Kojak (TV Series) How Cruel the Frost, How Bright the Stars (1975) User Reviews

Christmas time at Manhattan South

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 26 November 2016]

It's the holiday season, but there's no rest for the weary at Manhattan South precinct. As the guys in the Detective Squad are trying to celebrate, even some of the usual hookers they bust are doing a little to brighten the event, work does interfere.

George Savalas as Stavros usually the butt of brother Telly Savalas's barbs has some moments of seriousness here. He takes an interest in Betsy Slade who comes across as a bit loopy and not just because she's been partying. She's concerned that her boyfriend has a weapon and is about to commit a crime. Turns out she's right. The scenes with Stavros and Slade are special as is the climax with Lt. Kojak and boyfriend Darrell Fetty.

A nice holiday treat from Kojak and his squad.

Very Good unusual Christmas Eve at the Police Station

[donnamariejones · 9/10 · 16 April 2024]

This was a very good episode but a little unusual as i did not expect what it turned out to be. I thought it would be more down to earth but it was still good because it was interesting. I liked seeing Theo on his off time from work on a date with a young Veronica Hamel. I liked the guys at the station giving Theo a funny but good gift. It took me a while to understand that the older man who did the shooting in the bar was actually following his young wife who he was upset with because he thought she was cheating on him. I realized he was following the girl up to no hood but when i rewatched it that's when i realized the young girl was the young wife of the older man. I think the age difference threw me off. I also didn't realize till second watching that Loretta was spotted by the older husband because she looked and dressed similar to Loretta therefore leading the husband to think Loretta was his wife and why he aimed shooting at her. Luckily i was glad the drs family was spared by the old man because i didn't want too much violence to happen in a Christmas episode. The storyline with Allison was very unusual in that although Allison was afraid that her boyfriend might commit a crime - I felt the story was far fetched - I don't know that the cops would really do anything about a potential crime especially with Allison's description of her relationship. What she described as her boyfriend relationship sounded far fetched and that she was taking a date and calling a short acquaintance as a steady boyfriend. I think mostly i didn't buy the story because i would've thought her story was untrue. Too bad they didn't do more Christmas episodes of tv shows that lasted a lot of seasons. I was just watching lojack marathon on pluto today and there was an episode where it did not appear to be the holidays however Kojack said Happy Holiday to someone and you saw a small Christmas tree in the background. I saw that once on Streets of San Francisco where i don't think they had any real Christmas show but there was an episode where Mike mentions Jeannie's coming home for the holiday but there is no major focus or theme of Christmas going on except they were near a store and it appeared holiday directions were decorating the back ground.

A Feel-Good Story, Led By "Stavros"

[ccthemovieman-1 · 10/10 · 23 August 2012]

This turned out to be a very nice Christmas story, with several crimes stories highlighted. In each, the cops of Manhattan South show their humanity. Especially thoughtful and courteous is "Stavros" (George Savalas). A nice guy to start with, he comes across and extremely kind and patient in this story.

Anyway, the cops have to find both a jealous husband who wants to kill his wife and a missing man who is down on his luck but might explode and shoot someone, according to his compassionate girlfriend.

All, a nice combination of a crime story and melodrama that should leave you with a good feeling.

It's still our neighborhood baby! We gotta love it!

[kapelusznik18 · 5/10 · 29 November 2016]

***SPOILERS*** Let. Theo Kojak, Telly Savalas,had his hands full this 1975 Christmas Eve getting involved with a love sick ex-con Douglas North, Darrell Fetty, who after getting mugged of his money as a delivery boy went back to rob the very store that he worked for so he could get his girlfriend Alison Dewitt, Besty Slade, a Christmas present. While this is going on out of him mind and delusional Mr. Swift, played by James Griffith who seemed to have put on 30-50 pounds for the part,is out looking for his squeeze or woman Anna Marie who left him for another man. It's in Mr. Swift's drunken stupor that he stakes bar girl Loretta Kane, Jesse Welles,for her at his favorite watering hole and tries to off her only to end up shooting himself and later bleeding to death.

The third story in this trifecta has to do with sweet and innocent Jacky Pierce, Deborah White, who's picked by the police together with Loretta for being out on the street by themselves and possibly hooking for dollars who's really out to meet her sailor boyfriend, John Lorroquette, and see the Christmas show at Rockefeller Center. This has Let. Kojak use Loretta as a decoy to catch the crazed and dying Mr. Swift who after being spotted at his local bar ran out into the night and dropped dead in the alley from loss of blood. That's before he finally with a big smile on his face met his lost love Anna Marie, who in fact was Loretta Kane, before he finally expired.

****SPOILERS****The case with the armed & dangerous Douglas North was far more explosive with him trapped on a roof and to prevent him from being gunned down before he could be reunited with his girlfriend Alison DeWitt is talked out of going down in a hail of bullets by the kind and understanding, in matters like this, Let. Theo Kojak who had him drop his gun and be taken into custody. As for Jackie she'e reunited with her sailor boyfriend who first thought she was out on the street hooking for a living but told by-With the Christmas spirit in his heart-Let. Kojak that "She's ain't no hooker man!" but quite a woman that any red blooded American man would be glad to have as company on Christmas Eve.