Capo Bianco Episode with Victor Jory

[Don Boring]

Someone reminded me that Victor Jory
was the retired FBI agent in this episode.

It was on lastnight on the DISH.
(whatever station, I don't keep track.)
I enjoyed it all over again as if for the first time.

That was one of my favorites. It had
Rocky and Jim with their typical Dad 'n Sonny interactions,
and a bunch of thugs who weren't too mean,
and as I mentioned previously, Victor Jory eating
dogfood out of a can made it one of the more
memorable episodes for me.

And I was reminded how Rocky never drove
anything but the best 4 wheel drive trucks.
With a Winch no less. The old bird had class. :o)

DB

[Tony DeAngelo]

I liked this episode as well. By splicing lines from this and another ep
I could make Jim read the message on my machine ("this is Anthony
DeAngelo at the tone etc.").

Post by Don Boring
Someone reminded me that Victor Jory
was the retired FBI agent in this episode.
It was on lastnight on the DISH.
(whatever station, I don't keep track.)
I enjoyed it all over again as if for the first time.
That was one of my favorites. It had
Rocky and Jim with their typical Dad 'n Sonny interactions,
and a bunch of thugs who weren't too mean,
and as I mentioned previously, Victor Jory eating
dogfood out of a can made it one of the more
memorable episodes for me.
And I was reminded how Rocky never drove
anything but the best 4 wheel drive trucks.
With a Winch no less. The old bird had class. :o)
DB

[Crownliner]

yep, but in the original pilot, i think rocky was a carpet layer or
something like that. it was a different dude and completely different
interaction between jim and rocky. i am sure glad they changed that part.
nothing against the original guy, but i can't picture the rockford files
without rocky.

peace
crownliner

Post by Tony DeAngelo
I liked this episode as well. By splicing lines from this and another ep
I could make Jim read the message on my machine ("this is Anthony
DeAngelo at the tone etc.").

Post by Don Boring
Someone reminded me that Victor Jory
was the retired FBI agent in this episode.
It was on lastnight on the DISH.
(whatever station, I don't keep track.)
I enjoyed it all over again as if for the first time.
That was one of my favorites. It had
Rocky and Jim with their typical Dad 'n Sonny interactions,
and a bunch of thugs who weren't too mean,
and as I mentioned previously, Victor Jory eating
dogfood out of a can made it one of the more
memorable episodes for me.
And I was reminded how Rocky never drove
anything but the best 4 wheel drive trucks.
With a Winch no less. The old bird had class. :o)
DB

[Erich Wise]

Post by Crownliner
yep, but in the original pilot, i think rocky was a carpet layer or
something like that. it was a different dude and completely different
interaction between jim and rocky. i am sure glad they changed that part.
nothing against the original guy, but i can't picture the rockford files
without rocky.
peace
crownliner

TV Tome lists two actors by the name of Robert Donley, one who was the
original Rocky (and no other credits), and one who appeared on shows such as
Matlock and Seinfeld. This actor just died last week (January 20, 2004) at
the age of 92. Are these the same person?

One thing I have thought about: What would the fan reaction have been if
they had re-cast the part of Rocky in the TV movies with Robert Donley
(assuming he was able)? After all, he already played the part.

[RNeill22]

Subject: Re: Capo Bianco Episode with Victor Jory
TV Tome lists two actors by the name of Robert Donley, one who was the
original Rocky (and no other credits), and one who appeared on shows such as
Matlock and Seinfeld. This actor just died last week (January 20, 2004) at
the age of 92. Are these the same person?

The actor who guest-starred on Seinfeld looked and sounded exactly like an
older version of the actor who played Rocky #1. I would've concluded they
were the same person.

What would the fan reaction have been if
they had re-cast the part of Rocky in the TV movies with Robert Donley
(assuming he was able)

I would've thought it was a nice touch, but I suspect most TRF fans would've
bristled and rebelled at the idea.

[bcnmason]

Post by RNeill22

Post by Erich Wise
What would the fan reaction have been if
they had re-cast the part of Rocky in the TV movies with Robert Donley
(assuming he was able)

I would've thought it was a nice touch, but I suspect most TRF fans would've
bristled and rebelled at the idea.

I'd be one of them. I'm with CardsFan on this one, the role of Rocky was
defined by Noah Beery. He molded that character for six steady years and it
would be hard to imagine anyone else taking his place, Donley included.

Just an all out guess on my part, but I think Jim would have balked at the
idea of another actor replacing Noah as Rocky in the 90's movies. Not that
I think it was ever proposed in the first place.

Brian

[righter]

Post by RNeill22

Post by RNeill22

Post by Erich Wise
What would the fan reaction have been if
they had re-cast the part of Rocky in the TV movies with Robert Donley
(assuming he was able)

I would've thought it was a nice touch, but I suspect most TRF fans

would've

Post by RNeill22
bristled and rebelled at the idea.

I'd be one of them. I'm with CardsFan on this one, the role of Rocky was
defined by Noah Beery. He molded that character for six steady years and it
would be hard to imagine anyone else taking his place, Donley included.
Just an all out guess on my part, but I think Jim would have balked at the
idea of another actor replacing Noah as Rocky in the 90's movies. Not that
I think it was ever proposed in the first place.
Brian

It would most likely have been taken as a slap in the face to Noah, whom was
dearly loved by Jim and everybody.

[CardsFan]

Post by Erich Wise

Post by Crownliner
yep, but in the original pilot, i think rocky was a carpet layer or
something like that. it was a different dude and completely different
interaction between jim and rocky. i am sure glad they changed that part.
nothing against the original guy, but i can't picture the rockford files
without rocky.
peace
crownliner

TV Tome lists two actors by the name of Robert Donley, one who was the
original Rocky (and no other credits), and one who appeared on shows such as
Matlock and Seinfeld. This actor just died last week (January 20, 2004) at
the age of 92. Are these the same person?
One thing I have thought about: What would the fan reaction have been if
they had re-cast the part of Rocky in the TV movies with Robert Donley
(assuming he was able)? After all, he already played the part.

The role was defined by Noah Beery, and to me it would have been a travesty
to replace him. I would hope Mr. Garner would have vetoed the idea.

AJM

[Adam H. Kerman]

Post by Erich Wise

Post by Crownliner
yep, but in the original pilot, i think rocky was a carpet layer or
something like that. it was a different dude and completely different
interaction between jim and rocky. i am sure glad they changed that part.
nothing against the original guy, but i can't picture the rockford files
without rocky.

TV Tome lists two actors by the name of Robert Donley, one who was the
original Rocky (and no other credits), and one who appeared on shows such as
Matlock and Seinfeld. This actor just died last week (January 20, 2004) at
the age of 92. Are these the same person?

Yes, according to IMDb (and my own recollection). Send in a correction to
the person who maintains the listing page that's wrong. TV Tome/epguides
volunteers are really good about corrections.

Post by Erich Wise
One thing I have thought about: What would the fan reaction have been if
they had re-cast the part of Rocky in the TV movies with Robert Donley
(assuming he was able)? After all, he already played the part.

Except he didn't. I'm with Crownliner. The part wasn't just recast. An
entirely different character was created for Noah Beery to play, so if
Donley had played him after Beery was too sick to work any more, it would
have been Beery's Rocky recast with Donley. I don't think anyone wanted to
see Donley's Rocky again.

Donley's Rocky was ok as a one-shot deal, but would have become tiresome
week after week. I certainly don't blame Donley but the script. That's ok. The
purpose of a pilot is to try things out. You'd certainly expect improvements
in a weekly series. I always found the pacing in the pilot to be sluggish,
although it certainly had plenty of good moments.

[bcnmason]

With the latest discussion being on Noah lately, I decided to go back into
the archives and dig out an article on him. It's rather long, so I'll
condense it somewhat.

"The Likeable Noah Beery"

Chances are, if you ever met Noah Beery and didn't know who he was, you'd
never take him for an actor. His skin is parched brown from the sun, his
face craggy and weather beaten, his thin grey hair, awry. His speech is
homespun and his clothes are more practical than fashionable.

He looks at home in the saddle or behind the wheel of a dusty pick-up truck.
Spend a minute with him and you know instinctively you're going to like him.
All of which probably is at the heart of his longevity as an actor.

When he's not playing James Garner's father on NBC television's "The
Rockford Files", Beery's working on his 1,800 acre ranch near Tehachapi.
He's also a sculptor whose western and wild life bronze pieces bring as much
as $2,500 and he has what he calls a "major minor" collection of the works
of western artist, Charles Russell.

Beery was born into an acting family. His father, also named Noah Beery,
was one of the silent screens most celebrated villians, and his mother was
Marguerite Lindsay, a stage and silent screen actress. His uncle was
Wallace Beery, one of MGM's top stars, noted for his gravelly voice and such
tough-tender roles as "The Champ".

(Snip, snip)

His TV series were "Riverboat", "Circus Boy", "Hondo" and "Doc Elliot".

Beery says he, his wife and his children do all the work on the ranch, which
he describes as the smallest in the area. They live in an old gas station
and motel and though it's been modernized inside, all the old signs are
still up. When he's working, he stays at his home in Malibu.

On "The Rockford Files", he plays Joseph (Rocky) Rockford, who frets over
his son like a mother hen. He's a truck driver who's never been sure why
his son became a private detective.

(This quote from Noah is interesting. "Stupid"?)

"I don't know that I really fit into any category on the show," he says.
"Sometimes Jim and I switch places and he takes care of his stupid father.
I guess it's more of an association. They could easily do without me, but
they keep me around".

Anyway, thought I'd share with you all.

Brian

[Adam H. Kerman]

"The Likeable Noah Beery" . . .
(This quote from Noah is interesting. "Stupid"?)
"I don't know that I really fit into any category on the show," he says.
"Sometimes Jim and I switch places and he takes care of his stupid father.
I guess it's more of an association. They could easily do without me, but
they keep me around".

With respect, no, they couldn't. "Rockford" was wonderful thanks to the fully
drawn supporting characters like Rocky, Angel, and Beth. All right, I'll
acknowledge that Becker was a bit of a cliche, but he played up the
exasperation and contributed to the humor. Chapman played it to the hilt and
was a riot.

Anyway, thought I'd share with you all.

Who was the author? Nice interview.

[JosephLoya]

Subject: Re: The two Rockys (was: Capo Bianco Episode with Victor Jory)
Date: 1/26/2004 10:56 PM Eastern Standard Time

Becker was a bit of a cliche, but he played up the

exasperation and contributed to the humor.

Yep, nobody did exasperation like Santos did it.
Overall, over the years, I think the Dennis character hasn't gotten his due
share of attention around here.

[bcnmason]

Post by Adam H. Kerman

"The Likeable Noah Beery" . . .
(This quote from Noah is interesting. "Stupid"?)
"I don't know that I really fit into any category on the show," he says.
"Sometimes Jim and I switch places and he takes care of his stupid father.
I guess it's more of an association. They could easily do without me, but
they keep me around".

With respect, no, they couldn't. "Rockford" was wonderful thanks to the fully
drawn supporting characters like Rocky, Angel, and Beth. All right, I'll
acknowledge that Becker was a bit of a cliche, but he played up the
exasperation and contributed to the humor. Chapman played it to the hilt and
was a riot.

Certainly agree with you there.

Post by Adam H. Kerman

Anyway, thought I'd share with you all.

Who was the author? Nice interview.

Doesn't say. It's just marked Hollywood (Associated Press).

Brian

[righter]

Post by Adam H. Kerman

"The Likeable Noah Beery" . . .
(This quote from Noah is interesting. "Stupid"?)
"I don't know that I really fit into any category on the show," he says.
"Sometimes Jim and I switch places and he takes care of his stupid father.
I guess it's more of an association. They could easily do without me, but
they keep me around".

With respect, no, they couldn't. "Rockford" was wonderful thanks to the fully
drawn supporting characters like Rocky, Angel, and Beth. All right, I'll
acknowledge that Becker was a bit of a cliche, but he played up the
exasperation and contributed to the humor. Chapman played it to the hilt and
was a riot.

Becker acted well at times, like when Vern St. Cloud told him to "pay
attention", he perfectly played the part of a cop about to blow a corpuscle.
I also remember a bit part by a booking officer who retorted to Rockford's
mini-ordeal to secure bail for Beamer (or was it Bummer?), when he said,
"That's heartbreaking."

Post by Adam H. Kerman

Anyway, thought I'd share with you all.

Who was the author? Nice interview.

[righter]

Post by Adam H. Kerman

Post by Erich Wise

Post by Crownliner
yep, but in the original pilot, i think rocky was a carpet layer or
something like that. it was a different dude and completely different
interaction between jim and rocky. i am sure glad they changed that part.
nothing against the original guy, but i can't picture the rockford files
without rocky.

TV Tome lists two actors by the name of Robert Donley, one who was the
original Rocky (and no other credits), and one who appeared on shows such as
Matlock and Seinfeld. This actor just died last week (January 20, 2004) at
the age of 92. Are these the same person?

Yes, according to IMDb (and my own recollection). Send in a correction to
the person who maintains the listing page that's wrong. TV Tome/epguides
volunteers are really good about corrections.

Post by Erich Wise
One thing I have thought about: What would the fan reaction have been if
they had re-cast the part of Rocky in the TV movies with Robert Donley
(assuming he was able)? After all, he already played the part.

Except he didn't. I'm with Crownliner. The part wasn't just recast. An
entirely different character was created for Noah Beery to play, so if
Donley had played him after Beery was too sick to work any more, it would
have been Beery's Rocky recast with Donley. I don't think anyone wanted to
see Donley's Rocky again.
Donley's Rocky was ok as a one-shot deal, but would have become tiresome
week after week. I certainly don't blame Donley but the script. That's ok. The
purpose of a pilot is to try things out. You'd certainly expect improvements
in a weekly series. I always found the pacing in the pilot to be sluggish,
although it certainly had plenty of good moments.

I liked it better, in a way, than the later episodes because it was a bit
more noir-ish, with lots of footage of Jim sans dialogue, which underscored
the fact that Jimbeaux was a man alone, against corrupt adversaries.