1. THE ITALIAN BIRD FIASCO
    Original Air Date:
    February 13, 1976


    Synopsis.
    William Daniels stars as Thomas Caine, a shady dealer in objets d’art. Caine hires Rockford to purchase a valuable cormorant modeled after one of three priceless originals by Italian sculptor Giacopo Lambrighni. Rockford doesn’t realize that Caine’s true interest lies in recovering a fortune in stolen jewelry that he had smuggled inside a series of imitation Lambrighni birds.

    William Daniels previously co-starred with James Garner in Marlowe (1969); he later played the unscrupulous federal prosecutor who violates Rockford’s civil rights in “So Help Me God,” the third-season episode for which James Garner won the Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic TV Series in 1977.

    LEARN MORE about this episode in the revised third edition of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, featuring more than sixty new pages of never before published information about both the original Rockford Files and the CBS reunion movies, including twenty new interviews and six new appendices. 25 percent of the net proceeds from the sales of 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES will be donated to The James Garner Animal Rescue Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds to help rescue organizations, shelters, individuals, fosters, and veterans with emergencies, evacuations, medical care, adoptions, training, pet supplies, shelter, rehabilitation, boarding, transportation, food, and other pressing needs. JGARF is one way for Garner fans to honor Jim’s memory and extend his legacy. Plus… if you order 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES directly from Black Pawn Press, you will receive an exclusive bonus gift. Go to Rockford45.com for more details.