The Rockford Files With the French Heel Back, Can the Nehru Jacket Be Far Behind? (1974–1980) Online

I haven't been entirely impressed with season 5 so far, but this episode is perhaps one of the better ones I've seen since watching the re-runs on cable. I'll disagree a bit with the other reviewer for this episode, as that person was more critical than me, but I digress. This time, a lady friend of Rockford(he has plenty of them)calls him from a payphone(remember them?)to tell him she's about to be killed; soon after, we find her on the ground of her apartment. The police suspect suicide, but Jim doesn't think so; ergo, we have the plot of this episode which has Jim hanging out at fashion shows because his "friend" was a popular fashion model. You'll recognize appearances by Rene Auberjonois(plays the role perfectly) and Erin Gray as the model's friend. A few moments, both good and bad, stand out for me; first, Jim goes undercover donning a huge cowboy hat looking very funny. Secondly(bad), as Jim is being led to an isolated building to be shot, he is saved by a mouse; yes, I said that correctly. It seems the evil thug about to kill Rockford is afraid of a little mouse who happens to fall on his shoulder, and distract him enough for Jim's escape. This is what you'd call a face palm moment. Lastly, since this episode is from 1979, the word "disco" is mentioned a few times during the fashion show near the end as the model's parade these hideous clothes for the critics, who are as appalled as I was.

Finally, the best aspect of this segment is Auberjonois' performance as the eccentric clothes designer and fashion show host. There is another funny scene is which he and rival insult each other at a funeral for the model. It was also nice seeing Rocky in the beginning, playing cards with Jim for a tiny bit.

This is a kind of forgettable episode in which Rockford gets involved with the fashion industry. An old girlfriend, in town for a fashion show, calls Rockford for help in the middle of the night. She is found outside the window of her hotel room, and the police are calling it suicide. Jim knows better and with the help of another ex-model, begins to investigate. He goes behind the scenes of the fashion world, once again adopting the character of Jimmy Joe Meeker (from Texas this time, not Oklahoma!) and of course manages to get beat up by a couple of goons in the process. While I don't find any of the "Rockford" episodes to be bad (other than the "Jersey Guys" episodes)this one was just okay, and kind of forgettable. I got the feeling they were just kind of going through the motions on this one and just cranked it out without any of those great moments we've come to expect in a great "Rockford" episode.

The posh world of the fashion industry is the setting for this Rockford Files Story. James Garner is Jim Rockford's client in this episode where he does not believe that his friend Chris Palmer did a dive off her motel balcony in a suicide. No, not after she called Rockford and said she was in big trouble.

Palmer was a working model, but another big leader in the industry was shot to death. Too much of a coincidence for Rockford to believe the deaths were not connected. Too much of a coincidence also for Palmer's friend Erin Gray who is a former model, but not in the business.

Garner's investigation takes him to a boutique owned by Marisa Pavan with some sexy leather boys as security, a Versace like designer played by a most flamboyant Rene Auberjonois and a banker/loan shark played by Howard Witt. It all connects.

Connecting is the big problem. Only Garner and Erin Gray believe the murder and the murder the cops are calling suicide are connected.

Do you doubt that they're persistence pays off?