Kojak (TV Series) On the Edge (1976) User Reviews

At least he goes out a winner

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 4 February 2013]

Forrest Tucker dominates this particular Kojak episode with a portrayal of a veteran cop whose whole life is just the job. He's alienated both his wife Verna Bloom and his son whom we never see. Bloom admits to Telly Savalas that she has been seeing someone on the side because Tucker has frozen her out of his life.

Fifteen years earlier Tucker cracked a very big case and got all kinds of acclaim. He wants it back so bad he can't think of anything else. Right now he's on a case involving the murder of jeweler by Joseph Sicari and the fence Sicari wants to peddle the jewels with, Malachi Throne.

Dan Frazer wants Tucker's shield and for him to quit. Telly Savalas is between a rock and a hard place on this because he knows his captain is right, but the current case requires Tucker to stick it out, but follow Kojak's directives.

When it's all concluded I don't think Tucker has any more future with the NYPD. Watch this episode and see what I mean.

Good cast, weak script

[RikerDonegal · 7/10 · 5 August 2015]

Despite a good cast, this one never gels properly. It falls down every time were return to the mechanics of the case being investigated. The final confrontation is particularly sloppy. A pity. The best thing here is Forrest Tucker as the flawed and dangerous detective on the trail of the murderer. His unhappy home-life also makes for some strong scenes. A few weeks earlier the show had tried a spin-off about a copy in Las Vegas. And a boring, generic attempt it was. This character, however, would be ideal for a spin-off. But something that dark would never get made in 1976. A shame, because I could watch Tucker playing this role again. 7/10