The Rockford Files (TV Series) Claire (1975) User Reviews

On a Claire Day You Can See Forever

[zsenorsock · 8/10 · 13 January 2007]

Jim's old girlfriend Claire (Linda Evans) turns up three years after they broke up desperately seeking his help. Both Jim and Rocky are immediately wary. Apparently the breakup was pretty hard on Jim. He goes to see if he can help her anyway while carefully protecting his heart.

Lasko and Cannell's script gives Garner some well written scenes between him and Evans and he makes the most of it. Watch how distant he is when he first meets her. Without saying it, he's able to manage to let us he believes Claire is lying to him and he's being set up, though he agrees to help her anyway. The way he treats Claire throughout the show is a side we rarely get to see of Jim Rockford.

It helps that he has such a talented co-star as Linda Evans. She's great as Claire Prescott and one can easily see how someone would fall hard for her. She's able to convince us she's not a bad girl--just bad things happen to people she's around.

Frequent "Rockford" director Jackie Cooper makes a vein-popping, scene chewing appearance as Captain Highland, the latest in a line of superiors (Lt. Diehl, Lt. Chapman) who hate Rockford and give Dennis grief. Highland orders the sergeant to tail Rockford, much to Dennis' dismay and Rockford's amusement.

Rocky also gets a nice scene expressing concern about Jim going to prison by helping Claire. However Rocky doesn't hesitate when Jim asks Rocky to help him out. The scene has a very real feel to it that humanizes the characters without going overboard.

Lane Smith is outstanding as Willett, muscle for gangster Tony Sawtelle. Less so is the second unit work for the final chase on the beach. The stunt doubles for Jim and Rocky are painfully obvious as they run towards the camera.

At the end, Claire Prescott takes a bus, never to be seen again on the series, but fortunately Linda Evans returned as another character in season two in one of the series best entries, "The Farnsworth Stratagem".

Better than average

[stones78 · 22 December 2010]

This episode of the Rockford Files had everything I normally like for this show, including many scenes with Rocky, the trailer, the Firebird, and folks out to get Jim, which include the hoods and the cops. The angry cop this time is effectively played by diminutive Jackie Cooper, who screams at Rockford any chance he gets and tries to muscle him, even though Jim is well traveled enough to call his bluff. The scenes between Cooper and James Garner really standout to this reviewer, not so much the scenes with Linda Evans and Rockford. She really downplayed her role, and didn't show much emotion at all. That may have been called for her role, but I wasn't terribly impressed. She dumped old flame Jim 3 years ago, but I don't believe she even paid him for his services this time. I don't think I would've been so forgiving as Jim was, but that's what makes him who he is and why he's very likable. The better moments for me are the scenes with Jim and Rocky, and Dennis also. There are some very cool car chases, which I'm not always a big fan of, but in this episode are not overdone to the extent of boredom. Check out the scene when one car chasing the Firebird loses a hubcap, and the scene continues. I enjoyed the atmosphere of this episode throughout, and it's probably one of the better ones from the first season, and Rockford himself is in fine form. Don't forget the Firebird too, as it is always great seeing Rockford in that fine car.

Jim Rockford is only human !

[ronnybee2112 · 9/10 · 1 July 2022]

This story is a bit hard to believe,as Jim Rockford almost always exercises better judgement than he does at the beginning of this episode. An old flame calls Jim up after disappearing 3 or so years ago and now she says she is 'in trouble' !? At the drop of the phone call Jim is now 'off to the races'! The problem is that the whole,complete situation is not explained to Jim by the ex-flame,Jim is only told bits and pieces and before he knows it Jim is waist-deep in trouble. First Jim Rockford gets jammed-up by 2 creeps but manages to miraculously get the best of them and escape. I quite agree with previous reviewers regarding Jackie Cooper playing an excellent part,he really nails it as a hard-boiled and angry police captain that is at odds with Jim Rockford throughout the episode. When our favorite detective isn't being beat-up by creeps or yelled-at by police bosses,he is on a wild goose chase for the disappearing old-flame. This episode absolutely rocks-along at a fast pace that picks-up as it goes. The lovely and still-very-pretty Linda Evans plays the part of Jim's old flame,and it isn't hard at all to see why Jim's judgement might indeed be compromised by being around this attractive and quite-pleasant woman. Things go from bad to worse,and luckily Jim comes up with some clever and quick tactics to get out of yet another fine mess.(Check out his idea of 'window -shopping'! ) This episode is one of the best in the first season.

Another damsel in distress

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 16 April 2015]

In this Rockford Files story here's yet another situation where James Garner can't say no to a damsel in distress. Especially if it's Linda Evans who has a couple of goons who work for a top criminal kingpin chasing her. They're working for someone who has moled right into their organization and is really an undercover cop.

When Jim Rockford makes some inquiries about that cop who is squeezing Evans in the figurative sense he gets the attention of Captain Jackie Cooper of the LAPD.

Although Cooper is a loudmouth and a blowhard and is the best thing in this story, I can't really blame him for his concern about his man. Turns out though the undercover guy is a piece of work himself though not quite illegal.

I wish Cooper had become a regular. His scenes with Jim Rockford and the much beleaguered Dennis Becker are great.