- COUNTER GAMBIT
Original Air Date: January 24, 1975
Synopsis. Insurance agent Edgar Burch (played by M. Emmet Walsh) hires Rockford to recover a $250,000 pearl necklace that was stolen by Moss Williams (Eddie Fontaine) three years before—shortly after Williams asked Jim to locate the woman who supposedly stashed the pearls. Rockford decides to play both sides of the fence, but instead gets burned. The “stolen” necklace was never stolen. Williams hired Burch to get Rockford to find the pearls so that he can steal them and frame Jim for the theft. With the help of Valerie Thomas, the owner of the pearls (played by Mary Frann), jewel appraiser Manny Tolan (Ford Rainey), and his old stir mate Angel Martin, Rockford sets out to clear himself.“Counter Gambit” marks Stuart Margolin’s first appearance as Angel since the pilot movie. Margolin appeared in twenty-nine episodes, winning two Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor along the way.
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
Ed Robertson
Author ● Journalist ● Radio Host ● Collaborative Writer
Gretchen Corbett James Garner
This date in ROCKFORD FILES history: John Saxon stars in “A Portrait of Elizabeth,” airing Jan. 23, 1976. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- A PORTRAIT OF ELIZABETH
Original Air Date: January 23, 1976
Synopsis. John Saxon stars as Dave Delaroux, Beth’s client—and new boyfriend. Delaroux, the controller for the local branch of a national corporation, wants Rockford to determine whether someone in his office has been stealing cashier’s checks. Although Rockford is suspicious—and a little jealous—of Dave, he agrees to look into the matter and finds nothing amiss. Meanwhile, Dave, who along with two men swindled a San Diego bank out of $2 million (using cashier’s checks from his company), not only frames Rockford for that crime, but uses Rockford’s gun to kill his two partners. The real kicker, however, is that Rockford has an alibi he can’t use: Beth, who cannot reveal anything that could incriminate Dave without violating attorney/client confidentiality.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
This Date in ROCKFORD FILES History: “The Dark and Bloody Ground,” Gretchen Corbett’s first appearance as Beth Davenport, airs on Sept. 20, 1974. LEARN MORE about this episode in 45 YEARS OF THE ROCKFORD FILES, available in softcover paperback and now as an eBook through Black Pawn Press
- THE DARK AND BLOODY GROUND
Original Air Date: September 20, 1974
Synopsis. This episode introduces Gretchen Corbett as Rockford’s attorney Beth Davenport, who (as Becker puts it) “collects lost causes like they were rare coins.” Beth’s client Ann Calhoun has been accused of the murder of her husband, poet Kevin Calhoun. Jim would rather pass on the case, since the evidence linking Ann to the crime seems insurmountable (not to mention the fact that Ann has no money), and he becomes less inclined to pursue the matter after two attempts are made on his life. But the case takes an interesting turn after Rockford uncovers a connection between the murder victim and the legal rights to the novel The Dark and Bloody Ground.
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