The Rockford Files "The Kirkoff Case" 9/13/1974

[Adam H. Kerman]

First episode of the new series. First of three joint tv appearances of
James Garner and James Woods. Without looking it up, who can name the
other two? In interviews, Garner has said how impressed he was with the
acting ability of that Woods kid.

Rocky, now played by Noah Beery, is introduced in a short scene in the
trailer. Actually, he's in the picture frame on Rockford's desk in the
survey of the Solitaire layout (the first season was very film noirish) and
the closeup of the answering machine, which also makes its first
appearance. (In the pilot re-edited for syndication, the answering
machine recording is actually from a sixth season episode). In later
seasons, Noah Beery's credit appears over the framed picture.

I don't care for the arrangement of the famous theme in first season,
which is repeated note for note. There are several versions of it used
in later seasons but there's an added middle section that makes it less
repetitious.

There's now a set for the trailer's interior. In the pilot, there was no
set. That was the interior of a literal trailer, rather stupid since
huge cameras and lighting equipment made things rather cramped.

In the backstory, Larry Kirkoff (Woods) is the prime suspect in the
murder of both his parents, but Kirkoff has hired Rockford to look into
alternate theories. Rockford is contemptuous of Kirkoff, presumes he's
just a spoiled rich kid, but is willing to track down some possible
leads.

He follows Travis (Roger Davis), who had an affair with Mrs. Kirkoff,
and he's working with Tawnia (the adorable Julie Sommars), who is
shopping for a rich husband in the social registry. I had no idea this
was a thing in Los Angeles. It's reminiscent of Breakfast at Tiffany's.
But Tawnia had an affair with Mr. Kirkoff and said he had a beautiful
soul.

First of two appearances of Abe Vigoda. He plays a gangster named
"Dancer", but they are two different characters.

There are two gags set up, both of which have comic payoffs. Rockford
demonstrates a cigarette trick one too many times, and Larry is guarded
by a Doberman. The dog ultimately prevents Rockford from getting his
bonus.

Rockford figures out that Larry never did kill his mother. It was one of
Dancer's men working for Larry's father, trying to avoid a messy
divorce. Rockford is still convinced that Larry had figured out that his
father killed his mother, killing his father in revenge, but Rockford
tells him that the police still lack evidence as Larry had gotten rid of
the rifle. It's a really good scene with James Woods. The episode ends
with Rockford finding an evening newspaper with the headline that
Kirkoff confessed. Rockford feels bad for misjudging Larry, who actually
does want to get punished, but also wanting the truth to come out about
his father killing his mother.

[freddy]

good to see these posts!