It's all about the lenses on the camera. That parking lot looked a lot bigger on TV than it does in real life as well. On another note, I've got the BluRay box, which BTW looks great. One complaint, one that needs an explanation, why was "The House on Willis Ave" edited down to single episode? That was one of my faves, just watched it last week and was shocked to find it truncated. Have they done this to any other 2-parters?
Great show, with lots of LA locations. There's not too many episodes I don't like, a few that I do like: Backlash Of The Hunter - Pilot The Big Ripoff The Hammer Of C Block Hotel Of Fear In Pursuit Of Carol Thorne The No-Cut Contract Here's a great site for locations that they used. Older post links at bottom of page: Rockford Files Filming Locations
As the series progressed, everyone associated with the show started submitting ideas for the phone messages, from directors and guest stars, to Craft Service, and some of them were used.
Stuart Margolin interviewed on the Gilbert Gottfried podcast. He's much looser and funnier here than in the earlier interview from the '80s. Regrettably he doesn't really talk about Rockford all that much (aside from saying Garner was a very nice guy). But Margolin does tell a lot of great stories about his various movies and TV jobs, as well as his time in the late '60s Sunset Strip music scene.
I have no memory at all of posting this Anyway... Back in December 1978, YouTuber "Ted Did It" stumbled across the filming of The Rockford Files TV show in Malibu, California. Here's Ted's story about his run in with James Garner and the behind the scene filming activity that occurred that memorable day. This video also tells the special story of the gold 1978 Pontiac Firebird Esprit used for interior filming.
Super show. I recently imported the complete series blu ray box set. JG was an excellent actor and perfect as rockford. I particularly like the off beat style of the series. It's a classic series
I'm currently working my way thru the bluray complete series boxset I have a question about the rockfords iconic car the Pontiac Firebird Has anyone here driven this car? If so what's it like to drive? It looks powerful in the series but TV being TV can make the impossible look possible.
I’m just completing viewing the Blu-ray box set with the final episode, "Deadlock in Parma". During the scene at the "Records Department", a boom mike ins easily spotted. I laughed.
My sister had one in the early 80s and it was a lemon. The "Trans Am" package was the performance version, from what I recall. That was what Burt Reynolds drove in "Smokey & The Bandit".
Watched it back in the day. Like I said before. Poor James Garner with his back issues had to climb into that Firebird or Camaro.
Apparently it was garner himself who said that they should use the Pontiac rather than the transam. He said that a PI like rockford would never afford a trans am. Hence the Pontiac. Rockford only went into TV because of his severe back troubles. So rockford was born out his bad back. In some episodes he's really struggling Then there was dick York in bewitched. His back troubles were really appalling
The roots of Lance: 20 years before Tom Selleck's great performance as too-good-to-be-true P.I. Lance White, his ancestor appeared alongside Jim Garner in Maverick's most highly rated episode.
Except I never could buy into the idea that little old Noah Beery was the father of a big bruiser like James Garner -- that's a sharkjump right there. But yes, a good show. Good theme music too!
The only real problem with the series are the problems that Jim continually has with the lieutenant. It's overplayed and exactly the same every single time. Series like Harry O did this kind of thing much better. Im working through the series and it's getting a little tiresome.
Keep in mind that it worked for a weekly series. The formula will be a bit more noticeable if you power through the series. I do wish that the uncut nonsyndicated versions still existed. The Mill Creek ably leaves a Lot to be desired in Terms of image quality. It’s an improvement over the DVDs but less crowded discs, better encoding/compression and subtitles would be nice. Why not also include the Garner interview?