Although Jim Rockford may represent the quintessential private eye (poor, heavily in debt, prone to get in car chases), he was a breath of fresh air considering the TV detectives who came before him (Cannon, McCloud, Barnaby Jones) that sported a hell of an office. Bucking the trend of well-dressed, well-off detectives, "The Rockford Files" presented the gritty, not-so-glamorous life and times of Jim Rockford, a pardoned ex-San Quentin inmate living in a dilapidated trailer on the beach.
James Garner is excellent as Rockford, making the character real and honest but also likable and charismatic. Supporting cast Noah Beery, Jr., Stuart Margolin, Joe Santos, and Gretchen Corbett are also great as Rockford's father Rocky, con artist Angel Martin, police station ally Dennis Becker, and on again-off again attorney girlfriend Beth Davenport, respectively.
The guest stars also pack a punch, like Lindsay Wagner (in the pilot), Alex Rocco, Abe Vigoda, Lauren Bacall, the late Isaac Hayes, Dionne Warwick, future film director Dennis Dugan (as detective Richie Brockelman) and future "Magnum, P.I." stars Tom Selleck, Larry Manetti, and Roger E. Mosley (Selleck as the anti-Rockford, Lance White).
The writing is realistic and not too dated by today's standards (although in one early episode, Jimmy asks a guy for a quarter to use a pay toilet!), and is as enjoyable as when it was first aired. Wholeheartedly recommended!
James Garner is excellent as Rockford, making the character real and honest but also likable and charismatic. Supporting cast Noah Beery, Jr., Stuart Margolin, Joe Santos, and Gretchen Corbett are also great as Rockford's father Rocky, con artist Angel Martin, police station ally Dennis Becker, and on again-off again attorney girlfriend Beth Davenport, respectively.
The guest stars also pack a punch, like Lindsay Wagner (in the pilot), Alex Rocco, Abe Vigoda, Lauren Bacall, the late Isaac Hayes, Dionne Warwick, future film director Dennis Dugan (as detective Richie Brockelman) and future "Magnum, P.I." stars Tom Selleck, Larry Manetti, and Roger E. Mosley (Selleck as the anti-Rockford, Lance White).
The writing is realistic and not too dated by today's standards (although in one early episode, Jimmy asks a guy for a quarter to use a pay toilet!), and is as enjoyable as when it was first aired. Wholeheartedly recommended!