User Reviews

This is a very good,later episode. It takes a cynical but comical look at the modeling/fashion industry and all the unusual characters (and some creeps) that flitter about the edges. This is an interesting episode that does have some comical aspects despite the unhappy storyline. I was not familiar with Rene Auberjonois before seeing him in this tv show,and after watching him on this episode I am impressed. He played the part of a smarmy/sleazy fashion designer with a natural,easy and understated style. The culmination at the end is a fashion show that must be seen to be believed,I thought it was pretty dog-gone funny. Check out an early and welcome appearance of Erin Gray before she was on 'Buck Rogers',she does a fine job. James Garner is his usual,great and reliable self,making for a very good episode of a great show. Check it out !

Rene Auberjonois, who later gained primetime fame in Benson, chews the screen in this 5th season episode of The Rockford Files. Also wonderful to see Erin Gray, who later gained primetime fame in Buck Rogers and the 25th Century. Here Jim enters the world of high-fashion models. The reference to the nehru jacket is in the final scene.

I haven't been entirely impressed with season 5 so far, but this episode is perhaps one of the better ones I've seen since watching the re-runs on cable. I'll disagree a bit with the other reviewer for this episode, as that person was more critical than me, but I digress. This time, a lady friend of Rockford(he has plenty of them)calls him from a payphone(remember them?)to tell him she's about to be killed; soon after, we find her on the ground of her apartment. The police suspect suicide, but Jim doesn't think so; ergo, we have the plot of this episode which has Jim hanging out at fashion shows because his "friend" was a popular fashion model. You'll recognize appearances by Rene Auberjonois(plays the role perfectly) and Erin Gray as the model's friend. A few moments, both good and bad, stand out for me; first, Jim goes undercover donning a huge cowboy hat looking very funny. Secondly(bad), as Jim is being led to an isolated building to be shot, he is saved by a mouse; yes, I said that correctly. It seems the evil thug about to kill Rockford is afraid of a little mouse who happens to fall on his shoulder, and distract him enough for Jim's escape. This is what you'd call a face palm moment. Lastly, since this episode is from 1979, the word "disco" is mentioned a few times during the fashion show near the end as the model's parade these hideous clothes for the critics, who are as appalled as I was.

Finally, the best aspect of this segment is Auberjonois' performance as the eccentric clothes designer and fashion show host. There is another funny scene is which he and rival insult each other at a funeral for the model. It was also nice seeing Rocky in the beginning, playing cards with Jim for a tiny bit.

The posh world of the fashion industry is the setting for this Rockford Files Story. James Garner is Jim Rockford's client in this episode where he does not believe that his friend Chris Palmer did a dive off her motel balcony in a suicide. No, not after she called Rockford and said she was in big trouble.

Palmer was a working model, but another big leader in the industry was shot to death. Too much of a coincidence for Rockford to believe the deaths were not connected. Too much of a coincidence also for Palmer's friend Erin Gray who is a former model, but not in the business.

Garner's investigation takes him to a boutique owned by Marisa Pavan with some sexy leather boys as security, a Versace like designer played by a most flamboyant Rene Auberjonois and a banker/loan shark played by Howard Witt. It all connects.

Connecting is the big problem. Only Garner and Erin Gray believe the murder and the murder the cops are calling suicide are connected.

Do you doubt that they're persistence pays off?