The Rockford Files (TV Series) The Italian Bird Fiasco (1976) User Reviews

The 7 Napoleons

[zsenorsock · 8/10 · 28 November 2006]

In a episode based on the old Sherlock Holmes story about the busts of the 7 Napoleons, Rockford is hired by the disagreeable Thomas Caine (William Daniels). Caine is an antiques dealer who wants Rockford to act as his agent to go to an auction and bid on a Italian bird statuette which he says might be a rare cormorant. At the auction, meets the lovely Evelyn Stoneman (Robert Evan's second wife, Camilla Sparv) who also wants the bird. Out in the parking lot, a couple of thugs try and take it away from Rockford but the bird is broken in the process. When Jim goes back to report what happened to Caine, he finds no sign of the man.

Although the story is kind of reworked Sherlock Holmes, William Daniels is excellent as Thomas Caine. He would be brought back to even greater success as Larry Bevins in "So Help Me God" in which Jim is called in by the Grand Jury. He and Garner (who is so good at being irritated) make this episode, though Sparv makes pretty scenery!

Kind of like the old Bogart movie!

[mm-39 · 8/10 · 11 January 2019]

Kind of like the old Bogart Falcon movie! Jim is hired by a shady art dealer to but these birds, which keep getting broken. A old time chase at the begging to start the mystery as in many classic movies. Many players and many birds adds flavor to the story. Like the old Bogart movie Jim gets caught in the middle. The character development of the treacherous characters and plot twists makes for a good old time P I investigation movie! Of course Becker get involved and Rockford has a scheme to under cover the mystery for a memorable ending! Well written and directed. 8 stars. One of my favorite Rockford episodes.

Jim The Art Expert

[Resurgum · 9/10 · 29 March 2013]

Some highlights include a funny scene with Jim talking to the very attractive Camilla Sparv (Evelyn Stoneman / Maggie Donnegan) with Jim in the guise of an art expert. Jim's irritated banter with William Daniels (Thomas Caine) is also pretty funny. A young Ron Silver (Ted Haller) makes a fine appearance as an art friend of Jim. There's a scene at the police station where Becker is chagrined to be seen with Jim because the other cops don't like Jim. Jim threatens not to leave the station until Becker tells him the information he wants to know. Becker then whispers the information to Jim who thanks him and loudly states his goodbyes to his good buddy Dennis Becker for all the cops to hear.

This bird lacks bite

[stones78 · 8 May 2012]

While I wouldn't hesitate to call this a solid episode, I would also have to say that this isn't even close to being one of my favorites, mainly because nothing memorable happened. I thought William Daniels did a commendable job as Thomas Caine, although his talents could've been used far more for my tastes, as the man is a fine actor; I can't say the same for Camilla Sparv(Evelyn/Maggie), as I didn't detect any real chemistry between her and James Garner. Ron Silver makes one of his first acting gigs here, as he had a couple interesting scenes as Ted, one who examines art to see if it's legitimate. The premise has Caine hiring Rockford to stand in for him at art auctions to bid on these odd looking bird sculptures, which are supposedly priceless, but them suckers are ugly. It turns out that the woman, who tries to help Rockford early on, winds up being a thief and attempts to steal the bird, along with 2 goons; this is the 3rd auctioned bird, as the other 2 got smashed in scenes I'm too lazy to mention. Rockford does his usual con job in an airport to recover the stolen sculpture, and he also figures out, and yet again smashes the bird, that stolen jewels were inside the bird, and this is what the woman and Caine were really after; soon after, the police come and save the day, with Dennis shooting a thug. The final scene between Rockford and an agent from Lloyd's of London at a restaurant was pretty funny, as Jim was expecting some kind of reward for helping to locate the stolen sculpture, but since all 3 were broken, he may not get enough to pay for the check. Lastly, this was the 3rd episode in a row where a Monte Carlo was chasing the Firebird around town. As I said above, I wouldn't call this a bad episode by any means, but not too much really happened worthy of recommendation, which is rare, but no show is perfect.

Perhaps slightly bland compared to most others,but still interesting and different..

[ronnybee2112 · 9/10 · 26 April 2021]

The show starts with a pretty unlikely scene at what is supposed to be a London airport. A man,"Barrows", buys a round-trip ticket to LA at the London airport counter and is told his intended 'carry on' bag is too large to carry-on,he must check the bag and let them handle it. The man seems surprised but does indeed check the bag with them. The man then goes to a phonebooth and makes a call to an LA art gallery,telling them that 'whatever-it-is' is on it's way.

While he's still on the phone,he spots 2 creeps that zero-in on him and quickly head his way.

'Barrows' panics and takes off running through the airport.

He does not have a plan,he's just running scared. Somehow he ends up outside and does what all 'dummys on TV',good or bad,do when running away--he goes up-stairs and ends up on the roof of a parking garage or utility building at the airport. Naturally he quickly runs out of roof and tries to climb down a pipe. He then has a dramatic fall !

One of the creeps goes to the badly-hurt 'Barrows' and manages to get info on where the package was sent,but who knows if 'Barrows' told them the truth?

All this happens within the first 5 minutes of the show!

So a package of some sort is on its way to LA,and some bad guys may or may not know the exact place it is headed,and one man is presumably dead. All this in the first 5 minutes or so! From here the story keeps a quick pace and it is indeed rather confusing at times. As luck would have it,Jim Rockford becomes involved and things really get crazy!

Perhaps this may not be the very best episode but this IS a decent and solid offering I say.

Feeding Flamingo

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 8 December 2014]

A guy who skipped out on paying Jim Rockford's bill is hardly a good recommendation for another man who wants to hire James Garner. But when William Daniels is willing to front half that $200.00 a day plus expenses you can't go wrong. Or can you?

Seems simple enough Garner is to go to an art gallery and bid on a sculpture of what looks like a feeding flamingo. But after a nice get together with Camilla Sparv who was at the auction and drove up the price, Rockford gets attacked in the parking lot and the bird busted in the struggle. A most valuable piece of sculpture lost.

Never mind there are two more says William Daniels and James Garner goes after them. Right around now Garner gets a call from Sgt. Dennis Becker for a heart to heart. There's a lot more involved than a loss to the art world.

Daniels is his exacting and dogmatic self in this role. Given some of the parts he played in I always wondered how Daniels got the chance to play Mr. Feeney, mentor to so many kids in Boy Meets World. Daniels does make it work though, here and in Boy Meets World.

Fans of William Daniels and James Garner should approve and Camilla Sparv is always nice to look at and also not what she appears in this Rockford Files story.