The Top Twenty Rockford Scenes of All Time
Righter
never got around to it. Why don't we all nominate the scene(s) we think
should be on the top twenty, and when it's all over, hopefully, we'll have
the twenty most popular scenes? Now, I'm not going to pretend that I can
pick the number one scene. There are so many that I feel are worthy of that
spot. I'll just start it off with a good contender, and, if we get enough
responses, we'll be able to let the group decide which are the best. If
anyone has any ideas on modifying this poll, you can stick it. Just
kidding. If anyone has any ideas, like maybe dividing scenes into
categories, like love scenes, humor scenes, action scenes, philosophical
scenes, etc., speak up and you shall be heard.
My first nomination:
Never Send a Boy King to do a Man's Job--Restaurant Scene with the Vases.
This I consider humor, because it's funny watching Jim react. It must've
been fun acting in that scene. Jim is so good at non verbal facial
expression. At this Mexican restaurant, all these simple vases have been
placed everywhere. They're the same design as the fake vase Ritchie has
chosen to fool Harold "Jack" Coombs. So Jimbo moves around the restaurant,
and tries everything he can to keep Coombs from noticing these vases. Great
scene, in my book.
HitmanLV
>
>My first nomination:
>
>Never Send a Boy King to do a Man's Job--Restaurant Scene with the Vases.
>
>This I consider humor, because it's funny watching Jim react. It must've
>been fun acting in that scene. Jim is so good at non verbal facial
>expression. At this Mexican restaurant, all these simple vases have been
>placed everywhere. They're the same design as the fake vase Ritchie has
>chosen to fool Harold "Jack" Coombs. So Jimbo moves around the restaurant,
>and tries everything he can to keep Coombs from noticing these vases. Great
>scene, in my book.
>
I agree! As for comedy and facial expressions, the episode in Vegas
where he is helping the singer escape the clutches of a mob. She says
something along the lines of "Have you ever really wanted something so
bad, that it didnt matter how you got it???"
Cut to Jim's reaction. He pauses, begins thinking for a second, kind
of half winks and nods yes.
That scene kills me every time!
Charles Boils
of Profit and Loss Part two when Jim tells Rocky that he knows where the
sixth bullet was - in the garbage disposal gets my vote as on of the best
scenes in the series.
"Righter" <Rig...@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:q%eK8.6509$3w2....@typhoon.sonic.net...
joe
> news:q%eK8.6509$3w2....@typhoon.sonic.net...
> > I've been thinking about posting something like this for a long time, but
> > never got around to it. Why don't we all nominate the scene(s) we think
> > should be on the top twenty, and when it's all over, hopefully, we'll have
> > the twenty most popular scenes? Now, I'm not going to pretend that I can
> > pick the number one scene.
When I think of great scenes it the epilogs that come to mind:
"Hello?...YA-HOO!..." including the sunset rideoff. (Heartaches of a
Fool.)
The utterly devasted turnaway look as Jim hands Megan back to her
husband.
Having to pick one, I will refer to the parting scene with the divine
Mrs. Van Deerlin on the steps at the end of South by SW. The tense
hint of an affair, the passionate kiss, followed by a quickly
exchanged look of a mutually shared awareness, then the hug and smile
of true friendship that seals the realization that it would be best to
remain where they are as they are; she with her blue beads, him with
Rocky and his cat. Acting at its best.
rc
the end of part one of "Backlash of the Hunter", where he waits for
the karate fighter in the bathroom where he has spread liquid soap all
over the floor.
In, I think "White on White", where Lance White confronts the bad guy
and says "Put 'em up", as he has advised the dumb PI he and Jim are
helping earlier. The stupid bad guy puts his hands up in the air as
though surrendering, and White belts him in the mouth, knocking him
out. As he leaves the bus, he tells the dumb PI "I hated to have to
do that" (or something like that -- it's been over 20 years since I've
seen this scene).
Another one in the same episode -- having thrown his PI award out his
car window to make a point, and explaining to Lance White that he's
looked all over that hill and it isn't there, while Lance trots up the
hill, picks it up, and trots back down immediately as if picking it up
from where he's put it. Jim says he thought it would be good for
business, and Lance says something like "Oh, I don't agree, Jim, I've
got 6 of them in my closet at home..."
Countless scenes with Jimmy Joe Meeker, explaining about
something-or-other in Oklahoma.
Out with the drilling rig in front of the hotel, having hit a water
main, explaining to an over-excited-acting Angel that it's gas they've
'found', not oil.
In "A Good Clean Bust, with Sequel Rights", another one I haven't seen
in over 20: (a) losing the bad guys in the car chase scene, (b)
busting the bad guys into the swimming pool, (c) explaining to the cop
that no, he isn't going to share the reward money with him ("Freeze
Turkey!") (the guy did cost him thousands / year with that insurance
company).
With Ritchie Brockleman in some big company, trying to explain their
way out of this guy's office where they've just waltzed in to use his
computer linkup, and end up having to fake a gun in Jim's pocket to
get out (and Ritchie typing in *Jim's* name their first time
there...).
So many...
rc
Mitchum22
The ending of "Second Chance", when Angel is revealed to by the Chuck Muncey
who's just signed Gandy's girl to a recording contract.
Jim & Mike Cordene in the great "Sleight of Hand" episode: Jim finds Cordene
in the dead girl's apartment, confronts him with the matchbox from the Buena
Vista Inn, etc.
The porno movie theater scene with Jim, Angel and Mary Frann, from "Counter
Gambit": while the men discuss the upcoming scam, Mary gets very involved in
what's on the screen.
All scenes with Rockford & Lance White.
All scenes with Jim and Freddie Beamer.
M22
"Righter" <Rig...@sonic.net> wrote in message
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bcnmason
> never got around to it. Why don't we all nominate the scene(s) we think
> should be on the top twenty, and when it's all over, hopefully, we'll have
> the twenty most popular scenes?
Great post, but gee, there are just so many great scenes. I always
loved the relationship between Jim and Rocky, and there's one scene
that first comes to mind that I think should be in the top 20. In the
episode "Find Me If You Can" Jim comes home after getting the poo beat
out of him. Rocky opens the trailer door, talks a bit to Jim and has
clearly noticed the gash on Jim's face. Rather than harping on Jim's
profession, he chooses to ignore it all together. Jim then enters the
trailer and immediately says "now don't start Rocky, I like what I'm
doing,....maybe not at the moment, and I don't want to start pushing a
rig, so don't start waving some want ads at me". When Jim notices
that Rocky is completely ignoring the obvious circumstances, he starts
looking for sympathy by asking Rocky if the gash at the back of his
head is still bleeding. He persists on trying to get Rocky's divided
attention but Rocky continues to talk about some business proposition
that a friend of his came up with. At this time Jim is clearly
confused as to why Rocky has not raked him over the coals about his
choice of profession. Rocky then heads for the door and Jim
interrupts and says "what's the matter with you Rocky? I get the poo
beat out of me and all you want to do is talk about hardware". Jim
then gets what he was expecting all along, the third degree from good
old Rocky. It ended up by Rocky saying "look at your face, two inches
to the right and you'd be missing that eye". Jim in typical fashion
replies, "look at it this way, two inches to the left and he'd have
missed me completely". Rocky then exits the trailer and slams the
door as Jim walks away with a smirk on his face. Classic.
Brian
Righter
"Charles Boils" <cb...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:fSiK8.21324$tj5.5...@typhoon.atl.ipsvc.net...
> I do not know if this is what you are looking for, but here goes. At the
end
> of Profit and Loss Part two when Jim tells Rocky that he knows where the
> sixth bullet was - in the garbage disposal gets my vote as on of the best
> scenes in the series.
Any scene which you think is worthy is what I am looking for, and that was
an excellent scene, by the way.
Righter
"joe" <josep...@villanova.edu> wrote in message
news:88bebe4c.02060...@posting.google.com...
Loved every scene you mentioned.
Righter
> With Ritchie Brockleman in some big company, trying to explain their
> way out of this guy's office where they've just waltzed in to use his
> computer linkup, and end up having to fake a gun in Jim's pocket to
> get out (and Ritchie typing in *Jim's* name their first time
> there...).
"It says here you did time in San Quentin, and you have sub-standard
credit."
"Wha-at? Give me that!" Priceless.
j.r._johnson
>Gosh, kinda hard to pick...
VERY HARD to pick!
>the end of part one of "Backlash of the Hunter", where he waits for
>the karate fighter in the bathroom where he has spread liquid soap all
>over the floor.
This has got to rank right up there in the top 3 to 5 scenes. It was an
all-time classic.
>Countless scenes with Jimmy Joe Meeker, explaining about
>something-or-other in Oklahoma.
Or, J.W. Farnsworth in this particular case.
>Out with the drilling rig in front of the hotel, having hit a water
>main, explaining to an over-excited-acting Angel that it's gas they've
>'found', not oil.
This is another hilarious scene.
Some of the better scenes are good because they've been built up by a
previous scene. I think it was in The Dexter Crisis where Jim and the girl
(sorry, can't remember specifics in this one) were being followed by the
other PI that Jim can't stand. The first time they have a confrontation,
Jim stops his car, gets out and goes to the PI's car. He is *thisclose* to
punching the guy sitting in the car, and then decides at the last second
not to do it. THEN, closer to the end of the show, the same scenario gets
set up again. Jim stops the car, goes to the PI's car, and starts to punch
him again. But, at the last second, he once again stops. Just when it
looks like he's going to walk away, Jim lets a right hand go to the PI's
head. That was great. And, to top it off, Jim, of course, hurts his hand
again.
Another one of those two-part scenes was one episode in which I can't even
remember the title, but Jim is trying to get away from some goon. He
lights a cigarette and a minute or so later carefully takes the cigarette
and flicks it straight up in the air. As the goon watches it, Jim decks
him while he's watching the cigarette going up. Of course, the second part
to that is that when the same situation happens again with a different
thug, Jim flicks his cigarette up in the air, and the thug lands a right to
the side of Jim's head. I wish I could recall the lines that were said in
these cases, but it's been a while since I've seen this one. But, it was
another great scene.
-Johnny
Charles Boils
has become increasingly impatient with) gets slapped. Jim answers her
earlier question -and says that is the sound of one hand clapping.
"Righter" <Rig...@sonic.net> wrote in message
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Charles Boils
walking to somewhereunknown, sees a taco stand, stops, reaches in his pocket
and realizes he does not have any money.
"Righter" <Rig...@sonic.net> wrote in message
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dw
> How about in Quickie Nirvana when Sky (the aging hippy with whom Rockford
> has become increasingly impatient with) gets slapped. Jim answers her
> earlier question -and says that is the sound of one hand clapping.
I really enjoy that scene, as well as many others that have been mentioned
here.
How about when Jim is slicing the fish open, and Sky asks if it is dead.
Jim - no he is just acting. That episode had more then its share of classic
lines.
How about in The Oracle Wore a Cashmere Suit, where they are at the drummers
place and Jim says Ask yourself a question, do you think I would be in your
dump of my own free will if I had a fat load of cocaine or 80 G's.
Or in the same episode where they are bouncing Jim around the trailer and
they ask about the 80 Gs and Jim says I wish you would have asked me before
you went ripping through here, I cleaned the place yesterday and there ain't
no 80 Gs.
Of course there is probably a half dozen or more classic scenes or lines in
just about every episode.
JosephLoya
reminder.
Others are the "We are all scared...." speech at the end of "The Countess" and
Gandi's "I am free--if I want to be" to conclude "Hammer of C Block."
Best examples of writing, acting, action scene; these are the categories that
would have been fun to vote on and award at the Rockford Fest that never was.
And I would add, "Best use of music," and nominate the mournful treatment of
the Rockford theme that supported the sail boat on the horizon scene at the end
of "Sleight of Hand."
RNeill22
Another brief but classic moment is in the Lance White episode when Jim
Rockford and dying millionaire Bill Quinn, etc are in the security truck headed
to the kidnappers' headquarters.
Jim listens to the guard dogs yelping in the back of the vehicle and looks at
Bill Quinn wheezing and gasping. Jim says: "They can't do anything to hurt us.
They're going to be laughing too hard."
jcollins25
chasing Ron Rifkin through the Hoover Dam. When he finally catches Rifkin, the
two of them are so winded, they just sit down together. Any other show would
have ended with a shooting or throwing the bad guy over the side of the dam.
TRF had too much class and intelligence for that.
jcollins25
time? Jim is in Dennis's office and Angel is skulking around the squad room
trying to get Jim's attention. Dennis bumps into him and says (if I can
remember this from 25 years ago) "Say sport, you look like you've done time."
Angel then reveals that he and "Jimmy" were cell mates at San Quentin. "You
might say me and Jimmy own a piece of the rock."
Another scene I've always liked is when Chet Sierra (played by Ray Danton)
gives his metaphorical speech about his garden (meaning his criminal
enterprise) and how two wise guys (Jim and Angel) have jumped over the wall and
picked his roses.
Finally, the Lance White episodes got a lot of flak recently. I thought they
were pretty funny and very much in the tradition of Maverick. Also, didn't
Brandy Alexander make them worthwhile?
Joe
Edward Falys
RNeill22 wrote:
> >Subject: Re: The Top Twenty Rockford Scenes of All Time
There's a snappy scene in the episode 'Beamers Last Case'. Jim has
returned from vacation to find that someone (namely Freddie Beamer;
mechanics assistant at Tonys auto shop) has stolen his identity and
is pretending to be a P.I.
Jim finally tracks him down in a restaurant (by getting Rocky to 'page' Jim
Rockford) and demands an explanation...
Jim to Beamer: What kinda ditzel are you, huh? Using my name, using my car,
ordering carbon-fibre testers, electronic olives, chemistry sets - whose gonna
pay for all that? I don't use that kinda stuff. NOBODY uses that kinda stuff!
The bartender comes to Beemers aid (still thinking he's Rockford) with a shotgun.
Beamer makes a quick exit as Jim is forcibly restrained from chasing after him.
Bartender: "If YOU'RE Rockford, who's he?"
Jim: (Irritated.) His name is Freddy Beamer, he's a mechanics assistant. He works
at Tonys auto body shop or he DID - my guess is he just hit the street laying
rubber
and that's the last we're gonna see of him - and I'M gonna get stuck paying all
the bills.
Bartender: Who's gonna take care of his tab here?
Jim: I don't care. Get it from Chuckles the clown.
Bartender: I'm sittin on a $50 buck bar bill! Hey Brenda baby... (takes Jim's
wallet and throws it to a barmaid) ...find a charge card. Make Mr. Rockford up a
slip.
Jim: Hey now, come on! I am THROUGH payin' for Beamers party. I want my
wallet back now! (The shotgun is raised and Jim eases off).
Allright...okay... we'll wait for the cops. But suppose my story checks out.
What happens then, Wyette? You get to take a fall for aggravated assault; assault
and battery; attempted homicide; extortion; and illegal detention.
And if I don't get my wallet back right now, YOU (facing the barmaid) get to take
half the extortion, Brenda baby! (Finger snap!)
dw
"jcollins25" <jcoll...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020602200221...@mb-fk.aol.com...
> Does anyone remember the episode where Angel and Dennis meet for the first
> time? Jim is in Dennis's office and Angel is skulking around the squad
room
> trying to get Jim's attention. Dennis bumps into him and says (if I can
> remember this from 25 years ago) "Say sport, you look like you've done
time."
> Angel then reveals that he and "Jimmy" were cell mates at San Quentin.
"You
> might say me and Jimmy own a piece of the rock."
>
> Another scene I've always liked is when Chet Sierra (played by Ray Danton)
> gives his metaphorical speech about his garden (meaning his criminal
> enterprise) and how two wise guys (Jim and Angel) have jumped over the
wall and
> picked his roses.
>
I think both of those scenes were from Chicken Little is a Little Chicken.
RNeill22
>wallet back now! (The shotgun is raised and Jim eases off).
>Allright...okay... we'll wait for the cops. But suppose my story checks out.
>What happens then, Wyette? You get to take a fall for aggravated assault;
>assault
>and battery; attempted homicide; extortion; and illegal detention.
>
>And if I don't get my wallet back right now, YOU (facing the barmaid) get to
>take
>half the extortion, Brenda baby! (Finger snap!)
>
and talking his way out of a situation that would intimidate just about anyone
else.
It was scenes like that one that got *me* hooked on The Rockford Files in the
first place. It wasn't until much later that I started paying attention to
series elements like the Firebird, the trailer on the beach, the checked coat
and Jim's other 'trademarks.' Jim's BS skills were inspirational!
CardsFan
like that) where the British guy explains to Jim all the deductions that are
being taken from his "reward," and Jim ends up asking if there's going to
enough left to cover the bar tab. The British guy says, "Well, that rather
depends. Do you intend to keep on drinking?"
Classic. Poor Jim, hosed again.
AJM
"Righter" <Rig...@sonic.net> wrote in message
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Righter
smell on my package." etc. , but the scene where JIm throws the phone onto
the receiver, where Rocky catches him, and Jim unsuccessfully explains what
he's doing was Rockford Gold.
good things
home with Delgado (loan shark) sitting on one of Beamer's toys. Jim grabs
Delgado's coat sleeve and says:
Jim: "You want to get off my Naguchi 3500 before you bust it?".
Delgado: "For a man who owes money, you are getting alot of new stuff. My
banking representatives will be by at five to collect".
Jim: "Representatives, plural? Is that so they have five fingers and five
toes?"
[later]
Delgado: "When you get current, I also do personal loans".
Jim: "Yeah. 20% a week?
Delgado: "It's a tough business. People just don't understand our side".
GT
"Edward Falys" <ed_f...@telus.net> wrote in message
news:3CFAC31B...@telus.net...
Righter
Always love when Jim sticks up for himself.
Jim Arnone
>Subject: Re: The Top Twenty Rockford Scenes of All Time
One of my favorate scenes is in the "Local Man Eaten By Newspaper"
episode.
After being pounded by a brainless thug, Rockford is back at the
newpaper
office in a subsequent scene with Becker at his side to ask some
questions
to the owner (the thug's boss). As Jim passes the thug, he says one
line
to him "Klaatu Barada Nikto!"
This very subtle comment comes from a key line in a 1950's SciFi
classic, "The Day the Earth Stood Still." The phrase is used to
control a robot who has the power to destroy the Earth. One might say
the robot was a sort of alien thug.
Jim Arnone
Weltanscha
>One of my favorate scenes is in the "Local Man Eaten By Newspaper"
>episode.
>
>After being pounded by a brainless thug, Rockford is back at the
>newpaper
>office in a subsequent scene with Becker at his side to ask some
>questions
>to the owner (the thug's boss). As Jim passes the thug, he says one
>line
>to him "Klaatu Barada Nikto!"
>
>This very subtle comment comes from a key line in a 1950's SciFi
>classic, "The Day the Earth Stood Still." The phrase is used to
>control a robot who has the power to destroy the Earth. One might say
>the robot was a sort of alien thug.
That line seemed out of place to me both times I saw the episode. It didn't
seem to me like Jim was the kind of guy to watch a lot of science fiction. And
even if he did see the film, the chances of his remembering how to say "Klaatu
Barada Nikto" seemed small.
- Tom
RNeill22
>seem to me like Jim was the kind of guy to watch a lot of science fiction.
>And
>even if he did see the film, the chances of his remembering how to say
>"Klaatu
>Barada Nikto" seemed small.
>
>- Tom
There are a lot of episodes of TRF in which Jim makes references to old movies.
I don't think his invoking The Day The Earth Stood Still meant Jim was a
science-fiction fan, just that he was very familiar with old movies of all
genres.
I figure he had a lot of time to watch TV while in prison and probably very
little choice about what channel to watch.
jcollins25
a science fiction story. It's more of a morality story. Besides, I'll bet Jim
saw a lot of movies when he was in the Army... though not necessarily when he
was at Pusan.
I always liked that scene too, partly because I was a fan of the movie.
Weltanscha
>>That line seemed out of place to me both times I saw the episode. It didn't
>>seem to me like Jim was the kind of guy to watch a lot of science fiction.
>>And
>>even if he did see the film, the chances of his remembering how to say
>>"Klaatu
>>Barada Nikto" seemed small.
>>
>>- Tom
>
>There are a lot of episodes of TRF in which Jim makes references to old
>movies.
> I don't think his invoking The Day The Earth Stood Still meant Jim was a
>science-fiction fan, just that he was very familiar with old movies of all
>genres.
I was getting all ready to say something like, "Yeah, but I've seen that movie,
and I *like* science fiction, and I didn't remember how to say that alien
phrase."
Then I saw this:
>I figure he had a lot of time to watch TV while in prison and probably very
>little choice about what channel to watch.
Good point.
- Tom
rc
>arn...@rni.net (Jim Arnone) wrote:
>
>>This very subtle comment comes from a key line in a 1950's SciFi
>>classic, "The Day the Earth Stood Still." The phrase is used to
>>control a robot who has the power to destroy the Earth. One might say
>>the robot was a sort of alien thug.
>
>That line seemed out of place to me both times I saw the episode. It didn't
>seem to me like Jim was the kind of guy to watch a lot of science fiction. And
>even if he did see the film, the chances of his remembering how to say "Klaatu
>Barada Nikto" seemed small.
>
>- Tom
>
Not as small as me remembering it.
rc
SNJ261
I think that's the same scene that has Jim saying "Geronimo" after he made the
exchange, so the cops could come in to arrest the bad guys. The cop had asked
Jim how he was going to be able to work that word into a conversation, and it
turned out to be very funny when Jim actually did it. After the exchange Jim
says something like "Well everyone's happy except for Geronimo." The cops
don't come. The bad guy has a puzzled look on his face, wondering what Jim is
talking about. Jim tries again, saying another sentence with Geronimo in it.
Again the cops don't show up. So poor Jim at this point just starts running
away screaming Geronimo.
Gary Moheban
> Jcollins wrote:
>
> >My favorite scene (forgive me for forgetting the show title) was when Jim
was chasing Ron Rifkin through the Hoover Dam...
> I think that's the same scene that has Jim saying "Geronimo" after he made
the exchange, so the cops could come in to arrest the bad guys...
The episode you guys are referring to is called "Roundabout".
Kevin Brown
> > "Righter" <Rig...@sonic.net> wrote in message
> > news:q%eK8.6509$3w2....@typhoon.sonic.net...
> > > I've been thinking about posting something like this for a long time, but
> > > never got around to it. Why don't we all nominate the scene(s) we think
> > > should be on the top twenty, and when it's all over, hopefully, we'll have
> > > the twenty most popular scenes? Now, I'm not going to pretend that I can
> > > pick the number one scene.
>
> "Hello?...YA-HOO!..." including the sunset rideoff. (Heartaches of a
> Fool.)
> The utterly devasted turnaway look as Jim hands Megan back to her
> husband.
That WAS a great one. Never did figure out what the dream was supposed
to mean though. :) Anyone know?
Righter
JIm, Rocky and Ritchie are holed up at some lake in the San Bernardino
mountains. Rocky just finished fishing, and Jim is just getting up and
opens the trailer door.
Rocky tells Jim: "...Hah! Funny kid, ain't he? You know what he was
telling me last night?
Jimbo: "What?"
Rocky: "He was tellin me that he is a private investigator. Did you ever
hear anything more ridiculous in your life? Ha, heh, heh. What would a
nice kid like that be doing gettin into something like that?"
Jimbo: "I don't know--just for the heartache, I guess. And maybe because
it's just great to get up in the morning and have the whole world laughing
at you."
These are the kind of lines that catch you offguard and cause you to bust a
major gut. Especially the way JG delivers them. Another scene that was
pretty funny was when Vern St. Cloud got caught in Ritchie's office, and
he's standing there, stalling for time, trying to think of a b.s. story to
explain what he's doing there.