalle (Victor Jory). Somehow, all this is tied in with a lawsuit brought about by Bruce Woodstock (Jess Nadelman), a total stranger who has managed to fall off the roof of Jim's trailer. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The Competitive Edge
While searching for an embezzler who disappeared after posting bail, Jim (James Garner) asks one question too many at an elite health club. As a result, he is knocked out, heavily sedated, and bundled off to a mental institution. Unable to convince anyone of his real identity and surrounded by delusional patients who imagine themselves to be everyone from "James Bond" to "Doc Holliday", Jim nonetheless manages to find the man he's looking for and to figure out who is responsible for his current predicament--and why. Now all he has to do is escape the institution and inform the authorities. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: South By Southeast
References to the films of Alfred Hitchcock abound in this roller-coaster of an episode, in which Jim (James Garner) is mistakenly identified as a spy named Terrence Halsey. Unable to convince the Feds that he isn't who they think he is, Jim ends up being dispatched to South America, there to help a wide-eyed heiress (Dorrie Kavanaugh) whose villainous husband (Don Chastain) is using her family's good name to engineer a swindle. See if you can spot the "swipes" from such Hitchcock classics as North by Northwest, Saboteur and especially Notorious. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: Dwarf in a Helium Hat
Jim (James Garner) picks up his phone and hears a threat against his life: the caller, it turns out, has dialed the wrong number. The intended recipient of the threat is self-absorbed social climber Jay Rockfelt (John Pleshette), who in his eagerness to make an impression on the world has inadvertently insulted--and publicly humiliated--a notorious gangster. Though he has no vested interest in Jay's plight, Jim nonetheless tries to orchestrate a rescue when the bad guys (so bad that they even poison a harmless little dog!) kidnap Jay's sister. Rock star Rick Springfield appears as (Surprise! Surprise!) a rock star, whose number-one hit provides this episode with its seemingly nonsequitur title. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: The Gang at Don's Drive-In
Having published absolutely nothing since his bestseller "Freefall to Destiny", hard-drinking writer Jack Skowran (Anthony Zerbe) pins his future career hopes on his next book, which he claims will be a "Where Are They Now?" tome about a group of high schoolers who used to hang around the same drive-in back in the early 1960s. Asked to help Jack research the book, Jim is unaware that the author is actually endeavoring to solve a 17-year-old murder which took place on the yacht of a prominent publisher. Not surprisingly, there are some very powerful people who don't want the murder case reopened--and they hire a professional hit man to throw Jim off the trail for keeps. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The Rockford Files: White on White and Nearly Perfect
Future Magnum,P.I. star Tom Selleck makes his first Rockford Files appearance in the role of the dazzlingly handsome and insufferably successful private eye Lance White. Reluctantly teamed with Lance, Jim tackles the case of Veronica Teasdale (Karen Austin), the allegedly kidnapped daughter of a prominent weapons industrialist (Bill Quinn). The investigation veers off into unexpected twists and turns thanks to a covert scheme to sell arms to Palestine, and an elderly gangster who wants to die in Israel. Through it all, Jim is driven crazy by Lance White's "perfection" and incredible good fortune ("Things have a way of working out" is his infallible motto)--to say nothing of the fact that Jim's perennial nemesis Lt. Chapman (James Luisi) has no qualms about fawning all over Mr. White. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
