The Kirkoff Case

When I reviewed the whole series, I said that The Rockford Files was what series television is all about. The show got off to a great start with James Woods a rather nasty rich boy whom the cops suspect of killing his parents wanting to find out who did it.

Even the rich and obnoxious are entitled to hire Jim Rockford for $200.00 a day plus expenses. So Rockford goes digging first into the lovers of the deceased parents, Julie Sommars and Roger Davis as possible suspects.

After that it's the business associates of the late father and it's here where James Garner makes an alliance of sorts with Sommars. Sommars makes no doubt that she's a gold digger and Garner kind of likes that up front honesty.

In the end both murders are solved and Garner and Sommars may have a fling before she goes looking for another rich prospect.

One of the great strengths of The Rockford Files as a series is the gathering of such wonderful characters who showed up a few times in shows over the series run. In this episode we meet the first one, Noah Beery, Jr., as John Rockford. Garner's father who thinks this private detective business can be dangerous. It sure proves to be over the next several years.

A nice kickoff opening story.

The Rockford Files proved, again and again, that even the shadiest among us are often solid as oak. This episode was exceptionally no exception.

Of course, sometimes a shade tree is just shady, and this episode delivers that as well. In fact, I'd say the balance of good shady and bad shady is just about even.

With James Woods and Abe Vigoda adding weight to the proceedings, and Julie Sommars going charm for charm with Rockford, this episode has all the depth and character that made this series so enjoyable.

Then again when you've got Roy Huggins and Stephen J Cannell crafting the story, depth and character is going to course through every minute.

Boy, what a show!

"The Kirkoff Case" was the first regular episode following the pilot movie which was made for TV. Jim Rockford is investigating the murder of Larry Kirkoff's parents. Most everyone thinks Larry (James Woods) did it...and Larry is paying Rockford to investigate the killings. But there are two huge snags. First, Kirkoff is a disagreeable jerk and Rockford doesn't like working for him...and after you see him you wonder who WOULD want to work for the guy! Second, Kirkoff sure seems like he's guilty. But despite these problems, Rockford could use the money and so he agrees to look into the case.

The solution to this case wasn't all that complicated. What became typical for the show were two things you see in the show...James Garner doing all sorts of exciting driving stunts as well as his character getting the crap knocked out of him. In other words, it set the pattern that many episodes would follow. Well made and Wood sure made for a most unusual character!

Another very enjoyable episode!

Can't believe how young James Woods is in this -- you can already see him developing some of his telltale chops as an actor which would become synonymous with the majority of his future roles.

Episode One, Season One. The Rockford Files' solid regular season debut brings us an Only-in-Los Angeles phenomenon. Larry Kirkoff (James Woods) is a wealthy double Murder suspect who's rich and free even though everybody KNOWS he is Guilty- Even the man he hires to Find the "Real Killers" of his parents- the erstwhile P.I., in constant suffering under the opprobrium of Kirkoff, Jim Rockford.

The clock is ticking as the cops are waiting to make their case against Woods air-tight with a key piece of evidence so that the vile Kirkoff (Woods), for whom to know is to despise, doesn't walk off into the sunset with his parents' fortune.

A noirish thriller with the pocked-marked James Woods at his most intense. Woods comes off as combination of Leopold/Loeb and the Menendez Brothers as he tries to evade the wrath coming to him.

I see someone already gave away the surprise ending- too bad. But this episode is worth watching, if just for the skin-crawling performance by Woods.