Thursday, February 22, 2007

"The Rockford Files" - 70'S Finest Detective Series


As one of the most notable tv series for it's quality writings, The Rockford Files certainly was the best private eye series which gained grace and success in television screen, and ranked at or near the top in polls of viewers, critics, and mystery writers. A multi-award winning TV series for it's casts and episodes, The Rockford Files enjoyed high ratings until it's final season, it's reruns and syndications constant followed by it's loyal cult. The series credited with superbly-plotted mysteries and brilliant writing of Stephen J. Cannell (a professed aficionado of the hard-boiled detective genre) with producer Roy Huggins, and ensemble with easy charm & charisma, a no-nonsense approach and wisecraking wit performance of James Garner (with his remarkable performance and persona in Maverick, 1957-1962) as Jim Rockford, the "America's favorite private eye".

The Rockford Files is the story of an ex-convicted (imprisoned for five years for an armed robbery he didn't commit and was later pardoned), Jim Rockford who turned into a Private Investigator who specialized in handling closed cases and those police given up (to avoid conflict with police and investigators), as a cool, calm detective who loves to mouth off and talk to make way out of trouble instead of using his fists, the one who takes time but always solves the crime. Jim was assisted by his true pal Sgt. Dennis Becker (later became Lieutenant in following season)helps him get important information about cases, Jim's attorney and girlfriend Elizabeth Davenport who always bail him out of jail, Jim's former cell mate Evelyn "Angel" Martin who involved in illegal things and constant source of aggravation but loyal pal to Jim, and his adviser was his father Rocky, (semi-retired truck driver and fisherman) who always worry to him advises to get another job. Jim live in a house trailer on the beach at Pacific Coast Highway in LA and later in Cove Road in Malibu, drives gold Pontiac Firebird with just a press in the backseat printing instant business card, and rarely bring a gun which he always used only to point and not shoot.

Viewers like the show as they see Jim Rockford was James Garner and vice versa in this award winning TV series, premiered from March 1974 and lasted until January 1980 on NBC, for the total of 7 seasons with 131 episodes, now on DVD.

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