"The Rockford Files" Profit and Loss: Profit (1974)

Director:

Lawrence Doheny

Writers:

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

TV Series:

"The Rockford Files" (1974)

Original Air Date:

20 December 1974 (Season 1, Episode 13)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

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

Cast

  (Episode Cast overview, first billed only)

James Garner	...	Jim Rockford
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford #2
Ned Beatty	...	Leon Fielder
Sharon Spelman	...	Doris Parker
Joe Santos	...	Police Det. Dennis Becker
Gretchen Corbett	...	Beth Davenport
Paul Jenkins	...	Stan Gorrick
Val Bisoglio	...	Carl Bovino
Michael Lerner	...	Arnold Love
Priscilla Pointer	...	Helen Morris
John Carter	...	Alec Morris
Ray Girardin	...	Ted Beaton
Don Billett	...	Asst. D.A. Dan Shavelson (as Donald Billett)
Joe E. Tata	...	Bail Bondsman Solly Marshall
J. Jay Saunders	...	Computer Programmer

Trivia:

Every time a character says the company name "Fiscal Dynamics," the line is looped from the original ("Financial Dynamics"), most likely due to a real company of the same name being identified between the completion of the script and post-production.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Silencers don't work on revolvers.

Quotes:

Alec Morris: I was told you're very reliable...
Jim Rockford: Reliable... but chicken.

Profit

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

"The Rockford Files" really hit its stride with this two-part episode. Jim's trailer is parked where we'll see the rest of its seasons, the relationships with Rocky, Beth and Dennis are all clarified and solidified, Jim gets beat up and arrested, and doesn't even know what's going on.

The episode begins with Ned Beatty as Leon Fielder, the head of Fiscal Dynamics in a setting very much like the one he was in in "Network". He's very effective as the head of a powerful corporation.

Rockford gets involved when the computer programmer from Fiscal Dynamics comes to him for help. Jim's in the midst of trying to fix his garbage disposal, which seems like a little bit on inconsequential funny business, but in the end turns out to have a key role in the story.

The man who came to him is suddenly taken by force and Jim is beat up and left unconscious. Rocky finds him and we have a key scene that completes the transition of the Rocky character from grifter (as he was written in the pilot and several first season episodes) to mother hen and concerned dad. He's upset, concerned and angry with Jim and Noah Berry plays it very well.

Rockford's in for a surprise when he reports the man kidnapped. The man shows up unharmed and denies the whole story. Fiscal Dynamics presses the police to come down hard on Rockford and nail him for filing a false report. Jim goes to work to find out what in the world he's suddenly involved in.

Among the highlights is the scene between Beatty and Garner in which Fielder tries to intimidate Rockford with his powerful handshake, which Rockford later gets even. Dennis is still a police lieutenant in this episode, and Beth makes a brief appearance getting Jim out of jail. Gretchen Davenport looks sexier and more fetching than ever. A side note--Tracy Bogart, who appears in this episode, also appeared on Garner's previous series, "Nichols".

There's a good mix of mystery, action and humor in this episode that makes watching it again a pleasure.