Jim's hired to find a missing woman, only to discover that she's also being sought by a New York crime family.Jim's hired to find a missing woman, only to discover that she's also being sought by a New York crime family.Jim's hired to find a missing woman, only to discover that she's also being sought by a New York crime family.
- Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford
- (as Noah Beery)
- Detective
- (uncredited)
- Waugh
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWhen Patsy tells Rockford she is no longer interested in marrying her fiancé, Rockford responds by saying, "Tricia's wedding didn't cause this big of a stir." He's talking about Patricia Nixon's White House wedding. This was also a bit of an inside joke as Leslie Charleson bears a striking resemblance to Tricia Nixon.
- GoofsIn the first scene an armed suspect is firing from the house with police officers ducking behind cars for cover but bystanders are standing around without any fear for their safety; the cops weren't doing anything about it either. (Note: The crowd of spectators being present at the shooting was to show how police "groupie" Lianne Sweeney considered herself "part of the gang" by "assisting in crowd control" - as she later explained to the shooting review board).
- Quotes
Peggy Becker: Just what is a buff?
Dennis Becker: [looking uncomfortable] Buff? Well... well, it's a citizen who is uh, fascinated by police work. Like, you know, people who are into CB radios and Broadway shows. These people are "buffs" as we call them. They like to spend time around the station house, get to know the fellas, sorta hang out...
Peggy Becker: [not looking amused] Dennis, that's not a buff, that's a groupie!
- ConnectionsReferences Dark Victory (1939)
Armed with a police scanner, an overdose of self-delusion, and a marked lack of scruples, Joyce Van Patten (sister of Dick Van Patten) turns in a movie quality, Emmy award winning performance as she sadly intertwines herself into a high stakes game to the death involving Rockford, the cops, the mafia, and several innocent bystanders, all who pay a price for this woman's unsolicited involvement.
Just as Stuart Margolin so convincingly disappears into the role of Angel Martin, Joyce Van Patten likewise dons the character of Lianne Sweeny, a woman bent on using any means available to link herself with the LAPD in a way that is deeply disturbing. Every move Van Patten makes on screen is Sweeny. Her walk, her talk, her gestures... every nuance paints the picture of this characters fully resigned desperation. The audience moves from feeling interest toward her, to apprehension, to pity, then to anger and revulsion... and in the end back to pity.
I would rate Van Patten's performance equal to, or even better, than Jessica Walter's personification of a similarly disturbed woman in Clint Eastwood's 1971 chiller 'Play Misty for Me'. It would not surprise me in the least if Van Patten's performance is used in acting school as a reference for both ultimate character submersion as well as a splendid example of how to portray mental illness in such a real, and thus startling, manner.
BTW - Garner and Santos turn in great performances as well! We see a side of Becker never before revealed, and the same could be said of Rockford. Enjoy!
- CoastalCruiser
- Apr 17, 2012
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- 1254 N Valley St, Burbank, California, USA(shootout with Waugh that opens episode)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro