The Rockford Files - Season One
by Alexander Grasshoff, Bernard L. Kowalski, Charles S. Dubin, Jackie Cooper, Jerry London
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: James Garner, Noah Beery Jr., Ramon Bieri, Richard Schaal, Shelley FabaresDirector: Alexander Grasshoff, Bernard L. Kowalski, Charles S. Dubin, Jackie Cooper, Jerry London
Brand: NBC Universal
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0
Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 1156 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-12-06
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of The Rockford Files - Season One
Movie Review: Trailor #555-2368
Summary: 5 Stars
James Garner's laconic charm as Jim Rockford kept us coming back for more each week and finally won him an Emmy in 1977. Garner, who would have been a star in any era, and sometimes seemed as if he would have fit more into films of the 1940's, finally found the perfect role on television as Jim Rockford, an ex-con given a full pardon when it was discovered he was innocent after all. Working as a P.I. and parking his gold Firebird in front of his trailor on the L.A. beach, Rockford could never quite shake the ex-con tag, nor could he shake his old cellmate, Evelyn "Angel" Martin.
Stuart Margolin was simply fantastic as the scheming Angel, always with an angle, and always certain to get Rockford into trouble when it backfired. Like Rockford, you just couldn't stay mad at Angel, no matter what con had blown up in his face or how much trouble he would get our favorite TV detective in from time to time. Rockford and Angel remained friends because of that unspoken bond all ex-cons have, and because deep down, Angel was a stand-up guy, though you couldn't always tell it from looking at the surface.
Except for the 90 minute pilot episode, "Backlash of the Hunter," starring Lindsay Wagner as Sarah Butler, who would resurface in another episode from the first season, "Aura Lee, Farewell," Noah Beery Jr. portrayed Rockford's lovable dad, Rocky. Rocky was a retired trucker who loved to fish, and passed on the hobby to Jim. It was the little moments like fishing that were really the heart and soul of this show when you stop to think about it. There were always a few slice-of-life moments mingled in with the great car chases, glorious con games, and other assorted mischief, as Rockford tried to solve a closed case and stay out of jail at the same time. Some weeks he was just trying to stay alive. Rocky would always give Jim that "look" if he had to come post bail.
Joe Santos was Rockford's often exasperated police pal, Dennis Becker. He was the buffer between Rockford and Lt. Diehl (Tom Atkins), who hated Rockford and would have liked to take away his P.I. license. Becker was a pal, but could only do so much for Jim as he had to stay out of hot water with Diehl himself. He had a wife and kids to support, and for some strange reason, that sometimes took priority over helping Rockford out of a complicated jam.
Last, but by no means least, was Gretchen Corbett as lawyer Beth Davenport. The relationship between she and Rockford was complicated. They both had a deep affection for each other, which was sometimes complicated by the attorney-client relationship. Her efforts to keep Jim out of trouble with the cops took up a lot of her time. There was a romance of sorts between the two, but it never matured into something that would lead to marriage.
The first season had some great guest stars, in addition to the already mentioned Lindsay Wagner. Other guest stars from season one were: Ned Beaty, Sharon Gless, James Woods, Linda Evans, Jackie Cooper, Hector Elizondo, Diana Muldaur, Suzanne Somers, Tony Mustane, and screen legend Joseph Cotton.
There were many great episodes the first season, in addition to the 90 minute pilot. Those episodes are as follows: THE KIRKOFF CASE -- THE DARK AND BLOODY GROUND -- THE COUNTESS -- EXIT PRENTISS CARR -- TALL WOMAN IN RED WAGON -- THIS CASE IS CLOSED I -- THIS CASE IS CLOSED II -- THE BIG RIPOFF -- FIND ME IF YOU CAN -- THE PURSUIT OF CAROL THORNE -- THE DEXTER CRISIS -- "CALEDONIA, IT'S WORTH A FORTUNE" -- PROFIT AND LOSS I -- PROFIT AND LOSS II -- AURA LEE, FAREWELL -- SLIGHT OF HAND -- COUNTER GAMBIT -- CLAIRE -- SAY GOODBYE TO JENNIFER -- CHARLIE HARRIS AT LARGE -- THE FOUR POUND BRICK -- JUST BY ACCIDENT -- ROUNDABOUT
Stephen J. Cannell and Roy Huggins created this wonderful series and Juanita Bartlett wrote some of the finest scripts ever done for television. James Garner was absolutely perfect as Jim Rockford, and it has become difficult as the years have passed to separate the two in our minds. Garner was, and is, a great actor and screen presence who made everything look easy. This was a terrific show and one of the best ever to be beamed into our homes once a week.
This DVD set has been too long coming, but now that it's just around the corner, there is a sense of anticipation by fans who will be chomping at the bit until it's in their hot little hands. We all will, as everyone loved "The Rockford Files" and couldn't wait to hear Mike Post's great theme music each week. It was recorded and turned into a radio hit it was so good.
Once again we will get to listen to all those crazy messages left on Jim Rockford's answering machine. Fans never missed the opening of the show because a smile or a good laugh might be missed. You don't want to miss it either.
"This is Jim Rockford. At the tone, leave your name and message and I'll get back to you."
Summary of The Rockford Files - Season One
The world's most unlikely detective comes to DVD for the first time ever in all 23 thrilling Season One episodes of The Rockford Files. Emmy® winner James Garner stars as the offbeat Jim Rockford, an ex-con-turned-private-investigator who would rather fish than fight, but whose instinct on closed cases is more golden than his classic Pontiac Firebird. From his mobile home in Malibu, this wisecracking private eye takes on the cases of the lost and the dispossessed, chasing down seemingly long-dead clues in the sun-baked streets and seamy alleys of Los Angeles. Including an interview with James Garner himself, this phenomenal DVD set contains 23 TV hours of classic Rockford action and includes such stellar guest stars as Lindsay Wagner, James Woods, Abe Vigoda, Suzanne Somers and Ned Beatty. The Rockford Files are now open and declassified for mystery fans everywhere! Starring: James GarnerSimilar DVD Movies
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