Season three of "The Rockford Files" opens strong with this episode about Lori, (Sharon Gless) an airline employee who suddenly finds herself being stalked by Farrell, a professional killer ((John McMartin). So she turns to Jim Rockford for help.
William Wiard does an excellent job doing two well directed suspense scenes as Lori is stalked in the parking lot of LAX and in her apartment complex. Stuart Margolin does another excellent turn as Angel, first helping Jim find a house to set up a trap and then later finding himself in the middle of a shootout. He's really used well here. Jim Garner's brother Jack contributes a nice scene as a postman that was shot near the Studio City theater on Ventura Boulevard. Dennis also gets a lot more to do as he goes with Jim to track down the killer and even has a shoot out at the airport (Van Nuys airport substituting for LAX in that scene). His attitude in the show's final scene helps round out the Becker character.
The fetching Gretchen Corbett gets another "special appearance by" credit in this episode (she first got that billing in "Portrait of Elizabeth") and is excellent in a scene where Jim and Lori go to her for help and advice. She is clearly bothered by Lori and wonders what Jim's relationship is to her. Jim explains: "She's an old fishing buddy." and out of Lori's sight, sneaks a kiss with Beth before leaving. The expression on Corbett's face afterwords is priceless.
Garner and Gless have a nice chemistry and Garner himself is in top form dealing with both ladies, the ever aggravating Angel, working with Dennis and pulling a con or two (he adopts the Jim Taggert alias once again). The only mystery in this episode is why Farrell is trying to kill Lori, but the ride is well worth it in good characters, good lines and fine moments.
William Wiard does an excellent job doing two well directed suspense scenes as Lori is stalked in the parking lot of LAX and in her apartment complex. Stuart Margolin does another excellent turn as Angel, first helping Jim find a house to set up a trap and then later finding himself in the middle of a shootout. He's really used well here. Jim Garner's brother Jack contributes a nice scene as a postman that was shot near the Studio City theater on Ventura Boulevard. Dennis also gets a lot more to do as he goes with Jim to track down the killer and even has a shoot out at the airport (Van Nuys airport substituting for LAX in that scene). His attitude in the show's final scene helps round out the Becker character.
The fetching Gretchen Corbett gets another "special appearance by" credit in this episode (she first got that billing in "Portrait of Elizabeth") and is excellent in a scene where Jim and Lori go to her for help and advice. She is clearly bothered by Lori and wonders what Jim's relationship is to her. Jim explains: "She's an old fishing buddy." and out of Lori's sight, sneaks a kiss with Beth before leaving. The expression on Corbett's face afterwords is priceless.
Garner and Gless have a nice chemistry and Garner himself is in top form dealing with both ladies, the ever aggravating Angel, working with Dennis and pulling a con or two (he adopts the Jim Taggert alias once again). The only mystery in this episode is why Farrell is trying to kill Lori, but the ride is well worth it in good characters, good lines and fine moments.