Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man's Job: Part 1 (3 Mar. 1979)

When a corrupt businessman uses extortion to force Richie Brockleman's father to sell him his business for a paltry amount, Richie goes to Jim for advice on how to get back at him with a con job.

Director:

William Wiard

Writers:

Roy Huggins (creator), Stephen J. Cannell (creator),

Stars:

James Garner, Noah Beery Jr., Joe Santos

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
James Garner	...	Jim Rockford
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford (as Noah Beery)
Joe Santos	...	Dennis Becker (credit only)
Robert Webber	...	Harold Jack Coombs
Trisha Noble	...	Odette Lependieu
Pepper Martin	...	Harry Steel
Gary Crosby	...	Larry Litrell
David Hooks	...	Doyle
Stuart Margolin	...	Angel
Harold Gould	...	Mr. Brockelman
Kim Hunter	...	Mrs. Brockelman
Dennis Dugan	...	Richie Brockelman
Salt Walther	...	Vern
Stanley Brock	...	Cowboy Mickey Martell
Jack Collins	...	Dr. Wetherford

Storyline

When a corrupt businessman uses extortion to force Richie Brockleman's father to sell him his business for a paltry amount, Richie goes to Jim for advice on how to get back at him with a con job.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 March 1979 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Museum of Art - 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Hancock Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Roy Huggins-Public Arts Productions, Cherokee Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is based on the old idiom: Never send a boy to do a man's job.

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Quotes

Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford #2: [rummaging around in the stuff in the back of the truck that's going to the Good Will] If you don't help that boy's daddy, I'm gonna be mad at you!
Jim Rockford: Yeah, well life's full of bitter disappointments, Dad! I have a question for you. Why are you doing poking around in there again?
Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford #2: Well I gotta question for you too! Where did this toaster come from?
Jim Rockford: [becomes sheepish] That toaster...? Oh... that's the one you gave me for Christmas...
Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford #2: [indignant] Yeah! Thirty-four dollars and seventy-five cents!
[...]

User Reviews

The best of the best

The commenter who called "Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man's Job" an homage to THE STING was on to something; I would add only that THE STING should have been half this good. This two-parter, taken as one feature-length episode, is quite simply the best single installment of the best private eye series in the history of television.

Jim Rockford was always at his best (from the viewpoint of the series' audience) when he was running a scam on someone ("There's One in Every Port" was another winner), and here he runs a game to end them all, helping his pal Richie Brockelman (Dennis Dugan) get half a million bucks from a cutthroat businessman who bilked it out of Richie's father (Harold Gould, the one cast member who was also in THE STING). A pox on anyone who spoils one word of this one; suffice it to say there are games within games, and it's a swell ride all the way.

Special kudos to writer Juanita Bartlett, too.