The Rockford Files

The Rockford Files was an American detective (private investigator) television drama that had its first run on the NBC television network between 1974 and 1980. The show was notable for sharp writing (often by creator Stephen J. Cannell), an agile Pontiac Firebird and for the easy charm and charisma of James Garner who starred as Jim Rockford.

Related Topics:
American - Detective - Private investigator - Television - Drama - NBC - 1974 - 1980 - Stephen J. Cannell - James Garner

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The show was created by Roy Huggins and Stephen J. Cannell. Huggins had produced the TV show Maverick with Garner from 1957 to 1960, and wanted to try and recapture that magic in a "modern day" detective setting. He teamed with Cannell to create Rockford. The show was A Public Arts Roy Huggins Production in association with Cherokee Productions and Universal Studios (later Universal/NBC).

Related Topics:
Roy Huggins - ''Maverick'' - 1957 - 1960 - Universal Studios

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The tone of the show varied from light humor (often provided by Stuart Margolin as Rockford's shifty friend and former cellmate Evelyn "Angel" Martin, whom he has occasion to call on for "backup") to gritty drama. James Rockford is an ex-convict, wrongfully convicted and then pardoned after 5 years in prison. This backstory was frequently raised, most often during contact with police officials who seek to discredit him by ignoring the fact that he was "granted a full pardon". Although he was innocent of the crime he was convicted of, he was not above breaking the law to help with a case. His infrequent jobs as a private investigator allowed him to scrape up enough cash (his often-uncollected fee: "$200 a day plus expenses") to keep his trailer in a parking lot on Malibu, California beaches. In addition to "Angel" Martin, he is often aided in the show by his father, Rocky (Noah Beery, Jr.), a friendly police detective, Becker (Joe Santos), and his attorney Elizabeth Davenport (Gretchen Corbett). Garner's brother, Jack Garner, made 23 small guest appearances, usually as a policeman, a gas station attendant, or a stranger in a bathroom.

Related Topics:
Stuart Margolin - Private investigator - Malibu - California - Noah Beery, Jr. - Joe Santos - Gretchen Corbett

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The writing on the show was provided by: show co-creator and TV icon Cannell (36 episodes); one of the show's producers and Garner's partner at Cherokee Productions, Juanita Bartlett (34 episodes; also Scarecrow and Mrs. King); and David Chase (16 episodes; Northern Exposure and The Sopranos); among others. Directors included William Wiard (23 episodes), Lawrence Doheny (10 episodes), and Ivan Dixon (9 episodes).

Related Topics:
Juanita Bartlett - Scarecrow and Mrs. King - David Chase - Northern Exposure - The Sopranos - Director - William Wiard - Lawrence Doheny - Ivan Dixon

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The successful show ended when Garner was told by his doctors to take time off because of Garner's knees and back, and an ulcer.

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The astute characterizations and warm relationships among the principals serve to draw the viewer, regardless of the plotline or plot development of individual episodes. Because of this, some viewers contend that The Rockford Files has become a television classic. Some younger viewers may label it as "camp", on the other hand. This program spawned many other detective shows, including Magnum, P.I. and Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (also created by Cannell). It is of note that the future star of Magnum, P.I., Tom Selleck, made two guest appearances on the show as a rival private investigator, Lance White. Chas. Floyd Johnson one of the producers on Rockford, along with Cannell, would tap Selleck for "Magnum".

Related Topics:
Camp - Magnum, P.I. - Tenspeed and Brown Shoe - Tom Selleck - Chas. Floyd Johnson

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Eight "Rockford" TV movies were made from 1994 to 1999, reuniting the surviving cast members from the original show.

Related Topics:
TV movies - 1994 - 1999

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