The Rockford Files was an American detective television drama that had its first run on the NBC television network between 1974 and 1980. The show was notable for sharp writing (often by creator Stephen J. Cannell) and for the easy charm and charisma of James Garner who starred as Jim Rockford.
The tone of the show varied from light humor (often provided by Stuart Margolin as Jim's shifty friend and former cellmate Angel) to gritty drama. Rockford was an ex-con wrongfully convicted and then pardoned after 5 years in prison. This backstory was frequently used, most often by contact with people he'd met while in prison. Although he was innocent of the crime he was convicted of, he was not above breaking the law to help with a case. His infrequent jobs as a private investigator allowed him to scrape up enough cash (his often-uncollected fee: "$200 a day plus expenses") to keep his trailer in a parking lot on Malibu, California beaches and take care of his father, Rocky (Noah Beery, Jr.).
Seen today the show appears at first sight to be pure '70s camp, with the ubiquitous gangster nemeses sporting huge lapels and spouting tough-guy jargon, but a few minutes in the astute characterizations and warm relationships between the principals often serve to draw in the viewer. Because of this, some viewers contend that The Rockford Files has become a timeless classic. This program spawned many other detective shows, including Magnum, P.I. and Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (also created by Cannell). It is of note that the future star of Magnum, P.I., Tom Selleck, made two guest appearances on the show as a rival private investigator.
Thrilling Detective
