User Reviews

This is a great episode,one of the best episodes in the way of sheer entertainment. This is sort of funny in a way,because the actual story is a bit weak around the edges,but it really doesn't matter. There is so much going on seemingly all at once that the details of the situation take a back-seat to the action. This particular episode showcases the friend-enemy dynamic of Jim Rockford and Angel Martin,which is quite believable and very funny. The episode has a lot of small touches that really add to its comedy. For example we see the true character of Angel when he finds the time to check the pay-phone coin-return during the middle of a crisis,for example. We all have known people like this,it is very believable. I do not want to give away the specifics of the episode,but I promise it is a great later-in-the-series showcase of talent. The talented cast and crew had this show down-pat by now,and everything clicks tightly. All-in-all a great show !

This episode of The Rockford Files has Rockford's prison buddy Angel working a new con. And it's just Rockford's luck that he happens by and has none other than the KGB tape him as he passes Angel working this particular con on somebody. And it's a real beauty knowing Angel.

Stuart Margolin whenever he's playing Evelyn 'Angel' Martin always dominates the episode. In this story he's masquerading as a hit man and the con is that he takes the up front down payment money and skedaddles. Of course James Garner's warnings about the downside of this particular con game go unheeded.

That is until Margolin is nearly killed, another man is killed and Garner and Margolin are blamed for the murder. Before it's all over the LAPD, Naval Intelligence, the KGB and some loopy church are all involved. And you won't believe what it's all about.

What I like about this one is that Angel finally gets himself some long overdue payback in the end. You have to see this Rockford Files episode to know what I mean.

This great episode features just how excellent Rockford and Angel's chemistry is, and no matter how much Jim wants to strangle his old prison buddy, they find a way to get things done, usually with many curves along the path. I'm slightly surprised that this complicated story fit into just under an hour, and appears a bit rushed at times, but has many aspects which made this a great show, and all the main characters, minus Beth, have important roles. The plot revolves around Angel being hired as a hit-man, although he doesn't kill anyone, but uses the act as a ruse just to make some cash; this time around, he gets himself involved in an international plot to steal a formula for blue jeans. Yep, that's what I said. The Navy and even the Russians are all interested in the denim formula because wearing blue jeans is frowned upon in Russia, and the stolen formula is very sought after. I consider myself a fan of actor Joshua Bryant(Salem's Lot, 1979), and he has a few scenes as one of the crooked agents who's after the formula; look for another familiar face in Michael McGuire, who is the Navy boss, and actually kills another crooked agent. This is probably one of the final great episodes, as it's from early 1979 and there's only 15 remaining. Look for the Firebird, Rocky's truck, nice shots of the trailer and Rocky's house, nice scenery from boating docks, Dennis and Chapman, and watch Rockford munch on his taco, which we all know that he loves. I also like that he utters the line "that doesn't make any sense" here as well. The most important and enjoyable aspect though, is the chemistry between Rockford and Angel, and this episode is probably the best one featuring both of them together.