MovieChat Forums > The Rockford Files (1974) Discussion > Most memorable episode to you?

Most memorable episode to you?

posted 9 years ago by MuleDeer
29 replies | jump to latest

I loved this show and recall many great episodes.

One that always comes to mind is "The Queen of Peru" the one when the Indiana family stole Jimmy's grill.

"Gearjammers" was a good one and had my favorite car chase, which featured Jimmy's patented, kick-@$$, floor-it-in-reverse-spin-around-throw-it-in-drive-and-seemlessly-peel-out-and-drive-away maneuver.

"The Attractive Nuisance" featuring Victor Jury as the dogfood-eating, old-time detective obsessed with tracking down a gangster named Capobianco. "You sit up here and eat dog food..."

Of course the Lance White episodes are hilarious.

Here's a trip down Memory Lane: some Rockford Files locations.

http://rockfordfilesfilminglocations.blogspot.com/2012_12_09_archive.html

[–] Fletcherj119 9 years ago

One thing that bugged me about "Gearjammers" - the car chase was excellent, but when it ended, Rickford made no attempt to learn the identity of the pursuers, who he was holding at gunpoint. Since they were after Rocky, you'd think he'd be extra concerned.

WAY too many good ones to pick as a favorite.

[–] carolineno 9 years ago

MuleDeer, we must have been separated at birth! Those three are among my very favorites, with Queen of Peru at the top. When Jim's on the CB trying to scare up the Indiana family with the promise of a Hoosier get- together to talk about the moon on the Wabash, I almost pee my pants. Excellent writing, and those surly kids seem so real to me.

I'm also a big fan of Paradise Cove with Mariette Hartley, and The Bees the Trees and T T Flowers. Lots of Rocky in that one.

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[–] eddy0081 9 years ago

I'd say the most memorable ones to me are:
Profit and Loss it's just such a good story.

The Great Blue Lake Land and Development Company just a fun little episode.

Pastoria Prime Pick I think half of what does it for me with this one is the scenery.

The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers hands down my favorite two-parter.

Just Another Polish Wedding I just love the chemistry of Gabby and Gandy, plus seeing Gabby take the time to be a gigantic sh*tlord to the neo-nazis alway brings me joy.

Hotel of Fear just a great Angel episode.

Forced Retirement my favorite Jimmie Joe Meeker con-job.

The House on Willis Avenue a supenseful episode with a surprisingly prescient plot.

Finally Never Send a Boy King to Do a Man's Job I dig Rockford and I dig Egyptology so this was like chocolate and peanut butter to me.

Valar morghulis

[–] Fletcherj119 9 years ago

Just Another Polish Wedding -
The basis for the redneck bar scene on 48HRS?

[–] jimmyberluti1 9 years ago

any show with Angel

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[–] ringfire211 9 years ago

The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers hands down my favorite two-parter.

This! Also the best ROCKFORD episode period. Strother Martin as T.T. was a hoot!

Connery, Moore, and Brosnan! Accept NO substitutes!

[–] oscarunger 9 years ago

any show with Angel

agreed! except half the time im wondering WHY Rockford is still friends with him.

[–] Fletcherj119 9 years ago

Angel was a coward and Rockford knew he could control him if he put effort into it. Plus he was Rockford's street bitch.

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[–] Fletcherj119 9 years ago

Rockford initially didn't want Angel involved in his elaborate and totally professional scam in "Never Send a Boy King".
It was humorous how Rocky didn't like him.

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[–] Fletcherj119 9 years ago

"Dad, it's not that kind of a farm."
Rocky still didn't get it.
Like the maid on "T.T. Flowers" - overhears the thugs planning to help T.T. "buy the farm" and thinks they're real estate agents.

[–] BFPierce 9 years ago

So Help Me God (favorite, and best 60 minutes in TV history in my opinion)
The Girl In The Bay City Boys Club
Drought At Indianhead River
Chicken Little Is A Little Chicken
Quickie Nirvana
Pastoria Prime Pick
Second Chance
Paradise Cove
Piece Work
Joey Blue Eyes
Just Another Polish Wedding
The Italian Bird Fiasco
A Portrait Of Elizabeth
The Jersey Bounce
White On White And Nearly Perfect
The Kirkoff Case...

Just too many

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[–] richfad 9 years ago

South by Southeast.Good chemistry with Dorrie Kavanaugh. Also enjoyed the car chases with the old boat like sedans.

[–] Dr_Cthulhu 9 years ago

So Help Me God
Family Hour (Burt Young!)
Sleight of Hand
Joey Blue Eyes
The Becker Connection

"I can't lie to you about your chances, but you have my sympathies."

[–] kwb1965 9 years ago

The one with Lance White (Tom Selleck) and Fred Beamer. Hilarious. Lance the perfect All American PI and Fred Beamer the incompetent PI wannabe.

[–] w22nuschler 8 years ago

Both Lance White episodes because I love Tom Selleck. Also love the one with Shelley Fabares. Always liked James Garner, but Rockford Files was never a favorite of mine and I don't know why.

[–] ccorraliza 8 years ago

Agreed. Also when James Garner acts as a gang member. I still recall some of the dialogue from the original showing... "You got colors?"

[–] engle_james 8 years ago

The one episode I really remember was the one where he, his girlfriend, and her child went on a trip, and when they came back, she went into her house, dropped her purse off on the kitchen table, and seemingly disappeared. Jim was accused first in her disappearance, then the death when her body was found. It was quite a mystery, and I was surprised by the sad ending.

Can anyone tell me the name of the episode and what season it aired? And thoughts on the episode would be appreciated. I was young when I saw it but it's stayed with me to this day.

[–] Fletcherj119 8 years ago

That was "Sleight of Hand" from season one. One of many episodes involving organized crime.
It was based on a novel "Thin Air", and the show Simon and Simon also did an episode based on the novel.
Rockford did a good job tracking down the woman, Diana.
The only thing I found uncharacteristic was that Rockford was unaware that he was being followed all the way from the Buena Vista Inn.

[–] engle_james 8 years ago

Thanks for the info, fletcher! I think there was a tv movie based on a similar scenario. Can't remember the name of it but Cloris Leachman starred as a wife whose husband disappeared at a diner while they were driving through the desert, and when she called the police, all the people at the diner denied she had come with anyone. I saw it on a rerun years after the Rockford Files episode, even though the movie was made first (I think). It's a cool plot, so I can see why it's been used so often.

[–] Fletcherj119 8 years ago

That sounds like "Dying Room Only", where Dabney Coleman played the husband.

[–] engle_james 8 years ago

Yep, that was it!

[–] HellaciousWonTon 8 years ago

Huge Rockford fan here so hard to pick one favorite episode.

But if someone put a gun to my head and forced me to choose one, I would probably go with "Quickie Nirvana". That episode just clicked for me and Jim calling out Skye in the restaurant for her hypocrisy was just priceless.