The Rockford Files (TV Series) Sleight of Hand (1975) User Reviews

Rocky Comes Through

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 31 March 2015]

This episode of The Rockford Files starts as a flashback as James Garner narrates to Noah Beery, Jr. the sequence of events that occurred after an idyllic day in San Francisco and the drive back home with a girl that Rockford is seeing and her little daughter. She walks in the house ahead of Jim who is carrying the sleeping little girl in his arms. But she's not there. Worse than that, a dead body is found by the police led by his good friend Dennis Becker. If Joe Santos hadn't been the one leading the posse Rockford would have been jailed that night.

This is one case that Jim Rockford is doing without the $200.00 a day plus expenses. When Garner finishes telling his story it's Beery who points out the one thing he hasn't considered because of his personal involvement, the part of the story that seemingly made no sense. Good old Rocky, he who keeps telling his son to get out of the PI business is the one who comes through with where to look.

It turns out that the woman's disappearance the murder on her property and still another murder of a woman who impersonates her are all part of a big case that Santos and Tom Atkins as Lt. Deal are working on. They owe Jimbo for this, but I doubt Atkins will see it that way.

Rockford Gets Serious

[zsenorsock · 8/10 · 20 October 2006]

This is a very noir kind of episode. It begins with Jim returning from a weekend trip with a new girlfriend, the recently divorced Karen Mills (Pat Delaney--daughter in law of John Huston, who knew a few things about noir film) and her daughter. When they arrive, Karen goes in the house while Jim picks up her daughter from the back seat and carries her up to her room. He then discovers Karen has disappeared without a trace. Of course he calls Dennis and when the police arrive, they see no sign of Karen, but find her next door neighbor murdered in the bushes. So of course that makes Jim an immediate suspect.

This is a great little mystery and the first half of the story is shown by Rocky asking Jim to go over the story once again. Rocky suggests that by Jim telling him the story he might remember a little detail that he didn't think was important at the time, but now might lead to a clue as to what happened. It's a really well written scene and completes the transition of the Rocky character from a grifter to a concerned parent. It also goes a long way to show that Rocky isn't just some clueless old man either. As he says "You come to me because I'm your father. And I'm smarter than you!" This is one of those times where we see where Jim got his smarts.

This episode also features an appearance by hottie Lara Parker, who played Angelique in the "Dark Shadows" series and went on to play Laura Banner, Bruce's wife in the "Incredible Hulk" series a few years later. She looks terrific here.

This episode also marks the first mention of the Minette crime family, a name that would keep popping up on the Rockford Files almost whenever they needed a mob family. This time, its Vincent Minette who Rockford helps apprehend.

Lt. Diehl (Tom Atkins) makes his first appearance on the series and Dennis is quietly demoted from a police lieutenant that he was on the earlier season one episodes to a police Sargent. I guess they figured it would be better to have Dennis less powerful and add some conflict between Jim and the police. Frankly, they were right, though I prefer the later Lt. Chapman to Lt. Diehl.

Not a lot of the typical "Rockford" humor in this episode, but a good mystery with a lot of heart.

cool noir, but questions...

[stephe1605 · 9/10 · 10 October 2007]

The mystery and its solution was a great noir conceit. I do have some questions though, maybe I wasn't paying enough attention.

Who killed the neighbor and why? Who killed the replacement girl and why?

And some minor quibbles, they should have shown the stopoff at the hotel for the switch. Not that they should have shown the switch, but they should have shown Jim and the girl going in the hotel, Jim going to the bathroom, coming out and being told by the bartender that his girlfriend went to the car without him.

then, Jim getting back in the car and seeing the sleeping woman, and little girl in his back seat.

This would have given the viewer a sporting chance at figuring out the solution.

I wish I taped it though, I'd like to see it again.

Watch for Rocky

[stones78 · 20 December 2010]

I've seen several episodes of the Rockford Files, but in this segment, Noah Beery, Jr. shines as Rockford's dad, who Jim amusingly calls Rocky. Jim's having a tough time coming to grips that the love of his life has been murdered in an unfortunate case of both bad luck and timing. A sympathetic Rocky is trying his best to convince his son that it wasn't his fault that the woman was killed, and is offering fatherly advice, even though Jim is reluctant at first to open up. This is what I enjoyed mostly about this episode, even though I don't share the same enthusiasm as the other reviewers on here on the segment as a whole. There are some unanswered questions which left me wanting more answers, and I think that's what makes this a nice episode rather than a great one. That being said, James Garner does a fine acting performance as well, as he plays it both sympathetic and tough, when the situation calls for it.

Lastly, this is Tom Atkins second appearance as Diel. Another reviewer said in an earlier review that this episode was the first for Atkins, but in fact, it's his second. The first episode he was in was titled "the Countess", which was aired about four months prior to this episode.

Rockford gets tough

[ODDBear · 10/10 · 24 August 2007]

I just recently discovered this fantastic series and I just can't seem to get enough of Garner's laid back PI. The shows continually display excellent level of writing and suspenseful episodes.

This episode, Sleight of Hand, is a little different. Forsaking humor in favor of a more serious turn for Rockford as he searches for his missing girlfriend.

The mystery is great and it's unraveling is convincing enough. It's based on a book (can't remember the name) and it could easily have been stretched to a feature length episode. Garner excels here as Rockford gets tough and really means business. This has a "noir" feel to it all the way, the dark lighting and overall mood echo the great dark thrillers of the 40's and 50's.

Really good episode in a Class A series. Easily deserves a 10.

Probably the Best Rockford Files Episode of the Series

[CaperGuy · 9/10 · 18 January 2010]

'Sleight of Hand' is my favorite Rockford Files episode of the entire series. This episode shows a side of Jim Rockford that is usually ignored. To wit, Jim is genuinely in love with a beautiful woman and is shown as a father figure to her young daughter. The woman is recently divorced and she and Jim have recently returned from a weekend getaway along with the youngster. Through a strange turn of events, the woman is discovered missing after they return to her home.

Rockford's recounting to his father, Rocky, of the events leading up to the woman's disappearance is reminiscent of Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer series from an earlier era. After much brooding and reflection and with Rocky's encouragement, Jim stumbles upon the clue that sends him off investigating the disappearance with his usual steadfastness.

Unfortunately, Jim's girlfriend, Karen, unwittingly witnessed some mafia activity while they stayed at the Buena Vista Inn. The crime bosses responded by killing Karen and substituting another woman into Jim's car. The imposter, ostensibly asleep in the back seat, made her exit immediately upon arrival at the home. A couple of cover up murders ensue and Jim proceeds to their solution while under suspicion of the L.A. police department even as warrants are issued for his arrest.

This episode evokes more emotional reaction than all other Rockford Files episodes combined. James Garner as Jim Rockford is seen at his most vulnerable moment and yet he retains the presence of mind to pursue the case. This is personal for Jim Rockford. In this case, he is not hired to do a job but he is trying to recover his lost love to save her life. Unfortunately, this is not possible but Jim tries hard to sort out his feelings but it is apparent that he will not soon get over his hurt.

Despite the appeal of the main story line, many key questions are raised but never answered in this episode. (1) What becomes of the young daughter of Jim's girlfriend? (2) What did Karen actually see at the hotel that made the mafia kill her? (3) How could Jim drive for hours with an imposter in his back seat without noticing this? (4) The daughter stated that "Mommy didn't come back with us". So why didn't the girl scream or cry when she noticed that her mother was absent for the hours long car ride? Regardless of these ambiguities, 'Sleight of Hand" is the Rockford Files episode which comes closest to being a tear jerker. The suspense is compelling and the story is told in a sensitive and vulnerable style which makes us feel Rockford's pain.

Plot used in a Simon & Simon episode

[moezappa · 9/10 · 12 December 2008]

A variation of the same plot line was used in a Simon & Simon episode (Thin Air) that originally aired in Dec 1982.

The gender of the victim was changed, the surviving spouse is one of Rick's "old flames". It's also interesting to note that Gerald McRaney had a role in this Rockford file episode.

Both episodes were based on a story by Howard Browne - as noted in the list of 'writing credits'.

Anthony James plays one of his classic TV bad guy roles.

The continuation of the concept between the Rockford Files to Magnum PI to Simon & Simon quite interesting.

does Rockford get much more "noir" than this?

[MrSqwubbsy · 9/10 · 15 September 2006]

The episode begins with scenes of a dead woman bather washed up on the shore, a forlorn Jim strolling along the beach lost in reverie and a night ride home that ends in murder and mystery. Yep,this is an atmospheric little number with a super twist at the end. Jim does well to unravel what is, a priori, an inexplicable case of a woman going missing 20 seconds after she enters her home. To be sure, the eventual explanation is a little far-fetched. Why, for example, go to the lengths of substituting a woman midway thru a car journey when simply rubbing her AND her companions out would've been as easy and left less of a trail. However, these niggles aside, it's a memorable TRF episode full of invention, even if YET AGAIN Jim gets put in the frame by an ever suspicious Police Dept. I mean to say, have the ungrateful so-and-so's ever sat down and counted just how many of THEIR files have been solved by dear ol' Jimbo?

A weak and shaky story saved by solid acting and direction!

[ronnybee2112 · 8/10 · 4 April 2021]

This episode is not the most logical or believable,partly because the viewer has to try to fill in several holes of a pretty weak story. There are a few things in this episode that are almost impossible to believe or don't make much sense. However...Solid acting,creative camera-work,good pacing and direction all help to save this episode from being a dud. Despite the shaky storyline this episode is indeed entertaining and a good watch.

The first season's episodes were usually quite experimental as they tried all sorts of ideas and sifted through them as they went along. Long before the end of season 1 they had a basic outline of a show that would do very well for many years to come. This episode is an interesting show in a wonderful series.

Later Addendum... I don't know how I managed to miss mentioning the delightful guest-appearance of the lovely actress Lara Parker as 'Diana Lewis'. Lara Parker was a long-time regular actress on the 'Dark Shadows' tv show (of the mid 1960's to early 1971). Here in this 1975 RF episode Miss Parker is impossibly cute!

Top notch for 40 minutes

[c-dorman · 7/10 · 3 August 2023]

"Because I'm smarter than you." Great to hear Rocky be boss instead of just bossy, as he later came to be.

This episode haunted me more than any other. Jim's stumped. We're stumped. The suspense is built up really well.

Why 7 stars? Jim could come off as less of a thug and be treated better if he'd just say things like, "A little girl's mother has gone missing. I'm trying to find her. Are you going to cover up for any foul play that happened? I'll let the police know whose side you're on."

But also, the ultimate stunt needed a blonde wig handy, keys to Jim's car, the girl not to talk, and the setup of Jim suggesting the mother sleep in the back. Four things that are impossible. Maybe a fifth: the mother sees the crime but the kid is let go? And we see none of this hyper-competence later on: running when a fire engine shows up? Nobody on guard for a half mile away for incoming cops? (My friend has noisy neighbors that are savvier, turn the music off before the cops hear it.) Squealing tires to give themselves away? Not keeping more of an eye on Jim after the drunk act? I'm buying Browne's book to see if he works it any more plausibly. Clearly this is bothering me and I feel a little gypped. Maybe the Simon & Simon episode works out some of these kinks.