Credit: Amazon.com
Created by
Stephen J. Cannell
Roy Huggins
Cast:
James Garner …. Jim Rockford
Noah Beery Jr. …. Joseph ‘Rocky’ Rockford
Joe Santos …. Det. Dennis Becker
Gretchen Corbett …. Beth Davenport
Stuart Margolin …. Evelyn ‘Angel’ Martin
The Show
Television mysteries are huge right now. CSI and Law and Order seemingly have dozens of incarnations flooding the airways looking for clues to solve murders and other crimes. These shows may seem fresh, but the Procedural Crime Drama has been around for decades. Shows such as Mannix, Dragnet, Perry Mason and others provided solid entertainment for those wanting a good yarn.
The 1970’s went a step further with The Rockford Files. The show starred James Garner as Jim Rockford an ex-con who works as a Private Detective to make ends meet. Where as most leading men in these types of shows were tough guys with a hard edge, Jim was a wisecracking smart-ass that would just assume sucker-punch you if it meant that he didn’t get hurt.
The Rockford Files was a great show because its main character was a flawed individual that anyone could identify with. Jim wasn’t in a huge mansion or talked to a mysterious benefactor on the other end of a speaker; he lived in a small trailer and loved to fish. Jim was as “everyman” as you could get. Peter Faulk made Columbo quirky and likeable, but Rockford was great because he could just as well be you.
The Rockford Files – Season One features the first 23 episodes of the series. Notably missing is the show’s feature length pilot, which delved further into Jim’s past and his conviction. What’s left are some of the show’s best episodes that are all filled with great writing, along with tons of laughs and action.
Helping out Garner is the fantastic array of guest stars that appear on the show. A very young James Woods appears in the episode The Kirkoff Case. Woods is a spoiled heir to a rich family whose parents have been killed. Even here, you can see the actor’s ability to relish a very unlikable character. Woods has Larry Kirkoff really get under your skin. Other great appearances on the show include Lindsay Wagner, Ned Beatty, Sid Haig, Joseph Cotten, and James Cromwell to name a few.
Garner also had a strong supporting cast to go along with him. First was Noah Beery Jr. who portrayed Rocky, Jim’s father. Constantly trying to get Jim to quit his work, Rocky always gives his son advice, even when not asked for it. Joe Santos plays Detective Dennis Becker, Jim’s ally on the local Police force. Jim is a grumpy officer that prefers to yell at Rockford most of the time instead of helping him. Stuart Margolin’s Evelyn ‘Angel’ Martin was Jim’s former cellmate and his ear on the street. Gretchen Corbett’s Beth Davenport is Rockford’s lawyer/part time girlfriend. The relationship is interesting in how undefined it is. The two have a great chemistry and a witty banter.
The Rockford Files was one of the greatest shows of the 1970’s. It was smart, adult and featured great actors doing interesting work. Garner absolutely shines here as Rockford becomes more endearing with every episode. The show is strapped to the gills with interesting plotlines, one-liners, innovative TV camerawork, and car chases galore. If you’re tired of the flash of CSI and would rather have some laid back 70’s amusement, give The Rockford Files a try.
Score: 8.5/10
The DVD:
The Video
Each episode is presented in a Fullscreen format with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The video ranges from decent to very mediocre, but this is a 70’s TV show. Universal seems to have just thrown this DVD together, but did not bother to put out a great disc.
The Audio
If you love mono sound, this is the DVD set for you. The show is presented in a Dolby Digital 2.0 mono soundtrack. Not a totally awful track, but nothing special.
SPECIAL FEATURES: James Garner Interview
James Garner Interview – This runs about eight minutes and has some nice insights from James Garner about the show. He goes into detail about how the studio wanted the show to be less humorous, but Garner threatened to quit. He also speaks at length about the driving stunts and the limitations to the action on the show.
Score: 3.0/10
