"The Rockford Files" (1974) TV series 1974-1980

Creators:

Stephen J. Cannell
Roy Huggins
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

13 September 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Plot:

The cases of an easy going private investigator.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Detective | Answering Machine | Sting Operation | Malibu

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 6 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

James Garner	...	Jim Rockford (122 episodes, 1974-1980)
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford #2 / ... (121 episodes, 1974-1980)
Joe Santos	...	Police Det. Dennis Becker / ... (109 episodes, 1974-1980)

Series Directed by
William Wiard		(28 episodes, 1975-1979)
Lawrence Doheny		(12 episodes, 1974-1976)
Ivan Dixon		(9 episodes, 1975-1979)
Jerry London		(8 episodes, 1974-1977)
Russ Mayberry		(7 episodes, 1974-1977)
Reza Badiyi		(7 episodes, 1977-1979)
Meta Rosenberg		(6 episodes, 1976-1978)
Lou Antonio		(5 episodes, 1974-1976)
Jackie Cooper		(5 episodes, 1975-1976)
Jeannot Szwarc		(3 episodes, 1975-1977)
Stephen J. Cannell		(3 episodes, 1977-1979)
Corey Allen		(3 episodes, 1978-1979)
Stuart Margolin		(2 episodes, 1974-1977)
Alexander Grasshoff		(2 episodes, 1974)
Harry Falk		(2 episodes, 1978)
Arnold Laven		(2 episodes, 1978)
John Patterson		(2 episodes, 1979)
Lawrence Dobkin		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Stephen J. Cannell		(122 episodes, 1974-1980)
Roy Huggins		(122 episodes, 1974-1980)
Juanita Bartlett		(35 episodes, 1974-1979)
David Chase		(20 episodes, 1976-1979)
Gordon T. Dawson		(9 episodes, 1975-1979)
Rudolph Borchert		(5 episodes, 1975-1980)
Chas. Floyd Johnson		(4 episodes, 1975-1978)
Don Carlos Dunaway		(4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Edward J. Lakso		(4 episodes, 1975-1976)
Lester Wm. Berke		(3 episodes, 1976-1980)
Donald L. Gold		(3 episodes, 1976-1980)
Walter Dallenbach		(2 episodes, 1976)
James Crocker		(2 episodes, 1977-1978)
William R. Stratton		(2 episodes, 1977)
David Taylor		(2 episodes, 1977)
Rogers Turrentine		(2 episodes, 1979)
Marshall Lindemann		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Stephen J. Cannell	....	supervising producer / producer (119 episodes, 1974-1979)
Meta Rosenberg	....	executive producer (119 episodes, 1974-1979)
Chas. Floyd Johnson	....	producer / associate producer / ... (101 episodes, 1975-1980)
David Chase	....	producer / supervising producer (66 episodes, 1976-1980)
John David	....	associate producer (22 episodes, 1978-1980)
J. Rickley Dumm	....	associate producer (16 episodes, 1978-1979)
William F. Phillips	....	associate producer (14 episodes, 1974-1975)
Juanita Bartlett	....	producer / supervising producer (11 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jo Swerling Jr.	....	supervising producer / associate executive producer (6 episodes, 1974-1975)
Lane Slate	....	producer (4 episodes, 1975-1976)

Series Original Music by
Pete Carpenter		(117 episodes, 1974-1980)
Mike Post		(117 episodes, 1974-1980)
Artie Kane		(2 episodes, 1974)

Series Cinematography by
Andrew Jackson		(83 episodes, 1976-1980)
Lamar Boren		(37 episodes, 1974-1976)
Steve Yaconelli		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
George R. Rohrs		(43 episodes, 1974-1979)
Diane Adler		(28 episodes, 1976-1979)
Buford F. Hayes		(20 episodes, 1974-1977)
Rod Stephens		(14 episodes, 1977-1980)
John J. Dumas		(7 episodes, 1974-1975)
I. Robert Levy		(5 episodes, 1975-1976)
John Kaufman		(3 episodes, 1975)
Fred Baratta		(2 episodes, 1974)
Edward A. Biery		(2 episodes, 1974)
Jerry Dronsky		(2 episodes, 1977)

Series Casting by
Dodie McLean		(7 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Art Direction by
Robert Crawley Sr.		(119 episodes, 1974-1980)
Robert Luthardt		(2 episodes, 1974)

Series Set Decoration by
Robert L. Zilliox		(96 episodes, 1975-1980)
Gary Moreno		(22 episodes, 1974-1975)
Ed Baer		(2 episodes, 1975)

Series Costume Design by
Charles Waldo		(36 episodes, 1974-1978)
Kent Warner		(32 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Makeup Department
Dave Grayson	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Allen Payne	....	hair department head (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Lester Wm. Berke	....	unit manager (83 episodes, 1974-1978)
Zane Radney	....	unit production manager (22 episodes, 1978-1979)
Rowe Wallerstein	....	unit manager (4 episodes, 1976)
Sam Freedle	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bill Carroll	....	unit production manager (unknown episodes, 1979)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Jones	....	assistant director / first assistant director (56 episodes, 1974-1979)
Clifford C. Coleman	....	assistant director / first assistant director (30 episodes, 1974-1979)
Leonard R. Garner Jr.	....	second assistant director (22 episodes, 1978-1980)
David Menteer	....	assistant director / first assistant director (20 episodes, 1976-1978)
Patrick A. Duffy	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1979)
Robert J. Doherty	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1979)
Jan R. Lloyd	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1979)
David L. Beanes	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Lamar Card	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)
Roydon Clark	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)
Michael J. Kane	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Cal Naylor	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Craig Binkley	....	property master (68 episodes, 1974-1978)
William Fannon	....	property master (34 episodes, 1978-1980)

Series Sound Department
John R. Carter	....	sound / sound mixer (99 episodes, 1975-1979)
Walt Jenevein	....	sound effects editor (69 episodes, 1976-1979)
Thomas E. Allen	....	boom operator (22 episodes, 1979-1980)
Vic Carpenter	....	sound (13 episodes, 1974-1975)
John B. Schuyler	....	boom operator (11 episodes, 1977)
John K. Kean	....	sound (2 episodes, 1974)
Barney Cabral	....	adr editor (unknown episodes)
George E. Marshall Jr.	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Larry Holt	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1974-1978)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (4 episodes, 1978-1979)
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunt double / stunt driver / ... (3 episodes, 1978-1980)
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt driver (2 episodes, 1978)
May Boss	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Steven Burnett	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Mickey Caruso	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Roydon Clark	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Jean Coulter	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Bob Herron	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Regina Parton	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Rick Sawaya	....	stunt double (unknown episodes)
Dick Warlock	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
James Winburn	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Charles R. Young	....	camera operator (55 episodes, 1977-1980)
Earl C. Williman	....	lamp operator (23 episodes, 1974-1975)
Howard Block	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Reggie Newkirk	....	key first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Steve Yaconelli	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Dodie McLean	....	casting (18 episodes, 1978-1979)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Waldo	....	costumes / costumes: women (51 episodes, 1974-1976)

Series Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervision (43 episodes, 1974-1976)
Steve Johnson	....	colorist (23 episodes, 1974-1975)

Series Music Department
Morrie McNaughton	....	music editor (75 episodes, 1976-1980)
Hal Mooney	....	music supervision (42 episodes, 1974-1976)
Pete Carpenter	....	composer: theme music (13 episodes, 1974-1980)
Mike Post	....	composer: theme music (13 episodes, 1974-1980)

Series Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver / production driver (17 episodes, 1976-1979)
Frank Khoury	....	driver (10 episodes, 1974)

Series Other crew
Juanita Bartlett	....	executive story consultant / creative consultant / ... (108 episodes, 1974-1979)
Jack Cole	....	main title design (43 episodes, 1974-1976)

Production Companies

• Cherokee Productions
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
• Roy Huggins-Public Arts Productions
• Universal TV

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1974-1980) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• MCA/Universal Television (1974) (USA) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1980) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Cherokee Productions
• Public Arts/Roy Huggins Productions
• Studios USA Television
• TV Asahi (1975-1979) (Japan) (TV)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (season 6)

Also Known As:

Jim Rockford, Private Investigator (USA) (syndication title)

Runtime:

60 min (123 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Cherokee Productions

Trivia:

The address of Jim Rockford's trailer was 29 Cove Road, Malibu.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Throughout the series, the Los Angeles Police Department responds to calls at Rockford's trailer in Malibu although it is not part of their jurisdiction. The Los Angeles County Sheriff would be the proper agency.

Quotes:

Dennis Becker: Step back Jim. This is information is for police department personnel only.
Jim Rockford: Boy, mention the Nazis around you and it rubs off.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Frost/Nixon (2008)

Soundtrack:

The Rockford Files

A Classic Detective Show

This was probably the greatest part James Garner ever played. He was essentially playing himself, an easy going guy caught in oddball situations mainly brought on by loony clients or by his former ex-con friends. The character of Jim Rockford was not unlike his other defining role of Bret Maverick. Also, the supporting cast was great as well. Noah Beery Jr. was perfect as Rocky, Jim's father, who was always trying to get his "Sonny" to give up the detective business and join him in the trucking business. Joe Santos was great as Dennis, Jim's main contact on the LAPD who reluctantly helped Jim by giving him information on various cases. Gretchen Corbett was great in her role as his girlfriend/lawyer Beth Davenport who would always be there to get him out of a jam. But, perhaps the most memorable character was Angel, played by Stuart Margolin. Angel was, and still is, the biggest weasel in television history. He would often be responsible for getting Jim into the odd predicaments he would get into.

Also of note, this was the first hit from the mind of Stephen J. Cannell after years of writing for Adam-12. Cannell is probably one of the greatest writers in television history and this is where it all began.