MovieChat Forums > Marlowe (1969) Discussion > The blueprint for..

The blueprint for..

posted 11 years ago by gtbarker
7 replies | jump to latest

..The Rockford Files. James Garner plays Marlowe in the same way he played the world weary likeable rogue with a moral compass Jim Rockford, even down to wearing almost the same clothes.

[–] Tresix 11 years ago

Also Garner used the "Does your mother know what you do?" line in both and implied that a better fighter (Bruce Lee in the movie; William Smith in the "Rockford" pilot) was gay to throw them off their games.

"I'm in such bad shape, I'm wearing prescription underwear." Phyllis Diller 1917-2012

[–] hka-3 10 years ago

I agree! So many things in this film reminded me of The Rockford Files, including Rita Moreno who made multiple appearances on The Rockford Files.

[–] MoneyMagnet 9 years ago

Except The Rockford Files was much better written than this movie :-)

[–] filmklassik 8 years ago

Disagree. This movie had witty dialogue to spare, some of it very funny. And Garner's hand gesture to the mob guy after Lee leaps to his death? Hilarious.

[–] cincy-2 9 years ago

I'm watching this right now on TCM and have to say that it's pretty awful. The humor and wit of "The Rockford Files" is completely missing from this movie. I think that Rockford borrows more from Maverick than from Marlowe.

[–] BCarl 9 years ago

I just watched it for the first time, too. Although it's certainly not up to the typical James Garner film standard, "pretty awful" is a tad harsh.

And, if you're a devoted "Rockford Files" fan, it's a MUST SEE. So many parallels can be made. Kenneth Toby is almost Dennis-like in the scene where Carroll O'Conner loses it. The music is almost "Bullitt" like.

Finally, Rita Moreno is drop-dead GORGEOUS and at her peak here. It's kind of shocking to see how much younger she looked here than ten years later on "R.F." Her Vegas-style striptease at the end is FABULOUS!

[–] filmklassik 8 years ago

No humor? No wit? This movie had both in SPADES.