Terrific episode with a great guest cast. Jim is hired to find out about the disappearance of a man who was just released from prison. This leads him to a private club that caters to top LA city officials. He is quickly found out and is drugged and sent to a psych hospital under another name, in another state. There he's surrounded by a number of amusing patients--one guy who thinks he's James Bond (John Fiedler) another who thinks he's Doc Holiday, and James Bond's real nemisis--Oddjob (Harold Sakata) is also seen here in a rare appearance as John Doe. James Garner's brother Jack also shows up in a larger than usual role as the sheriff.
7 Reviews
Jim in classic Chander territory
james-175220 July 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Neatly borrowing themes from "Farewell my Lovely" this episode finds Jim investigating an extremely exclusive health club (which inevitably is a front for dodgy deals) to try and track a disappeared banker, who has apparently jumped bail with a stolen half million. There are classic characters like the health guru doctor who is peddling methamphetamines to his high achieving clients and his brother who makes a living off running a private asylum packed with people who get too close to the truth about the health club. The comedy portrayal of the "lunatics" would probably be (rightly) considered insensitive today, but the Doc Holiday character (who gets his "hat wearing privileges" removed for starting a "bar room brawl") and "Bond" who spies on the other inmates, played the late John Fiedler of 12 Angry Men fame, are memorable.
Based on a feasible hypothesis
kindofblue-782219 July 2022
The shocking scenario brilliantly portrayed in this episode could really happen.
As an experienced(and retired) mental health professional, I can sadly confirm than the abuses shown, really do happen. Just as the awful things that happened in Cuckoo's nest aren't a psychotic fantasy.
Jimbo is on top form as usual.
A great but sad episode as most victims never really break free.
As an experienced(and retired) mental health professional, I can sadly confirm than the abuses shown, really do happen. Just as the awful things that happened in Cuckoo's nest aren't a psychotic fantasy.
Jimbo is on top form as usual.
A great but sad episode as most victims never really break free.
Welcome Home(Sanitarium)
stones789 February 2015
This is one of those episodes that does a commendable job of combining two different subjects, and also has solid writing, plus some great acting by James Garner. The transition from sex club to funny farm is done quite well, and there are several familiar faces including John Fiedler, Pepper Martin(Rockford regular), an annoying Dennis Fimple, Stephen Elliott, and George Murdock. The gist is that Rockford gets too close to a scandal, and asks too many questions, and ends up in a mental institution, where he meets a zany cast of characters, and I have to say that all the actors played their roles very well. One part that got me was when the crooked doctors made Doc Holliday(Murdock)remove his cowboy hat, and then the defeated look on Doc's face, as he put both hands around his head in confusion, like he just lost a loved one. While I wouldn't list this among my favorites, the way Garner acts, and the way the story takes a strange turn, makes this an episode to recommend.
One who flew over the Rockford files episode.
mm-3917 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The Competitive Edge was influence by one who flew over the co cos nest movie. Jimmy is on a missing persons case. As Jim gets closer to finding out what happening Jim is drugged and sent to a Arkansas mental institution run by the company Jim is investigating. Well, acted, the story goes on the process, if Jim doe not cooperate Jim will be sedated into submission. Jim plans a great prison break, with the missing person and other inmates. What is funny here is the escape plan and the car chase. The story ends with the local sheriff having to figure out the mess with an offer to call an insurance company and make lots of money. Greed always wins. 8 out of 10 stars.
Worthwhile,humorous,interesting episode.
ronnybee21126 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This is a good,entertaining and rather amusing episode of the Rockford Files. As far as the actual story goes,I suppose it is really up-to the viewer to decide how believable or likely all of this is. I would say that none of it is impossible to believe but some of it is indeed a bit of a stretch. The story covers quite a bit of ground and it is not clear what will happen until the very-end. The story involves a greedy/dishonest insurance salesman that has had an apparent falling-out with his colleagues. All of them belong to an elite gym-healthclub that is dispensing some rather questionable (and probably illegal) 'energy supplements' to it's high functioning,
corporate-executive clientele.
When our man Jim Rockford starts getting a bit too-close to the truth about the crooked insurance-man and the shady gym,he is packed-off for a hellish 'vacation' at a crooked mental hospital in podunk,deep-south,USA ! The man that is running the crooked mental hospital is a brother of one of the gym/healthclub kingpins.
Mr. Rockford has to make the best of the bad situation while he relies on his wits to try to get out of the mess he's in. It certainly doesn't help that the crooked doctor is trying to keep Mr. Rockford as a tranquilized zombie. This episode is a wild and busy ride from start to finish,and pretty-funny also. Highly recommended. 9/10.
When our man Jim Rockford starts getting a bit too-close to the truth about the crooked insurance-man and the shady gym,he is packed-off for a hellish 'vacation' at a crooked mental hospital in podunk,deep-south,USA ! The man that is running the crooked mental hospital is a brother of one of the gym/healthclub kingpins.
Mr. Rockford has to make the best of the bad situation while he relies on his wits to try to get out of the mess he's in. It certainly doesn't help that the crooked doctor is trying to keep Mr. Rockford as a tranquilized zombie. This episode is a wild and busy ride from start to finish,and pretty-funny also. Highly recommended. 9/10.
Where are you Nurse Ratched?
bkoganbing6 February 2015
All that was missing was Nurse Ratched when Jim Rockford makes an enforced trip to a mental asylum. It all grows out of a case which has James Garner investigating a health club for the rich and famous.
I'm not as big a fan of this episode as others, mainly because the whole thing didn't include that wonderful bit in the insane asylum so reminiscent of Jack Nicholson's stay in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Had I written it I would have not even bothered with the lead in story and just have Garner spend the whole hour trying to break free.
Some wonderful characters are created in that asylum. Brother of the villain in the main story Logan Ramsey is the head of the place who dispenses tranquilizers and really strong tranquilizers. Some of the fellow inmates are George Murdock who thinks he's Doc Holiday and John Fiedler who thinks he's James Bond. Fiedler is definitely not who Ian Fleming or Cubby Brocoli had in mind, but he's a veritable ferret of information for Ramsey.
Wonderful homage to a great film, I just wish it had been the whole episode.
I'm not as big a fan of this episode as others, mainly because the whole thing didn't include that wonderful bit in the insane asylum so reminiscent of Jack Nicholson's stay in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Had I written it I would have not even bothered with the lead in story and just have Garner spend the whole hour trying to break free.
Some wonderful characters are created in that asylum. Brother of the villain in the main story Logan Ramsey is the head of the place who dispenses tranquilizers and really strong tranquilizers. Some of the fellow inmates are George Murdock who thinks he's Doc Holiday and John Fiedler who thinks he's James Bond. Fiedler is definitely not who Ian Fleming or Cubby Brocoli had in mind, but he's a veritable ferret of information for Ramsey.
Wonderful homage to a great film, I just wish it had been the whole episode.
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