Kojak (TV Series) Sweeter Than Life (1975) User Reviews

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[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 28 May 2019]

When Theo Kojak's camera gets lifted at a Kojak family party it's the start of a case where Kojak learns the sad truth that his 17 year old nephew Michael Mullins is a drug addict.

The camera is fenced by Mullins and his friend for money to score some dope. But later they see the pawnbroker it was fenced with murdered. Mullins is now a witness to a homicide and has nowhere to turn.

Neville Brand as a former drug addict who runs an SRO hotel is who Telly Savalas deposits Mullins with to take a cold turkey cure. Brand is just outstanding in the part. Similar to a role he did in the John Wayne film Cahill, US Marshal.

Brand steals this one completely.

Always Listen To Your Mothet

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 23 April 2012]

"Theo Kojak's" nephew gets in serious trouble and Theo has to find him and help find, then find him again, then help again.

The 17-year isn't a punk, but he has a friend who is, and always make bad decisions. Our boy isn't strong enough to stay away from the punk and gets himself into a bad situation.

Here's another example of why your mother always told you that who you hang with is extremely important.

It's an interesting story, one that starts off with a robbery of Theo's camera at his birthday party and winds up being a story about drug addiction and murder.

Off all the characters in the story, to me, the best was "Sonny South" played by veteran actor Neville Brand, a tough-guy with more lines in his face than a you-know-what. With that face, Brand made a career out of playing villains....but he's a good man in this episode. He's very good as the guy who tries to get the drugs out of Kojak's nephew's system.

Pretty graphic in parts.

[schwa88 · 9/10 · 5 March 2023]

Well someone needs to explain to me why the therapy guy force-feeds Theo's nephew chocolate with orange juice. He's already throwing up; what is the purpose?

Writers messed up the terms here.. Kojak tells the kid he's going to be booked on petit larceny and then he'll be out on parole. Parole is a term for what convicted felons get after they've served their jail term and are now being watched after they re-assimilate. The phrase he should have used is "released on your own recognizance."

"He's done it for me?" This is what Kojak tells his sister about Sonny South. Was Kojak an addict before he became a cop? "He's done it for me" made it sound like it was recent.

Why do people in '70's TV shows always hang up phones without saying goodbye? It drives me nuts.

Neville Brand was an outstanding actor in this episode, playing the role with nuance and complexity. I couldn't stop watching him. However I don't get how he dies as it looked like he just got shot in the butt.