"The Rockford Files" Second Chance (1977)

Director:

Reza Badiyi

Writers:

Gordon T. Dawson (writer)
Roy Huggins (creator) ...

TV Series:

"The Rockford Files" (1974)

Original Air Date:

14 October 1977 (Season 4, Episode 4)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

When the life of Gandy Fitch's girlfriend is in danger, he turns to Rockfish for help. |

Plot Keywords:

Number In Title | Police | Detective | Answering Machine | Sting Operation

Cast

James Garner	...	Jim Rockford
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford #2 (credit only) (as Noah Beery)
Joe Santos	...	Police Det. Dennis Becker
Isaac Hayes	...	Gandolph Fitch
Malachi Throne	...	Mr. Shapiro
Tony Burton	...	Joe Moran
Dionne Warwick	...	Thea Moran / Thea Best
Stuart Margolin	...	Evelyn 'Angel' Martin
Sean Garrison	...	Lanark
Frank Christi	...	Brill
Richard Seff	...	Arnold Rose
Vivi Janiss	...	Pawn Shop Proprietor
Jack Garner	...	Bartender
Milt Oberman	...	Farnum
Janet Dey	...	Secretary

James Luisi

...

Lt. Doug Chapman

Trivia:

Dionne Warwick, while in character, is clearly wearing a necklace with the initials DW in the scene outside the pawn shop.

Quotes:

Jim Rockford: This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message, I'll get back to you.
Sales Rep.: [Beeep] This is Globe Publications. Our records show you have not returned your free volume of the Encyclopedia of Weather, so we'll be sending you the remaining 29 volumes - you'll be billed accordingly.

The Impresario of Cell Block C

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Issac Hayes returns one last time as Gandy, the "Hammer of Cell Block C" and is just as good as ever. This time Gandy's fallen in love. He's met Theda, a singer played by "Psychic Friends" Dionne Warwick and wants to promote her as well as marry her. But when her ex Joe Moran gets sprung from prison, things get complicated. Gandy gets hit on the head with a 2x4, Dionne disappears, and suddenly Gandy is looking at a trip back to the joint for ANOTHER murder he didn't do.

You'd think going to the well a third time might be too much, but Hayes is excellent in his third go around as Gandy. He plays tough, but he also can play heartsick and vulnerable. Gordon Dawson gives him a great line "Does two grand buy your help, friend?" which he delivers perfectly to a reluctant Rockford, then later, as a desperate measure to get Rockford to help him, Dawson has Gandy call Jim "Rockford" for the only time in the series.

Dawson's script is very strong, mixing action with comedy--Gandy knocks out Rockford with one punch to get the information he wants, but then covers up Rockford so he'll stay warm while taking and eating the sandwich Rockford had; Rockford later tries to even things up by slugging Gandy but only hurts his own hand; and there's a very good use of Stuart Margolin as Angel (though in series continuity, its unlikely Gandy wouldn't know Angel and certainly Angel would know that Gandy is a dangerous man to con!)

The script is excellently handled by Raza Badiyi, who brings out both the comedy and suspense elements of the script and keeps things at an electric pace. He does some very good work in the linen factory location. It also helps he's got some good performers here, not only Hayes and Garner, but Dionne Warwick is solid as Theda, Malachi Throne as Shapiro, and the usual strong performances from Margolin and Santos.

It's too bad Hayes or Tom Selleck as Lance White did not return to make appearances in the Rockford reunion movies from the mid-90's.