The Corrupter

Guest stars Lola Albright and Robert Webber dominate this episode of Kojak about a former top flight fashion model and an elegant high society criminal both who are involved with the murder of John Silo a rich jeweler with a factory.

Silo's business has been taken over by Webber and his gang who use it to recut stolen jewels and sell them. When Silo got curious he got dead.

Albright is on the Board of Directors of Silo's company and it is through her that Webber got his foot in the door. Telly Savalas has to work on her conscience which is troubling her no doubt. She's gets a really great role as a woman who was in the beauty business and has found what a fickle business that is.

Webber throughout his career has played many a criminal type, he oozes charm and sanctimoniousness from his every pore. The guy is a piece of work, police in Philadelphia where he formerly operated know what he did, but that he was so clever never to be near the scene of any crime. His minions even staged Silo's murder to look like a mugging gone bad, but the forensics betray.

In fact there are some nice scenes where Kojak takes note of a bright young patrolman who discovered the body and was most observant. A future member of Manhattan South if Telly Savalas has his way.

In the 1960s, 70s and 80s, if you watched a lot of TV you knew that when you see certain supporting actors in cop or private eye films that they would end up being the bad guy. This was certainly true for the likes of John Colicos, Anthony Zerbe, Henry Silva and many other actors. So, when a certain actor appears in this one, I immediately KNEW he was behind all the evil doings...and that is a serious weakness of the episode. Another much smaller weakness is when one of the detectives is chasing a baddie. The baddie is about 75 yards away and shoots at the cop. The cop, armed with a snub-nosed .38 returned one shot...killing the guy instantly!! Even an Olympic shooter would be shocked if they made that shot!!

As for the story, it begins with a guy being knifed and dumped out on the street. The killing appears to perhaps be related to a jewelry business and some high society robberies. So, it's up to Kojak to make New York safe.

The episode was enjoyable but weak...for the reasons I listed above. Worth seeing....but weak. The only thing I loved was a line Kojak uttered about telling that 'curly-haired gorilla to get up here!'. That curly-haired guy was George Savalas...Telly's older brother and regular supporting player on the show.