The TV Movie Pilot (1974) launched the popular The Rockford Files series!
The TV pilot featured James Garner (as Jim Rockford), Joe Santos (as Dennis Becker), and Stuart Margolin (as Angel Martin) all debut in their series roles. Also featured is Robert Donley as Joseph "Rocky" Rockford, a role that would be recast in the subsequent series with Noah Beery Jr.
The original broadcast of the TV Pilot Movie was March 27th 1974.
Case Overview[]
Sarah Butler (Lindsay Wagner), a beautiful young bikini shop owner hires private investigator Jim Rockford on June 6, 1974 (date written on check) to solve the murder of her father, a homeless man found beneath a pier two months earlier. LAPD has closed the case without finding the killer. Even though the case is closed, Sergeant Becker believes the case should be investigated, so he refers his detective P.I. friend, Jim Rockford.
Cast[]
- James Garner as Jim Rockford
- Lindsay Wagner as Sarah Butler
- Billy Mummy as Nick Butler
- Bill Quin as Harry Butler
- Pat Renella as Morrie Talbot
- Michael Lernen as Dr. Ruben Seelman
- Ted Gehing as Norm Mitchell
- Joshua Bryant as Captain Harry Dell
- Robert B. Williams as Arnold Demura
- Claude Johnson as unnamed Officer
- Mike Steele as Danford Baker
- William Smith as Jerry Grimes
- Nita Talbot as Mildred Elias
- Joe Santos as Sgt. Dennis Becker
- Robert Donley as Joseph Rockford
- Stuart Margolin as Angel Martin
Characters Mentioned, but not Seen:
- Mort
Plot Summary[]
Coming Soon!
Notes[]
- 2354 Ocean Blvd
- Window to right of door
- Two windows over couch
- Mort's Cabin mentioned
- Beam down center trailer
- Trailer is narrow
- Polo picture on wall behind desk
- Arrested at the end of episode
- Pic of Rocky's truck 11 minute mark
- Building where Angel works (21 min)
Syndicated Version: Backlash of the Hunter[]
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The syndicated version is split into two parts, with an alternate opening sequence that features the series' title card over a shot of Rockford's mobile home with the answering machine message, regarding Lt. Chapman's birthday, playing in the background. This opening removes any shots of Noah Beery Jr. as he does not appear in the episode.
There exists an edited version of the original pilot, down to 73 minutes shown sometimes in syndication as a 90 minute episode with commercials.