The Rockford Files 

The cases of an easy going ex-convict turned private investigator.

Creators:

Stephen J. Cannell, Roy Huggins

Stars:

James Garner, Noah Beery Jr., Joe Santos

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 8 wins & 23 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
James Garner	...	Jim Rockford 122 episodes, 1974-1980
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford 121 episodes, 1974-1980
Joe Santos	...	Dennis Becker 112 episodes, 1974-1980

Storyline

Series about an ex-convict-turned-private-investigator named Jim Rockford who would rather run away than fight and would rather go fishing than work. He isn't a coward, and he isn't lazy -- just rather on the cautious side, that's all. And he bears a very strong resemblance to Western television hero Bret Maverick. Rockford is sometimes assisted (and sometimes deterred) in his cases by friends Dennis Becker (a police detective), Evelyn "Angel" Martin (his cowardly former cellmate) and pretty Beth Davenport (his lawyer).

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Plot Keywords:

private detective | ex convict | beach | police detective | malibu california | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 March 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Jim Rockford, Private Investigator

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min (123 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rockford's telephone number is shown to be [phone] during the opening credits, The '555' prefixed numbers (of every area code) were set aside by AT&T ('Ma Bell', that is) as "safe" numbers which would never be used as a real phone number, and can be seen in many American -made films and TV shows (also, the '311' area code was not used - in Califofnia, nor elsewhere at the time. The only LA-area code was 213. 310 arrived later, and others later, still).

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Goofs

Throughout the series, Los Angeles police cars are depicted as having 2 rotary beacons; in the early to mid 1970s, Los Angeles police cars had 2 red lights with amber flashers on the back.

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Quotes

Jim Rockford: Why didn't you get me 'Little Eddie' or 'The Greek?'
Angel Martin: They said they wouldn't do it. They said the last time they were in a con with you, it blew sky high. What does he mean by calling me a halibut?
Jim Rockford: It's a fish that swims at the bottom.
Angel Martin: I don't like him.

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Crazy Credits

The message left on the answering machine at the opening credits changes from episode to episode, usually as some kind of gag. Occasionally it dealt with some part of the forthcoming story. Frequently the voice was of supporting actors on the show, either as themselves or as a completely unrelated character.

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Connections

Followed by The Rockford Files: A Blessing in Disguise (1995)

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Soundtracks

The Rockford Files
(Main Title Theme)
Written by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter

User Reviews

Reality Private Investigating

This show destroyed the Private Detective show formula.

At the time, most TV PI's had cutie pie secretaries (Mannix' secretary Gail and Barnaby Jones' ex Miss America Lee Meriweather in particular), Jim Rockford had an answering machine...

All TV PI's had nice offices with dark wood paneling, Rockford's office was the living room of his decaying mobile home parked in the lot outside a diner...

It took at least 3 guys fighting dirty to subdue the average TV PI, even short, fat, aging Cannon. Jimmy was always the one getting his head handed to him unless he figured a way to sucker punch his opponent...

At the climax, other TV PI's would pull their guns, shoot it out with the baddies and save the day. Rockford's gun, often as not was still at home in his cookie jar...

TV PI's always had a friend on the police force who would gladly do favors, looking up DMV records, etc. Rockford's friend on the force was always getting in trouble for even knowing Rockford. The Captains & Lieutenants on the force universally viewed Jim as low life scum & not worth the time of day...

The average detective would go about his business, assembling clues to solve this weeks mystery. That is the way it was with Rockford except that he was always dealing with hustlers, con men, ex-convicts and the occasional ex-girlfriends, every one of whose purpose in life seemed to be the bedevilment and aggravation of Jim Rockford. Not to mention the recurring role of Jim's dad Rocky (deftly played by that Trojan actor, Noah Beery) who was always after Jim to give up PIing and do something "respectable" like truck driving.

When this show appeared on TV, every other PI looked dull and one by one they disappeared as they lost ground in the ratings.

This is also the show that put Steven J Cannell on the map. Nothing that he ever did subsequently equaled this. In fact most of it was crappy formula detective shows.

The Rockford Files is the REAL DEAL!

Simon Sez, CHECK IT OUT!