The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigar
- Episode aired Jan 12, 1979
- TV-PG
- 1h
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
234
YOUR RATING
Ignorant that he's been driving a hot Cadillac with an illegal stash of guns in the trunk, leads Jim into rubbing shoulders with the FBI and the Company.Ignorant that he's been driving a hot Cadillac with an illegal stash of guns in the trunk, leads Jim into rubbing shoulders with the FBI and the Company.Ignorant that he's been driving a hot Cadillac with an illegal stash of guns in the trunk, leads Jim into rubbing shoulders with the FBI and the Company.
Noah Beery Jr.
- Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford
- (as Noah Beery)
Joe Santos
- Dennis Becker
- (credit only)
Lawrence P. Casey
- Echo Seven
- (as Lawrence Casey)
- …
Nancy Burnett
- Jill
- (as Mary-Nancy Burnett)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFor the second time in the series' run, Rockford has a run-in with the ficticious 'National Intelligence Agency' (the first being in 'The Dog and Pony Show' from the 4th season). For some reason, the show's producers were unwilling to call it the Central Intelligence Agency. In the 70's, and in many circumstances even today, using the CIA or FBI by name would generally require the story receiving script approval - not for nefarious reasons, but, rather to make sure the agency is shown in a professional manner. It's for this reason, agents in The X-Files had identification which read 'Federal Bureau,' as there is no branch of the F.B.I. which handles paranormal activities (or is there..?).
- GoofsAt 18:46 Rockford picks up a timecard for a typist in the federal office. Freeze the frame and you can clearly see the time card is for a movie studio worker. It includes such categories as "report to other studios" and "ext-nite shooting".
- Quotes
Jim Rockford: This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message, I'll get back to you.
Miss Holroyd: Miss Holroyd, City Federal. Your lost check still hasn't arrived. It's impossible for us to lose checks, so unless we receive full payment by noon today we'll foreclose.
Featured review
Makes you feel all safe and secure
This show is another case where the Rockford Files created another indelible character. In this case its Marge Redmond who plays the head of the secretarial and stenographic pool in the federal building in Los Angeles where she comes in contact with all the agencies. Because of that and her territorial personality she gets involved in an operation that the FBI, the CIA, and the Treasury Department all have an interest in. As in fact does James Garner, both of them quite unwittingly.
After a big night of losing at a Nevada casino, Jim Rockford needs to get back to Los Angeles, but the casino is holding his car in lieu of payment. So he hitches a ride in Sully Boyar's car and when its stopped by state troopers and has both weapons and bars of gold bullion in it, both Garner and Boyar are arrested.
While Garner is dealing with the various federal agencies Boyar disappears and his arrest disappears as well. At the same time the territorial Ms. Redmond is demanding to know why a Treasury agent poached one of her stenographers without clearing it with her. The stenographer has disappeared and she's hot on the trail. Redmond might be a tyrant but she's no fool.
She and Rockford form an alliance of convenience and when he and Redmond finally get to the truth it turns out to be one of those operations that possibly Nixon's White House plumbers might have thought up.
Lane Smith represents the CIA and Glenn Corbett the FBI each trying to make a big score and maybe make the other look bad as a bonus. Guys like this make me really feel safe and secure.
There's a nice interlude scene with Redmond, Garner, and Noah Beery, Jr. at Rocky's house. I was so hoping they would take to each other. You could see Redmond softening a bit.
One of Marge Redmond's best roles in her career.
After a big night of losing at a Nevada casino, Jim Rockford needs to get back to Los Angeles, but the casino is holding his car in lieu of payment. So he hitches a ride in Sully Boyar's car and when its stopped by state troopers and has both weapons and bars of gold bullion in it, both Garner and Boyar are arrested.
While Garner is dealing with the various federal agencies Boyar disappears and his arrest disappears as well. At the same time the territorial Ms. Redmond is demanding to know why a Treasury agent poached one of her stenographers without clearing it with her. The stenographer has disappeared and she's hot on the trail. Redmond might be a tyrant but she's no fool.
She and Rockford form an alliance of convenience and when he and Redmond finally get to the truth it turns out to be one of those operations that possibly Nixon's White House plumbers might have thought up.
Lane Smith represents the CIA and Glenn Corbett the FBI each trying to make a big score and maybe make the other look bad as a bonus. Guys like this make me really feel safe and secure.
There's a nice interlude scene with Redmond, Garner, and Noah Beery, Jr. at Rocky's house. I was so hoping they would take to each other. You could see Redmond softening a bit.
One of Marge Redmond's best roles in her career.
helpful•51
- bkoganbing
- Mar 3, 2015
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Camarillo St & Vineland Ave, Los Angeles, California, USA(Petrankus takes taxi to northwest corner of intersection to meet Watkins)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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