Customer Reviews

The Rockford Files - Season Three

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

James Garner is a great actor and Jim Rockford is his greatest character. Backed by an excellent supporting cast and superlative writing, this show never gets old despite the fact that I've seen each episode a gazillion times. Whether he is peddling a slick con to a gullible, greedy crook. bailing sleazy Angel out for the umpteenth time, turning the tables on the bad guys in the end with Dennis and the cavalry coming in the door at the last minute, Jim, (Garner or Rockford - who knows?) makes an extremely appealing character who everyone would like to have as a friend or buddy. Add a number of beautiful woman who never seem to be able to corral Jim and you have a series for the ages.

It was in this season that the series had many of its finest episodes.
Although there is no such thing as a "bad" episode of Rockford Files, and I would give five stars to each season, it was in this season that series really hit its stride. In the first season, most episodes were about Rockford helping some beautiful "damsel in distress", even ones who get involved with mobsters. In the second season, we see Jim getting into serious trouble frequently because he allows himself to be used as a patsy, even by close friends, and frankly, this sometimes gets on my nerves, even if it is by the otherwise lovable Angel Martin (it should be pointed out that the audience didn't care for this either since the ratings for the show declined during that season). However, in Season 3 there was a major turnaround. We now see stories about Jim encountering real problems and real abuses people have with the police and other institutions who often abuse their power. For example, there is the two-part episode "The Bees, the Trees and T T Flowers" where Strother Martin puts in a fine performance of a eccentric older man who is falsely declared senile and incompetant in order to gain control of his property. Another excellent two-parter is "To Protect and to Serve" where Joyce Van Patten plays a lonely, bitter woman who's only pleasure in life is hanging around the police (who mistakenly allow it) and secretly enjoying seeing other peoples' tragedies. Another episode, which is James Garner's favorite is one where he is jailed for contempt of court, showing the abuses of the District Attorney's powers to compel people to testify, in defiance of their concience. It was also in this season the Rockford's biggest police nemesis, Lt Chapman, is introduced.
If someone wants a good introduction to the series, I would recommend this as the first DVD set to purchase.

Unlike most long-running (five years or more) TV shows, The Rockford Files only seemed to grow more entertaining as seasons passed. This is, of course, due to solid writing and acting, but also the fleshing out of many of the regular characters, including Angel, Beth and Dennis. It goes without saying that James Garners breezy characterization of Rockford rates as one of the best in TV history. I look forward to collecting the entire series, and hopefully the many TV movies that came in their wake.

During the second season of "The Rockford Files" the ratings slumped a bit--fans hated seeing Rockford turned into a chump by the clients he often represented which is too bad because they missed a great season. The third season finds Jim in the driver's seat driving the stories and the ratings improved allowing the show to continue on for a nice long run. Featuring a parade of great guest stars including Sharon Gless, character actor Robert Walden as a psychic working on a case Jim had and top notch writing by Juanita Bartlett and David Chase (who would go on the create "The Sorpranos"), the third season looks extremely good with minimal dirt, debris and the uncut episodes. As usual the terrific supporting including Joe Santos, the lovely Gretchen Corbett, Stuart Margolin and Noah Berry Jr. provide color and humor.

The only extra we get here is "Quickie Nirvana" an episode from the fourth season (written by David Chase) and while I don't mind having a preview of succeeding great seasons (and "Quickie Nirvana" is an extremely good episode), I'd rather see Universal include some interviews with some of the cast including Gretchen Corbett as Beth(am I the only kid who was in love with her when she was on the show? The show had a gaping hole when she left)who stepped in often as Jim's attorney.

Either way this is a top notch season and well worth getting.

Remember when you could flip the TV on and in general, you had a choice of some pretty good shows - i.e. Magnum PI / Miami Vice / etc.

You NEVER had to worry back then about Dancing With The Stars or Grease or any one of a thousand pathetic reality TV shows.

Is it any wonder that so many of us will glom onto these DVDs of great old television shows.

But in my opinion, The Rockford Files was at or very close to the top of the list.

And I agree with a previous reviewer who stated that the show really hit its stride in this season. In fact, I personally loved this season for the introduction of Lt Chapman alone. Of course, Rockford and "Chappie" (as Lance White called him) bumped heads right from the get-go and poor old Chapman was usually (always..??) on the receiving end of some of Jimbo's best barbs..!! Seriously, was there anybody on TV who could turn a phrase as well as our world-weary cynical friend Rockford..??

This show was a classic example of a brilliant marriage between the writers, who consistently churned out some of the best scripts week in and week out / year in and year out and the star, James Garner. Nobody could deliver the lines or conjure up scams as well as Garner / Rockford.

And was it just me or did anybody secretly wish that just once, they'd like to see Rockford solve a case and enjoy a big pay day instead of having to hear yet another excuse why he was going to be stiffed on his fee..???!!

This was a great, great series and I'm so grateful that we can now enjoy these episodes again 30 years later (God, was it really thirty years ago that this show ran on television..???!!)

Yikes..!!!!

What more can be said about James Garner as James Rockford that hasn't been said? How one actor can be suave and intimidating all within the same breath is breathtaking. He just had it. The Rockford Files like all the greats are just a culmination of all the right actors clocking in at Universal at all the right times. Call it one part luck / one part science. And I LOVE it when I see for any various episode "Special Guest star Gretchen Corbett" because that means my heart will be skipping a beat when 'Beth' Davenport makes an appearance. Joe Santos was simply perfect for the disgruntled "Becker" and of course Noah Beery Jr. as Joseph "Rocky" Rockford lent the personal touch.

The packaging and artwork are once again BEAUTIFUL! One sided non-freezing discs (unlike the A TEAM!) are always a bonus, put that together with a solid middle of the road price tag and you have a purchase that shouldn't be missed by anyone that has any interest in; the 70's, humor, car chases, love interests, clever writing, solid chemistry, or sarcasm.


"He's being a shadow." -'Angelo' Martin

An absolute joy. Beware that each episode begins with a preview that gives away almost all plot points. Fast forwarding has become a habit.

Seasons 1 and 2 of "The Rockford Files" were good, but had flaws. Season 1 was plagued by padded scripts, with pacing issues and meandering (at times) storylines. Season 2 tightened the pace, but saw Jim Rockford being used and abused by what seemed like everyone in Los Angeles. Viewers preferred (as other reviewers here have noted) the Rockford who was a step ahead, cunning and crafty and being the artist rather than the victim in a con.

Season 3 has been my favorite of the series thus far, with the combination of taut scripts, strong guest performances and the performance of James Garner. Rockford here is as he should be - sly, rumpled, a little bit cowardly and very clever. If you're a new viewer to the show, I would recommend starting with Season 3, because it is the most consistent of the seasons currently available.

Highlights from this set: "So Help Me God" (Jim faces down an overzealous prosecutor); "Sticks and Stones..." (Simon Oakland and Cleavon Little as friendly rivals who team with Jim on a case); "Just Another Polish Wedding" (with Isaac Hayes and Lou Gossett, Jr.); and "Crack Back," when Jim protects Beth from a stalker.

The only weak spot is the lack of a retrospective interview. Seasons 1 and 2 had comments from Garner and Stephen Cannell. Instead, we get a bonus episode from Season 4. But this is nothing to sneeze at. "Quickie Nirvana" is a solid episode that was penned by "Sopranos" creator David Chase, and it is "The Rockford Files" at its best.

If you're a Rockford fan, you will buy this set, no questions asked, and you probably don't need reviewers to tell you about it. There's no question about the appeal of this ageless, long-running series. But arguably even more important than the quality of the show is the quality of the DVDs. The Season Three release, like Season Two, contains single-sided disks--the dreaded Universal double-sided disks are gone, and with them, hopefully, the freezing and skipping problems that so many people reported with the Season One set. Here's hoping Universal has learned a lesson from the shoddy Rockford Season One and "Kolchak: The Night Stalker" releases and will give us nothing but high-quality, reliable DVDs in the future.

The third season was the season where the show really took off, awards-wise and themse wise. As someone what they remember about Rockford, and it'll be the scams and Jim's fights for lost causes. Those elements were in the first two seasons, but in season three they really "click".

Watching the episodes on DVD now, it's interesting to see how many actors were used over and over again, but in different roles each time. Almost like an acting troop where the same people do all the parts--but not quite!

Can't wait to get season 4!