Kojak (TV Series) Conspiracy of Fear (1973) User Reviews

High level corruption

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 1 April 2016]

A lawyer who was working undercover as an informant is silenced and his death made to look like an automobile accident. That fools no one, not the medical examiner and definitely not Theo Kojak.

Not even Captain McNeill knows that Telly Savalas has an interesting other informant on a case involving a big construction project where the mob as represented by Nicholas Colasanto has got their hooks in. Imagine a project like Co-op City in the Bronx where we're talking billions, who's going to miss a few million that gets skimmed.

The builder, the face of the project is Michael McGuire who's got a Sammy Glick like drive for success. He may love Gretchen Corbett who is secretary to the Zoning Commission, but he values her insider information a whole lot more.

Back in the 70s it was unwritten and unspoken truism that organized crime always raked off any construction project of some consequence in New York City. I wish there had been a Theo Kojak in real life dealing with it.

This is an odd one

[schwa88 · 6/10 · 19 May 2024]

This is a strange episode and it reminds me of how realism was so poorly captured back in the seventies, maybe due to the expense of retakes but also due to poor writing and direction.

For example:

Notice how the audience watching the slide show reacts in such a homogenous way, everyone going "Ahh" or "ooh" in unison. Not realistic.

"In other words, buzz off?" That was not a very Kojaky thing to say, it makes him sound so weak. There was another similar comment later. And a lot of him showing his cards stupidly. So many implausible things. For example, the elevator scene: way too convenient!

Also, as an aside, one of the characters looks like a skinny Larry Hagman.

If it bothers you that much you don't have to watch

[kapelusznik18 · 5/10 · 31 January 2017]

****SPOILERS**** Let. Theo Kojak, Telly Savalas, smelling a rat in a new multi-million city real estate project puts his life on the line in order to expose it to the D.A's office as well as US Justice Department. That's when a lawyer working for the City crime unit is killed in a car accident that Kojack feels was not an accident but murder to keep him from finding out what was going on. With the mob using clean cut and Harvard graduate businessman Paul Merchison, Michael McGuire, to front for it things soon fall apart with Kojak seeing through its sachem and about to expose it. Thus putting his life on the line or chopping block with the mob putting a hit on him.

Merchinson himself soon sees that he's not able to get the mob that he works for and controls him to do what they want and he himself is in danger of being rubbed out by it. This has his girlfriend in the City Planning Commission Jeri, Gretchen Corbett, see that he's been using her and leaves him as well as being ready to ,if called upon, testify against him. Something that has the by bow scared to death, of both the mob as well as NYC justice Department, Merchinson ready to set Kojak up for the kill.

****SPOIERS**** With Let. Kojak set up-By Merchinson-about to be hit by two mob goons on a Brooklyn pier the gutless up until then Merchinson finally grows a pair of balls and puts his life on the line as well as in the mob goons cross-hair in order to both alert as well as save Kojak's life. Whit Merchinson by then losing everything, his pride dignity as well as girlfriend Jeri, risking his life, that wasn't worth a plug nickel to begin with, was no big deal for him. But in him doing that it exonerated him of all the dirty deals and double-crosses for the mob that he did up until then!

Wow...talk about a weak ending!

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 29 August 2018]

When the story begins, a poor schmuck is being pushed off a cliff in his car in order to make it look like an accident. Lt. Kojak, however, isn't quick to believe the death was an accident...and the dead man turns out to have been an undercover cop investigating something called the Audubon Project. Almost instantly, Kojak starts making lots of accusations and at first it doesn't make sense...until you realize there's another inside man.

So why did I only give this episode a 5? After all, I usually score them much higher, as I like "Kojak"? Well, the ending stank. First, it seemed pretty improbable. Second, and MUCH more importantly, the story really wasn't finished....like it was the first part of a two-part episode but with no part 2! Disappointing to say the least.

Conspiracy of fear

[coltras35 · 5/10 · 3 July 2022]

Kojak's operative, an undercover lawyer, is killed investigating endless opportunities for graft provided by an elaborate makeover for an inner city neighborhood. The hoods make the murder appear to be an auto accident, delighting those who'll benefit from the bottomless pork barrel. The developer has a spotless rep, plus a mistress working for the planning commission, forcing Kojak to use unconventional tactics to confront the cabal.

Fresh storyline centred around construction and mob involvement but it's hinder by too much talking and it can be a bit boring, lacking the excitement of the other episodes I've seen, however things prep up with an action sequence on the dock.