The Best Episodes of The Rockford Files Season 1
Every episode of The Rockford Files Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Rockford Files Season 1!
Cranky but likable L.A. PI Jim Rockford pulls no punches (but takes plenty of them). An ex-con sent to the slammer for a crime he didn't commit, Rockford takes on cases others don't want, aided by his tough old man, his lawyer girlfriend and some shady associates from his past.
Season 1 Ratings Summary
The best episode of "The Rockford Files" season 1 is "The Kirkoff Case", rated 7.7/10 from 595 user votes. It was directed by Lou Antonio and written by Stephen J. Cannell. "The Kirkoff Case" aired on 9/13/1974 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Dark and Bloody Ground".
7.7/10 595 votes#1 - The Kirkoff Case
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/13/1974
Rockford is hired by Larry Kirkoff to find the identity of his parents killer. There are a number of possible suspects including Travis Buckman and Tawnia Baker who were lovers of Mrs. and Mr. Kirkoff respectively. The police actually suspect Larry of the crime, but, lack of evidence prevents them from making a case against him. Rockford's investigation runs him afoul of some pretty bad men who want everyone to go on thinking Larry killed them.
Director: Lou Antonio
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
7.6/10 480 votes#2 - The Dark and Bloody Ground
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/20/1974
Jim reluctantly agrees to work for Beth Davenport. His job is to help her prove her client, Ann Calhoun, is innocent of the crime she is accused of; murdering her husband Kevin Calhoun. Jim's investigation takes him to the town of Parker, Arizona, where the Calhouns are from. He digs up info someone doesn't want found out and is almost killed trying to return to L.A. Socialites Clyde Russell and Elizabeth Gorman, who were throwing a party the Calhouns attended, are also investigated. Jim's investigation is making someone nervous as another attempt is made on his life.
Director: Michael Schultz
Writer: Juanita Bartlett
7.6/10 475 votes#3 - The Countess
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/27/1974
Jim is helping a Countess avoid a blackmailer but is then charged for the Blackmailer murder...
Director: Russ Mayberry
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
7.6/10 402 votes#4 - Exit Prentiss Carr
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/4/1974
Jim finds the murdered body of Prentiss Carr in his hotel room and after reporting the incident to the police learns it has been classified as suicide...
Director: Alexander Grasshoff
Writer: Juanita Bartlett
8.0/10 440 votes#5 - Tall Woman in Red Wagon
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/11/1974
Jim helps a journalist trace the whereabouts of her friend and has to adopt a series of covers in order to obtain the information, as well as contend with a mobsters goons and a Treasury Agent...
Director: Jerry London
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
7.6/10 416 votes#6 - This Case Is Closed
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/18/1974
While investigating the fiance of Warren Jamison's daughter, Jim experiences some strange events which include kidnapping by the mob and the FBI who are anxious to get a statement - it all relates back to Jim recent trip to Newark...
Director: Bernard L. Kowalski
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
8.2/10 440 votes#7 - The Big Ripoff
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/25/1974
Suspecting her ex-lover was killed by his wife, a woman hires Rockford to jet to Europe to compile evidence. After a fling with the widow, Rockford suspects Steve Nelson faked his death.
Director: Vincent McEveety
Writer: Robert Hamner
7.7/10 389 votes#8 - Find Me If You Can
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/1/1974
Rockford reluctantly takes a unique assignment: a beautiful mystery woman wants him to find her, to see if someone she fears could also track her down. With a check poised to bounce, the ex-con PI needs the retainer to balance his always-challenged checking account. When Rockford checks with a local police department, he worms out a chilling piece of data: she's been dating Denver Mafia capo-regime, hot-tempered Ralph Correll. But the more Barbara Kelbaker strings along Jim Rockford, the more he's charmed into helping the desperate 30 something.
Director: Lawrence Doheny
Writer: Juanita Bartlett
8.1/10 390 votes#9 - In Pursuit of Carol Thorne
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/8/1974
Jim tails a woman just released from prison. She was involved in a robbery of a Marine Payroll. The mastermind of the crime and his henchman follow her as well. They search for the remaining robber who wound up with the loot.
Director: Charles S. Dubin
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
7.7/10 387 votes#10 - The Dexter Crisis
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/15/1974
Rockford ends up in the Nevada desert (starting with the bright lights of Las Vegas) searching for a rich guy's mistress and her suitcase of precious "documents."
Director: Alexander Grasshoff
Writer: Gloryette Clark
7.9/10 386 votes#11 - Caledonia - It's Worth a Fortune!
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/6/1974
When knowledge of a critically ill convict's hidden fortune comes to light, Rockford becomes involved in helping the con's wife find the treasure before his former partner arrives and demands his share.
Director: Stuart Margolin
Writer: Juanita Bartlett
8.4/10 389 votes#12 - Profit and Loss (1)
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/20/1974
Jim investigates a large corporation when one of its executives is kidnapped and the wife of another executive claims the company murdered her husband.
Director: Lawrence Doheny
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
8.4/10 351 votes#13 - Profit and Loss (2)
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/27/1974
Rockford discovers the investment firm Fiscal Dynamics is a financial fraud and its president Leon Fielder will do anything to prevent him from destroying his company.
Director: Lawrence Doheny
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell
8.1/10 392 votes#14 - Aura Lee, Farewell
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/3/1975
Jim's old friend Sara Butler hires him to find out the real reason her employee Aura Lee Benton died. The police believe it was a drug overdose but Sara is convinced she was murdered.
Director: Jackie Cooper
Writer: Edward J. Lakso
8.2/10 396 votes#15 - Sleight of Hand
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/17/1975
Jim's girlfriend suddenly disappears with no clue as to how or why. Lt. Diel thinks Rockford is probably responsible for her disappearance and orders him to stay away from the case. But Jim can't stop until he finds out what happened.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell, Jo Swerling Jr.
8.3/10 357 votes#16 - Counter Gambit
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/24/1975
Two former cons hire Rockford to find an old girlfriend. They actually want her valuable pearl necklace and implicate him as the thief. With Angel's help, he'll get the pearls back and square himself with the police.
Director: Jackie Cooper
Writer: Juanita Bartlett, Howard Berk
7.5/10 338 votes#17 - Claire
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/31/1975
Jim's old girlfriend, Claire Prescott, phones, and asks him to help give her protection from 2 hoods chasing her. He soon discovers there's a missing undercover cop, which puts him up against an arrogant Cpt. Highland, as well.
Director: William Wiard
Writer: Stephen J. Cannell, Edward J. Lakso
7.9/10 348 votes#18 - Say Goodbye to Jennifer
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/7/1975
John Micelli's an old war buddy of Jim', who's now a fashion photographer. He hires Jim to track down a beautiful fashion model, whom the authorities claim is dead; killed in a fiery multi-car accident, but, he thinks otherwise. As Jim starts to look into this, he runs into several intimidating figure who want to make certain she stays that way.
Director: Jackie Cooper
Writer: Rudolph Borchert, Juanita Bartlett
7.6/10 348 votes#19 - Charlie Harris at Large
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/14/1975
Charlie Harris, Rockford's former cell mate, is suspected of murdering his rich wife and is on the run. He calls on Rockford to find his alibi witness, a mystery woman with whom he was having an affair.
Director: Russ Mayberry
Writer: Zekial Marko
7.9/10 325 votes#20 - The Four Pound Brick
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/21/1975
A cop dies in an accident that his mother refuses to accept. Rocky offers Jim's services free of charge. After begrudgingly accepting the case he discovers that dirty cops might be involved which then pits him against a very angry Lt. Diel.
Director: Lawrence Doheny
Writer: Juanita Bartlett, Leigh Brackett
7.7/10 322 votes#21 - Just by Accident
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 2/28/1975
A race car driver dies in an apparent accident that his mother, an old friend of Jim's, thinks was no accident. It turns out he was part of an insurance scam outfit and they soon have a similar plan for Rockford.
Director: Jerry London
Writer: Charles Sailor, Eric Kaldor
7.8/10 344 votes#22 - Roundabout
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/7/1975
An insurance company hires Rockford to locate a missing woman who is due an inheritance. He finds her in Las Vegas where she is an unwitting pawn in a money laundering operation.
Director: Lou Antonio
Writer: Edward J. Lakso, Mitch Lindemann