The Rockford Files (TV Series) Just Another Polish Wedding (1977) User Reviews

Poaching a case

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 5 January 2015]

Two of the characters that the Rockford Files introduced previously come back for this episode and look to form a partnership. Isaac Hayes as Gandolf Fitch and Lou Gossett, Jr. as Marcus Aurelius Hayes may both be black, but this is a case where the similarities are truly skin deep.

Gossett was Jim Rockford's former parole officer and Hayes was the Hammer of Cell Block C back in the joint. Isaac decides he might want in on the PI racket and James Garner takes him over to Hayes who has a better line of con than Garner ever could muster.

Garner has a missing heir case from the county and it's quite a tidy sum, $600.000.00 to be precise. It's also not ethical to poach a case from another PI, but Gossett has always had a loose sense of ethics.

Sadly this was a pilot not picked up by television for a series. That's a pity because Hayes and Gossett have a nice chemistry between them.

As for the heir, he's got great reason not to want to be found. Must be if he'll ignore 600 grand.

Fun episode !

[richardskranium · 8/10 · 16 September 2018]

A good,well acted,well directed episode of a great show. Keeps moving along and pretty funny in spots. Check it out!

Wedding Crashers

[stones78 · 26 August 2011]

The most obvious and memorable scenes deal with both Isaac Hayes and Lou Gossett Jr., who team up to locate a missing accordion player who may have buried $600,000 in an unknown location. This case also interests Rockord, or Rockfish, who's hired by a probate officer to find this guy as well. As solid as an episode as this is, and as much as I enjoyed Hayes' portrayal of Gandy, I got the odd impression that he had little chemistry with the other two men; maybe it's just me being cynical though. Garner and Gossett, on the other hand, work very well together and their scenes are enjoyable as two con men try to outdo each other. Fans of Salem's Lot(1979)should be able to recognize Barney McFadden, who plays Fred Koska and has only a few scenes here, but it's always nice seeing some character actors from other films I'm fond of. I also enjoyed the scene between Marcus and Rocky in Jim's trailer, and how personable the two men were to each other, when Rocky accidentally informed him that Jim was in San Diego looking for the missing man and his fortune. One scene which was interesting although unrealistic, was when Gabby and Gandy enter a Nazi bar to locate the missing man; Gandy proceeds to beat up close to 15 angry men while Gandy informs them how their politics are out of touch. I personally enjoyed Gandy's performance better in the other 2 episodes he was in, mainly because we got to see a serious side of Hayes' acting, and in this segment, he's more of a take-no-prisoners type of guy. I try to be an honest critic on here, and even though I mentioned a few negative aspects of this episode and many others, that doesn't detract from this fine show, including this solid episode. The last moments have Gandy knocking out Gabby, on Rockford's insistence to "put him to sleep." Lastly, it was a cool scene with the trio in the back of a police car, each enjoying each other's company, and the show ends with Rockford laughing. I highly recommend not only this particular episode, but rather the entire 1976-77 season, which has many episodes of great writing and quality.

Character Is Everything

[zsenorsock · 10/10 · 22 December 2006]

"Just Another Polish Wedding" brings back two of the series most popular guest stars, Lou Gossett Jr. as Marcus Hayes, Jim's old parole officer turned private investigator and Issac Hayes as Gandy, the "Hammer of C Block". Gandy calls Jim to bail him out of jail after he loses his job by assaulting a customer at a club. Gandy suggests he and Jim become partners in the P.I. game. Jim steers Gandy to Marcus Hayes instead. He soon comes to regret it as Hayes quickly sniffs out the case Jim is working on for the county (trying to find Finn O'Herlihy, the heir to a will) and moves in on his action.

This one is all about the characters, and they are all strong, from Garner on down. Gossett is once again the epitome of slick as he runs his little cons and Issac Hayes is great, especially when he sits back and eyes Gossett as he goes into one of his various pitches. Hayes' eyes say a LOT while he says nothing.

The action takes Gandy and Gabby into a Nazi bar where they encounter "Sanford" regular Dennis Burkley (who mostly played bikers back in the 1970's) and to a wedding at a San Diego Yachy Club (actually Marina Del Rey!). Gabby even cons Rocky at one point, who doesn't know Hayes is no longer a parole agent.

Even though this script is really character driven with a lot of comic moments, it also has elements of a nice mystery as we see both Rockford's and Haye's methods for trying to track down the missing heir, and there is a great twist at the end when they find O'Herlihy and let him know he's about to inherit $600,000.

Wonderful.

[retep_bk · 10/10 · 17 March 2021]

Such a funny episode. One of the best to date, frankly. The Louis Gossett Jr/Isaac Hayes tandem works so well. 47 minutes which absolutely rattle past, in a blink.

Two is far better than one..

[msjay01 · 10/10 · 20 April 2022]

I wouldn't say I was a big Rockford Files fan,but I stumbled on this episode and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it!.I watched it over and over.4 times! It was interesting,amusing,funny and very entertaining!.I'm wholeheartedly admire both of these talented black men,and to have an opportunity watch both of them on one show was immensely gratifying!