"The Rockford Files" Backlash of the Hunter (1974)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Richard T. Heffron

Writers:

Stephen J. Cannell (teleplay)
Roy Huggins (story)

TV Series:

"The Rockford Files" (1974)

Original Air Date:

27 March 1974 (Season 1, Episode 0)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Jim helps a young girl who's father was murdered and LAPD has closed the case on without finding the killer. |

Plot Keywords:

Car Chase | Police | Detective | Answering Machine | Sting Operation

Cast

James Garner	...	Jim Rockford
Lindsay Wagner	...	Sara Butler
William Smith	...	Jerry Grimes
Joe Santos	...	Police Det. Dennis Becker
Nita Talbot	...	Mildred Elias
Robert Donley	...	Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford
Stuart Margolin	...	Evelyn 'Angel' Martin
Bill Mumy	...	Nick Butler
Pat Renella	...	Morrie Talbot
Michael Lerner	...	Dr. Ruben Seelman
Ted Gehring	...	Norm Mitchell
Joshua Bryant	...	Capt. Harry Dell
Bill Quinn	...	Harry Butler
Robert Williams	...	Arnold Demura (as Robert B. Williams)
Claude Johnson	...	Officer

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Quotes:

Nick Butler: You're a cop, huh?
Jim Rockford: No, what I am sonny, is about fifty pounds heavier and one hell of a lot meaner so you better straighten up your act, I don't think I like you.

Rockford starts out very cynical

This two hour show was the pilot for "The Rockford Files". There is a different Rocky in the show as Robert Donley would make his only appearance as the character. Noah Beery, Jr. would take over the role for the rest of the series, which turned out to be a great idea. Donley's Rocky isn't nearly as much fun as Beery's and he seemed to be more interested in shaking down his own son for money than anything else.

Rockford is not a particularly easy-going guy in this episode as he seems very concerned about whether or not his client can pay him. We see Rockford asking for a credit check, something he should have done in the future.

Two other supporting characters do show up: Joe Santos as Dennis Becker, Rockford's weary friend on the police force, and Stuart Margolin as Angel Martin, Rockford's shady, but sometimes helpful (not often enough) friend from prison.

There is an emphasis in this show that Rockford only handles cases that the police are no longer investigating. This would be de-emphasized in later shows, although Rockford never gets along well with the police during the show.

Like many stories in the series, the plot gets wrapped up in a hurry at the end and the first 90 minutes of this episode have a lot of atmosphere and opportunities for Rockford to be Rockford.