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The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best

  • TV Movie
  • 1996
  • TV-PG
  • 1h 25m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
287
YOUR RATING
The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best (1996)
Car ActionCozy MysterySuspense MysteryActionCrimeDramaMysteryThriller

Jim Rockford tries to help his friend's son rise out of poverty and homelessness, but soon discovers the young man's problems are far more complicated than he imagined.Jim Rockford tries to help his friend's son rise out of poverty and homelessness, but soon discovers the young man's problems are far more complicated than he imagined.Jim Rockford tries to help his friend's son rise out of poverty and homelessness, but soon discovers the young man's problems are far more complicated than he imagined.

  • Director
    • Tony Wharmby
  • Writers
    • Stephen J. Cannell
    • David Chase
    • Roy Huggins
  • Stars
    • James Garner
    • Damian Chapa
    • Joe Santos
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    287
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Tony Wharmby
    • Writers
      • Stephen J. Cannell
      • David Chase
      • Roy Huggins
    • Stars
      • James Garner
      • Damian Chapa
      • Joe Santos
    • 1User review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast27

    Edit
    James Garner
    James Garner
    • Jim Rockford
    Damian Chapa
    Damian Chapa
    • Scotty Becker
    Joe Santos
    Joe Santos
    • Lt. Dennis Becker
    Maxwell Caulfield
    Maxwell Caulfield
    • Ian Levin
    Pat Finley
    Pat Finley
    • Peggy Becker
    Victor Aaron
    • Mercer Pinetree
    Edita Brychta
    Edita Brychta
    • Katinka
    Barbara Carrera
    Barbara Carrera
    • Elizabetta Fama
    Dan Lauria
    Dan Lauria
    • Lt. Gencher
    Stuart Margolin
    Stuart Margolin
    • Angel Martin
    Al Mancini
    Al Mancini
    • Don Gaetano
    Dennis Fimple
    Dennis Fimple
    • Toothless Bob
    Julian Reyes
    Julian Reyes
    • Raimondo
    Gerry Gibson
    • Critch
    Jim O'Heir
    Jim O'Heir
    • Head Chef
    Rick Worthy
    Rick Worthy
    • Property Officer
    Eve Brenner
    • Corky
    Kimberly Oja
    • Young Model
    • (as Kim Oja)
    • Director
      • Tony Wharmby
    • Writers
      • Stephen J. Cannell
      • David Chase
      • Roy Huggins
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews1

    7.0287
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    Featured reviews

    7blanche-2

    Jimbo tries to help Dennis and Peggy's son

    "Godfather Knows Best" is another TV movie featuring The Rockford Files cast, this one also from 1996.

    Rockford is dismayed to find that his godson, Dennis and Peggy Becker's son Scott (Damian Chapa) is homeless. He rents him a room for a month -- and guess who the building manager is - Angel - who finds him a job at a restaurant. Scott, it turns out, has a few problems, and Dennis is in denial.

    Not long after getting the room, Scotty sublets it and moves into a Buddhist colony.

    When a famous fashion designer, Elizabetta Fama (Barbara Carrera) is found murdered, Scott comes under suspicion since she apparently helped him out a couple of times. In fact, her father, a Sicilian don, comes to the U.S. to find out who is responsible, even though he's a dying man. Jim, meanwhile, doesn't think that Elizabetta's arrogant husband (Maxwell Caulfield) is exactly blameless.

    A bounty hunter is after Scott for a reward and thinks Rockford knows where he is.

    Good movie, with Pat Finley on hand again as Dennis' wife, and Joe Santos and Stuart Margolin repeating their roles as Dennis and Angel.

    This isn't the best of the Rockford Files films, but again, with wonderful acting, cast, and dialogue, it's delightful to watch.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Even though Pete Carpenter, who co-composed themes and many episode scores for The Rockford Files (1974) and other TV series with Mike Post, had passed away in 1987, he is still credited with Post on this and the rest of The Rockford Files (1974)' TV movies.
    • Goofs
      Scotty is eating a slice of garbage can pizza while he is talking to Rockford, just shortly after the movie begins. The slice of pizza is larger after Scotty takes a couple of bites out of it.
    • Quotes

      Evelyn 'Angel' Martin: Hey, hey, hey, Jimmy!

      Jim Rockford: Yeah, well, here he is. What are you doing here?

      [after trying to avoid being seen by Angel]

      Evelyn 'Angel' Martin: Buying some flowers, light bulbs, Johnny Mop, drag. You ain't working.

      Jim Rockford: Ah, I figured I outta see Beth Van Zandt's movie The Breif; they adapted it from her novel.

      Evelyn 'Angel' Martin: Oh, any good?

      Jim Rockford: Well, The Breif, The Firm, when are one of these ex lawyers going to write a book called The Fee?

      Old Homeless Woman: Spare change?

      [a homeless woman asks Angel]

      Evelyn 'Angel' Martin: No thanks, I'm fine.

      [blowing her off]

    • Connections
      Followed by The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play (1996)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 18, 1996 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
      • Italian
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Los nuevos casos de Rockford: El padrino lo sabe todo
    • Filming locations
      • Malibu, California, USA(Jim's trailer, The Sandcastle Restaurant, and beach scenes.)
    • Production companies
      • MGB Productions
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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