The cases of an easy-going ex-convict turned private investigator.The cases of an easy-going ex-convict turned private investigator.The cases of an easy-going ex-convict turned private investigator.
- Won 5 Primetime Emmys
- 9 wins & 27 nominations total
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCo-writer/co-producer David Chase would go on afterwards to create another famous series, The Sopranos (1999). As a little tribute to this series, a scene in a first season episode of The Sopranos is set in a retirement home where the residents are watching television. Though the picture can't be seen, the theme music for The Rockford Files (1974) can be heard.
- GoofsThroughout the series Rockford's trailer, parked in a parking lot, has electricity and running water, yet there is no evidence of a power line or plumbing attached to the unit. Also, it often changed position: sometimes it was parked parallel to the beach, and sometimes perpendicular to it.
- Quotes
Jim Rockford: Yeah well, we got snarled up in a case in August. I ended up doing 90 days on a county honor farm.
Lance White: Well, I'm sorry about that Jim, but I had my client's interests to protect, and you did break into that hotel room.
Jim Rockford: What client? Who where you working for? Nobody seemed to know.
Lance White: Well, that was kind of a strange one, those three little boys hired me.
Jim Rockford: The triplets? They were only eight years old.
Lance White: Yeah well, when their folks were killed by the mob, I kind of took 'em in. Finally, I made arrangements for them to live on a friend's farm in Vermont.
Jim Rockford: Isn't that nice? A happy ending. We all got to go to a farm.
- Crazy creditsThe 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.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1976)
The Rockford Files is about Jim Rockford, a single, 40-something Private Investigator who lives in a rundown trailer house in sunny Southern California (Malibu, to be precise), drives a gold Pontiac Firebird, and has a dad he simply calls "Rocky". Rockford served in Korea (same as the real-life Garner) and did time in prison for a crime he didn't commit, although he was later pardened. Despite being sharp as a tack and tough on his feet, Rockford is forever getting himself entangled with con men, mobsters, and non-paying clients that keep him from the getting any respect.
Other recurring characters on the show include police Sgt. Dennis Becker (Rockford's close friend and seemingly the only member of the LAPD who doesn't hate his guts), Angel Martin (Rockford's former cellmate in prison & constant source of aggravation), and Beth Davenport (his attorney who frequently has to show up and bail Rockford out of jail).
The typical episode finds Rockford taking on a seemingly simple case that turns into something much bigger, or stumbling onto an unrelated mess while in the course of his regular investigations. Sometimes trouble seeks Rockford in the form of ex-cons he associated with in prison or as a PI, and as you can guess, it's never boring. Rockford routinely gets in over his head and some of his escapes tended to be a bit too Houdini-like, but James Garner's laid-back, easy charm always made sure you kept rooting for him.
Highly recommended!
- Snatchy
- Mar 11, 2001
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Jim Rockford, Private Investigator
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime50 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 4:3