THE ROCKFORD FILES

Mystery and crime tv shows have always been popular with the audiences.Today,shows like CSI,NCIS,CASTLE,BURN NOTICE etc are breaking rating records.In the earlier decades also mystery and crime shows were very popular.The Rockford Files premiered in later 1974 and was an immediate success.James Garner,whose film career was over by this time made the right choice to select this tv show as his entry back to the small screen.He had earlier mesmerized tv audiences during the late 50's in the superhit western tv show,Maverick.

Jim Rockford(Garner) is not your typical macho detective hero.He is an ex-con(he was wrongfully tried for a crime he didn't commit) who is basically a semi-coward.He tries to avoid confrontations and gets beaten up by the bad guys more often than not.He hates guns also(he keeps his gun in a cookie jar!).His home is a trailer,parked alongside the California beach.His father Rocky(Noah Berry)wishes that Jim gets a proper job but Jim is comfortable with his job as P.I.He is very expensive(his daily charges are $200 plus expenses per day and this is 1974 i am talking about) to hire.Needless to say he never gets even the expense money let alone get $200 perday.But he always gets to the bottom the mysteries in the end.He often gets help from his friend ,Detective Dennis Becker with the LA police force(Joe Santos).

The show is not the greatest 70's detective show i have seen.Columbo was the greatest 70's mystery show in my opinion.But still the show has its moments.The first 5-6 episodes were pretty average and after watching these early episodes i told my friend,who also happens to be the owner of the DVD Store from which i bought this first season of the show that the show is not good at all and i won't buy amymore seasons of the show!!But as the season moved forward the episodes got better.The last few episodes were terrific.The show is definitely much better than the dozens of trashy tv shows that are on television these days.The show ran for 6 seasons from 1974 to 1980 and was only cancelled beacuse James Garner was advised by doctors to quit the show.He performed all his stunts including the car chases(there was atleast 1 big car chase in each episode) and this heavy workout injured his body specially his back.In all 122 episodes were made.

Fans of crime/mystery shows would love this one.Like i said,its no Columbo or even Kojak but it is very well made entertaining show.

My Rating: 6/10.