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The Rockford Files Season 1 Episode 18

Claire

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 1/31/75

Claire Prescott telephones her former lover Jim Rockford, telling him two men (Stone and Willet) are following her and are trying to kill her. Jim meets with Claire who asks Jim to find a Charles Manning, but can’t explain why. Jim calls Dennis Becker to find out what the police know about Claire and Manning. Dennis lies to Jim saying the police have nothing on either name and then informs Captain Highland of the situation. Jim looks for Manning in a local bar, and is then followed by Stone and Willet, who want to know why Jim is asking for Manning. Jim tricks the pair and evades them, going straight to Dennis Becker and Captain Highland. Manning is a vice cop on special assignment and has gone missing. Highland wants to lock Jim up because he is uncooperative when asked about Claire. Jim agrees to try and get her to the police, but has to loose Dennis who is tailing him. Jim finds Claire has left her hotel. Highland informs Jim that Manning is now dead and Claire is chief suspect. Jim meets Claire at a bar and learns from her that Manning forced her into being an informant. Jim agrees to get her out of LA, but things change when Stone and Willet kidnap Rocky. Jim tells Claire to leave town and stealing a manikin from a shop, he goes to the trade off – Rocky for Claire…moreless

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Fan Episode Reviews (1)

Jim's ex-girlfriend Claire Prescott (Linda Evans) is in big trouble so she calls Jim for help but doesn't tell him everything. Jim gets chased, beaten, hauled in by the cops and threatened with arrest. A murder is involved and Jim is forced to choose betwmoreless

8.0

By lewearly, Nov 20, 2011

A show from the first season featuring Hollywood icon Jackie Cooper as Sgt. Becker's (Joe Santos) police lieutenant boss. Linda Evans plays Jim's former girlfriend Claire Prescott in a pre-Dallas guest star role. The Jim Rockford character is still being developed at this point in the series and this episode serves primarily to help flesh out that character.

The plot is very much a standard Rockford Files storyline: someone Jim cares about needs his help but won't tell him everything he should know. This lack of knowledge gets him accosted, beaten, picked up by the cops, threatened with jail and ultimately puts his Dad Rocky (the legendary Noah Beery) in danger. There are the usual car chases and fights plus a shootout and hostage swap. Jim manages to find a way to save Rocky, get Claire out of trouble and put the bad guys away despite those limitations.

It's not the greatest episode ever but it's important to the show's character development. It helps show the type of person Jim Rockford is. It demonstrates his ingenuity, willingness to back up his words with his fists, and his character. Rockford is the type of guy who looks out for people he loves, even if it means bending the rules and putting himself in danger. The well-known guest stars are a nice bonus, making this a fun episode to watch. If you like the "Rockford Files" you'll enjoy watching this episode.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Noah Beery Jr.	Joseph "Rocky" Rockford
James Garner	Jim Rockford

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Linda Evans	Claire Prescott	Guest Star
Lance LeGault	Stone	Guest Star
Jackie Cooper	Captain Highland	Guest Star
Joe Santos	Sergeant Dennis Becker	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (2)
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- Goof: In the opening scene, the car being driven by Stone and Willet loses a hubcap when rounding a curve. But when they arrive at Claire's apartment building it's back on the wheel. In a later scene the hubcap is once again missing.
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- Lane Smith (who played Nathan Bates in "V" in the 1980s and Perry White in "Lois & Clark" in the 1990s), is here playing Willet, one of the not-too-smart goons, and was to appear once more in The Rockford Files, but as CIA Agent Donnegan (season 5; The Battle-Ax and the Exploding Cigars).
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QUOTES (1)
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- Captain Highland You're gonna wind up in accessary, accepting the fact that he's murdered.
  
  Rockford: No, I'm not. I'm not even going to be a material witness, unless the DA can establish me on the preliminary, which he can't; there's no foundation - and he can't get me on cross-examination for the same reason, so thanks for the invitation, I think I'll go fishing.
  
  (pause)
  
  Sgt. Becker: He's been around, captain.
  
  Captain Highland: (stumped)
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