User Reviews

First off, it is true that the episode starts with Rockford on a case somewhere in Europe. But he is NOT hired by Suzanne Sommers (as another reviewer claimed) and it is not (initially) a missing person case. He is hired by the girlfriend (played by Nedra Deen) of a man who supposedly died in a plane crash to go to Europe and track the man's wife (Suzanne Sommers) and prove that the wife killed him for the insurance money.

Also, Rockford does get beat up, but the actor is NOT Scott Glenn (as another reviewer claimed), but instead it is Warren Vanders who, to be fair, did bear some resemblance to Glenn.

That having been cleared up . . .

This is one of my favorite episodes from the first season, for the following reasons.

The opening scene between Garner and Sommers in Europe is devoid of any dialog . . . and utterly charming! Sommers is at her most gorgeous, but I believe she has no lines at all in this episode. The main female character is played to perfection by Jill Clayburgh just before she became a big star and her performance is reason enough to make this episode stand out.

The main plot idea is conventional, but there is a very original twist that sets everything on its ear.

We get many of the classic Rockford patterns, too. He gets stiffed by TWO clients! He gets beat up - bad. You have to go back to 1974 to appreciate how very different this was than every other TV detective in that era. And we find out the reason he keeps his gun in a coffee can.

But my favorite part is at the very end, where Rockford FINALLY gets a well-deserved break.

Overall, one of the strongest episodes in the first season, and a must-watch for any Rockford fan.

This episode is noteworthy for the no-dialogue opening sequence where Rockford checks out/cons a lady of interest in (Monaco, is it?) - Suzanne Somers, as it happens. To my knowledge, his only on screen trip outside the United States (save for the "South by Southeast" episode in Season 4). This sequence is absolutely adorable and always leaves me with a smile on my face. James Garner was just the best, he didn't even need dialogue to be charming.

The rest of the episode is quite fun too with Jill Clayburgh (right before she hit it big in the movies) as one of Jim's more unconventional Chicks of the Week - she plays a free spirited model living in an art colony. Another great scene is Jim trying and failing to negotiate terms with a hard-ass insurance executive.

One of the better Season 1 episodes showing off the high production values that the Rockford Files always had, but which seemed to be more in evidence during Season 1.

This episode starts out with a three minute opening sequence with Jim Rockford in Europe. He's following Suzanne Somers! Rockford watches her routine and schemes for a way to meet her and gain her confidence (and much more as the dialog coyly hints!). The entire sequence is played without dialog and is quite effective.

It turns out Rockford is following Suzanne on behalf of a client who suspects she was involved in the death of her husband ("Maverick" guest star Fred Beir) . Instead,Rockford suspects she and her husband faked his death and split the insurance money. When the client (an ex-lover of the dead man) gets a call and suddenly bolts out of town, he's sure of it.

Rockford goes to the insurance company to see if he can get advanced some expense money and make a deal if he can recover the $400,000 they paid on the man's presumed death. There he has to deal with Melvyn Moss (Normann Burton) a VP at the insurance company who is reluctant to risk a dime on Rockford. Their negotiation is quite enjoyable. It's too bad Burton did not reappear in the series as this character (though he did appear as a different character the next season).

Also among the highlights of this episode is an early appearance of James Garner's brother Jack. Jack appears in the men's room and only has 14 cents when Rockford needs change for a quarter. Jim also reveals why he keeps his gun in a coffee jar!

Of course, Rockford gets beat up along the way (by Scott Glenn, no less!), he runs afoul of the local sheriff (played by a three time "Maverick" guest star ) and he meets another beautiful woman (Jill Clayburgh) who does nude modeling in Elmira ($20/hr clothed, $23/hr. nude). She's a bit ditsy, and strangely the chemistry doesn't seem to be there. Perhaps after meeting Suzanne, Jim could not even fake interest in another woman!