Posted on 04/07/2022 12:00:08 PM PDT by Kaslin
April 7th marks the birthday of one of Hollywood’s best – the late, great James Garner – whose multi-decade career spanned everything from early TV westerns like "Maverick," to movies of all genres, from "Grand Prix" to "The Great Escape" to "Hour of the Gun." And, prior to his life on the screen, he served in both the U.S. Merchant Marine and the U.S. Army National Guard – that latter stint in uniform included combat in the Korean War where he was wounded twice in action, and received two Purple Hearts and the Army’s Combat Infantryman Badge for his service. Garner would have been 94 this year.
And while Garner’s career spanned multiple decades on both the big and little screen, it was The Rockford Files where he shined – eventually earning an Emmy for Best Actor on the show. The character – a tough, good-natured and sharp-skilled but perennially down-on-his-luck ex-con (pardoned) private detective – was basically tailor-made for Garner. In fact, he was so perfect for the role that it is almost impossible to envision any other actor playing the part.
But The Rockford Files was more than James Garner. And it was more than superb writing and plots, or excellent characters with chemistry – which it all was, of course. Beyond all of that, it was a tribute to and a defense of the middle-class. Rockford spoke to all of us stuck between the protected polar ends of society, putting in the hours, footing the bill for everyone else, and making just enough to stay above water…but never enough to sit completely high-and-dry. And while The Rockford Files regularly highlighted societal injustice, it was done via a character clad in off-the-rack blazers who lived in a trailer house and drank canned beers…a far cry from the sanctimonious moralizers who endlessly brow-beat the common citizen with their selective outrage today.
Even if it wasn’t intended, Rockford was an everyman hero – the “Average Joe” who is simply trying to get by, earn enough cash to make the payments on his Firebird, and live peacefully enough to throw a few casts into the surf with his old man. Rockford – and often his retired truck-driver Dad “Rocky” – took it on the chin for good people in nearly every episode. And while the villains didn’t succeed with their schemes, Rockford never got rich for his troubles. The hard-knock lesson here is that even if evil gets punished – a big “if” it seems these days – good never seems to get properly reimbursed.
And the villains of Rockford were authentic – not cartoonish heavies from action fantasy land…but the kind of real-life schemers and frauds we read about in the news every day. Larcenous swindlers – who lie and collude for self-enrichment. Crooked lawyers – who bilk their clients to maintain superficial lifestyles. Greedy corporatists – who cut corners to pad their pockets. Charlatan pols – who ignore the constitution on the way to higher office. Some episodes were serious about this stuff – including one from Season Three entitled “So Help Me God” where Rockford is unfairly trapped by an underhanded prosecutor in a grand jury proceeding – a commentary on how easily the average citizen can be destroyed by credentialed authorities in secretive legal structures without transparency or oversight. Sound familiar?
And more often than not, Rockford was implicated as the suspect in the very cases he was working – often by vain and egotistical authority figures who were lazy, blinded by prejudicial notions, and who seemed to operate on the idea that one is guilty until proven innocent. Notably, his only friend on the police force was another honest blue collar stiff, detective Dennis Becker, who personified the overworked and underpaid. Nearly every episode found Rockford either hemmed up and worked over by sundry goons and thugs – or screwed over and left hanging by the nameless, soulless system that grinds up and spits out the individual, without mercy or apology. Ironically, it’s the system that we – and the fictional Jim Rockford – all pay taxes to support.
The Rockford Files was of course a product of its time – the cynical 70’s – and like a great many productions of the era, it questioned everything. It distrusted the words and motives of the influential. It looked skeptically at the company line. And it poked the powers that be. It didn’t matter if it was government, big business, local politics, attractive women or handsome men – Rockford showed that malice and ill-intent could manifest itself anywhere, in anyone, at any time.
It’s hard to ignore the uncomfortable parallels between now and Rockford’s time – the only difference is that the 1970’s had better movies, shows and music. In fact, you could do worse in your off-time than catching a few re-runs of Rockford and watch a guy like us take down the hacks and the creeps – it’s one of the gems from when TV had thought and character. And you might as well, anyway…because with everything going on now – the lies, the chicanery, the usury, the inflation, and the disillusionment with failing leadership and untrustworthy institutions – it basically feels like we’re all part of Rockford’s Files now.
“Leave a message. I’ll get back to ya.”
L
Ever heard of surf fishing?
-—Even harder to find Shermans. remember “Tank?”
I think Angel gave personality lessons to Sam Donaldson.
Gas was a lot cheaper in the 70s as well.
Also Dave Grusin, perhaps a bit earlier.
“Ever heard of surf fishing?”
Yes. Thanks.
No one “throws casts in to the surf”.
The author of this clearly knows nothing about fishing or English.
“Have Gun, Will Travel”... “Trackdown” wasn’t bad.
Stuart Margolin, aka “Angel”, was a far more talented character then his character would imply.
He was also a songwriter collaborating with Jerry Riopelle, whose band was a regional hit in Phoenix and Los Angeles. Many of Riopelle’s most popular songs were co-written with Margolin,and he played percussion with them as well.
Rockford’s America is a memory now.
The entire series is on Amazon Prime. I’ve been watching it lately. Almost done with Season Two
Yeah
I’ve been following the People’s Convoy as they make their way to California to fight for our freedom. A guy with a black 78 Trans-Am joined up a few days ago.
If you’ve got a black 78 Trans-Am, you pretty much have to join the truckers convoy.
I liked the 1981-82 version of Bret Maverick, which apparently was part of how Garner settled with NBC after abruptly quitting Rockford in about late 1979, early 1980. That was a shame that NBC axed that one after only one season.
Even the stuff that was on back in about 1981-82 when I was a kid (Bret Maverick, Dukes of Hazzard, Magnum PI, Simon and Simon, Fall Guy, and many others) was that more fun to watch than what you say the “LGBTABCXYZ crapola” that is on today.
You’ve got to include Henry Mancini...
One of the best writers rooms ever. Stephen J Cannell, Juanita Bartlett and David Chase.
I don’t think there’s ever really been a time we weren’t living in Rockford Files world. That was kind of the point of the show. Gritty realism, no flash.
One of things I like is to see how much cars have changed since the 70's.
Always nice to see an Okie make it big. By the way, check out Rockford's license plate some time.
The Rockford Files/First episode date
March 27, 1974.
I had got hooked on Maverick in college, and my wife liked the reruns.
So we and our sons had our fresh popped popcorn and settled down to watch the first episode.
We had been in California for about 5 years ago and could relate to where the show was supposed to be in S. California.
In a short time pizza was added to the popcorn. Our 2 sons could invite one friend.
Great shows and zero liberal ulterior B$ or CRT B$ posing as part of the shows.
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