User reviews

In some respects this film feels really dated. Not surprising, given that (at the time of writing) it is 25 years old, and that (without giving anything away) the events the film revolves around took place another 15 years before that. It lacks the polish that overwhelmed the British film industry a decade later, but the end result is still watchable and in its own way fascinating. There are elements of almost slapstick comedy, but at the same time there are much darker themes.

Being more used to the ITV television series starring Peter Davidson, the casting of Bernard Cribbins as the lead character was at first a little jarring, but then as you get into the film it becomes clear that he was possibly the ideal choice. For one thing you get a much better understanding of Det. Constable Davies ironic nickname of "Dangerous" and the title "The Last Detective". He's a bumbling fool (or so his colleagues think), who only gets sent into a situation either as a last resort or as cannon-fodder to save the bruises of his fellow officers. Nevertheless, beneath his haphazard demeanour is a man obsessed, and with a combination of dogged - almost pig-headed - determination, keener observation than he is credited with by those around him he finds solutions to a case lesser officers have left long cold, and deemed irrelevant by his obstructive superiors.

Cribbins' portrayal of Davies leaves you understanding him as a man with a heart, determined to find justice for a long-forgotten victim. In some respects this has become a cliché in British police and crime drama, but unlike contemporary dramatisations this character is perfectly capable of callous brutality when he believes the recipient no longer worthy of consideration. The plot relies on a few awkward contrivances to create links in the chain of detection, but overall it's a surprisingly satisfying film.

I wouldn't say this film deserves a "family" categorisation, except with elder teenage children.

Leslie Thomas created a character of Dangerous Davies, and penned four novels around his exploits. There were two spin offs featuring DC Davies, this movie and the TV series.

As yet I have not read any of the original Thomas novels so unfortunately, I can't really judge just how close the different incarnations comes to Thomas visions for the character.

The nearest I had got to the character was on the box with Peter Davison, portraying the eponymous sleuth.

Tonight the movie popped up on the Talking Pictures TV channel and I simply, couldn't resist watching it just to see what it was like.

Bernard Cribbins is really ideal as Dangerous Davies, his portrayal gives a somewhat different perspective to the character.

After seeing the TV portrayal it's interesting for me to compare the settings around DC Davies, the different characters in his personal and work lives. On TV Davies has to contend with work colleagues and we see, the reasons why they treat him as a pariah.

Which is really the whole baggage that he has to carry around with him, the rational for his moniker of Dangerous.

The stories in each TV Episode are resolved within it, so they are tightly scripted and well put together.

The film differs from the TV Series in the marked way, that whilst DC Davies obviously works in a police station. We never really get to see any of his immediate work colleagues, either Detective Sergeant or Inspector. So we don't really get to see why he has acquired his moniker, it's only ever mentioned obliquely relative to him.

The film format enables more time to develop a story than the TV Series allows, and this movie's plot is interesting and reasonably involved.

Really the only extra characters that are in both film and TV incarnations, are Mod and Dangerous's his ex wife. The ex spouse doesn't really seem to feature all that much, she certainly isn't as central as in the TV programme.

Mod Lewis is ably personified by Bill Maynard and it was great to be able, to see him in something more substantive than I had seen him in.

Yet another of those gentle British comedy/dramas that they churn out without any effort. No strained humour or laugh tracks. Bernard Cribbins seems to have played the same sort of character throughout his career, and here He does it to a tee. The title character is supposed to be a younger man and Cribbins must have been over 50 when He did this, but it doesn't show. Bill Maynard supplies the foil for Cribbins one liners, and the rest of the supporting cast are strong too. The scene with the randy drunken woman in the elevator is hilarious. I wish I could get a copy of it. The book by Leslie Thomas is a good read too. Thomas worked on the script and it runs flawlessly.

Though it does have the odd comedic line or two, this is the only time I recall Bernard Cribbins ever trying to tackle something that required him to speak the word "pants" in anything like a sexual context. He plays a detective constable who is assigned a tough criminal case but soon finds himself embroiled in a fifteen year old cold one involving the disappearance of a young girl. His nickname is "Dangerous" and he spends much of the next two hours - at no small risk to himself - trying to piece together what did happen to that young girl (as well as trying to nail his official quarry too). Bill Maynard - again more noted for his comedy parts - works quite well as his pal "Mod" and there is an additional smattering of familiar faces across the quite enjoyable and characterful mystery adventure. It's a bit too long, maybe we could lose twenty minutes of establishment scenes at the top of the film, but this is quite a fun drama that I rather surprisingly enjoyed.

Bernard Cribbins is Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective. He's called that not because he's a threat -- except to himself; he winds up the movie in a wheelchair --but because he's the last detective in the squad his superior, Joss Ackland would send out on a case... unless it's risky.

Davies isn't a bad detective. He's a plodder who gets there in the end, albeit wearing a lot of bandages. That's why he's assigned a safe case from the cold files. A girl disappeared fifteen years ago. Find out what happened to her in this TV movie. He'll encounter a lot of local color, including Bernard Lee in his last screen role as the station sergeant.

It's one of the last project written and directed by Val Guest, whose movie career extended back to writing for Marcel Vanel's unit at Ealing during the war. It's based on a series of stories written by Leslie Thomas. A couple of decades later, it would be turned into an ITV series starring Peter Davison. Same pawky sense of humor, albeit with fewer splints and body casts.

Brilliant film. Love it. Definitely NOT dated - except that there's no swearing or sex. If the lack of these dates a film then perhaps you can call it dated but then in that case I'd call that a major advantage, because this one needs none of that. It's a story of a old unsolved murder, and a much maligned detective who is generally treated like rubbish but who comes through in the end. For any of us who struggle for what we think is right but only get stomped on or ignored or ridiculed, this is a wonderful film.

Bernard Cribbins is perfect casting. Anyone else would have made a hash of it. You need vulnerability for this role and he literally oozes vulnerability. Yet he knows that a young girls disappearance is really her murder and if the crime is 15 years old, that doesn't change anything. People are important - even 15 years later. Something that many mothers and fathers of missing children certainly know.

I'd like to think that there are people out there like Dangerous Davies doing their best against the odds. I'm not so sure of it though. But while this film exists it gives you hope.

Now available on DVD, many more people have a chance to view this lost classic of British TV.

A belting story about a cold case file, a young girl's disappearance is reopened by 'The Last Detective' anyone would give a decent case to, played by Bernard Cribbins.

The story opens on the 'North West Frontier'... of London with Cribbins tackling yet another dirty police job, breaking into a besieged flat with a dustbin on his head for protection.

We soon warm to this robust and human policeman and we discover that he gets all the nasty jobs because his bosses think he's the last detective anyone in their right mind would assign to a murder case.

Then by a seeming twist of fate, a seemingly nondescript case involving a recently deceased officer is 'given' to him and through it he unfolds a mystery from long ago, aged witnesses lead him where no one has been before, to clues no one has bothered to follow and to a startling conclusion.

A good cast and a fine script, a haunting score underpins the action and the nice unexpected twist in the tale brings a brilliant end to a riveting piece of storytelling.

I can still whistle the theme tune even after so long.

See it. If you can find a copy. Whistle with me.

An underrated British gem from a time when we had no film industry. A good script and a top British cast including two national treasures Maureen Lipman and stalwart Bernard Cribbins in a rare leading role) with some great comedic moments including visual gags that stand this out from the pilot if the TV series. Bill Maynard's dodgy Welsh accent is a bit off-putting but an all-around great film that saw several of an elderly cast in their final roles. The only shame is that it took more than 20 years to turn Leslie Thomas's stories into a TV series. The film is hard to find (I saw it on retro channel Talking Pictures TV some 40 years after its release but still stands up well despite a few comments which would not be acceptable today). Unlike the TV series Bernard doesn't have a St. Bernard but he does have the Dulux dog named Kitty.

Much to my chagrin I discovered this exceptionally fine film somewhat late in the day, which is almost inexcusable since it is directed by iconic British filmmaker, Val Guest AND stars the immortally talented, hugely versatile character actor, Bernard Cribbins as iconoclastic D. C 'Dangerous' Davies, the stalwart, if somewhat accident prone, frequently blunt Metropolitan detective. A criminally under seen thriller, this is one of the more intriguing crime dramas I have seen in quite some time, with Leslie Thomas's absorbing, well-written screenplay being brought to vivid life by a truly exemplary ensemble cast of film & TV favourites, enlivened ever further by renowned composer, Ed Welch's exquisite theme!

Undertaking the ostensibly simple task of drawing a major villain out into the open proves all too successful, as Davies hands-on, boorish methodology not only attracts the unwanted, violent attentions of baseball bat brandishing thugs, the indomitable copper discovers the first tenuous link to a tragic, still unsolved murder case of a young girl 15 years earlier! While the victim's outer garments were recovered at the time, her body and, most curiously, her smalls were never found. Not only does the cold, newly reopened case provide a wholly absorbing plot, there are myriad vibrantly quirky digressions that give the splendidly entertaining thriller some additionally colourful flourishes.

The estimable, Bernard Cribbins gives a nuanced, fabulously full-blooded performance as the eternally crumpled, frequently inebriated, remarkably canny copper Davies, alongside his dogged crime solving capabilities he is a remarkably endearing character, and is capably assisted in his investigations by his loyal civilian chum, Mod Lewis (Bill Maynard). Ably balancing surprising depths of dark emotional pathos, boisterous slapstick comedy and delightfully playful banter, Val Guest's ANYTHING BUT ordinary, early 80s TV Movie has a genuinely moving coda, and the viewer can strongly sympathize with the beleaguered Davies hard fought quest to unearth the rather grisly truth behind the baffling disappearance of, Celia Norris, and with so many other previously obscure titles being rediscovered, surely a no less worthy Blu-ray restoration is now long overdue for this unfairly neglected, Cribbins classic?

This film maintains a great atmosphere while the detective encounters a variety of characters in his investigation of a case. For anyone who wants a taste of England that is not glamorous or rural or grimly urban, this is the movie to see. It's full of regular folks. Plus, the plot is well constructed (with only one rushed development) and unfolds nicely. Bernard Cribbins is an appealing actor, playing a plodding copper with a light touch. Very amusing moments at times, which contrasts with another mood, that of youthful happiness -- now lost. I'm convinced that this could have been expanded into an even longer film (or 3-part TV show). It's that kind of story, with interesting characters you want to see more of. Loved the old man! I stumbled on this as a late night broadcast and just happened to record it (with commercials). Boy was I glad I did! It appears to be unavailable for purchase.

An excellent film, from all points of view: script, direction, actors, everything is of very good quality. Maureen Lipman deserves a special mention for her role as a drunken nymphomaniac. Super funny scene with the horse introduced inside the building. An excellent bitter comedy!

I saw this movie when it was first broadcast on ITV in 1980, and it stuck in my mind for years afterwards as a great movie. Good story, good acting, and just the right amount of humour.

Unfortunately I've never seen it be rerun, and it doesn't appear to be available on VHS/DVD :-(

Lovely views of London In the early 1980s Great witty script. Well paced .Wonderful perfect casting. No sex! Poor Bernard Cribbins gets knocked about alot. Still he always comes up smiling.

Watched it last night, no hidden agenda i.e. race or sexism even the attitude to the men and women was balanced as it should be

An excellent story by Leslie Thomas gives Bernard Cribbins his best dramatic role since the Railway Children. The cast is perfect and as always Thomas combines strong elements of comedy and pathos without descending into mawkishness. This marvellous film is long overdue for release on video!

Back in my teens I became a big fan of the novels of witty Welshman Leslie Thomas. Rude but never sleazy, funny, bordering on slapstick but never becoming childish, emotive without being mawkish and dramatic enough to make you care. Very few of Thomas' novels appear to make their mark on screen and I reckon that's because too much of Thomas' work would have to be cut, leaving what remained on screen too uninvolving. The Peter Davison TV series of recent years has been OK - I like Davison and that show has been a decent comedy drama but it has rarely felt like classic Thomas. It has taken me some 25 years to view the Cribbins version and I love it! It really is a top class effort that makes the most of everything that made Thomas so great in the first place. The film may look a little dated now but rather than spoiling it, this simply makes the whole thing more nostalgic. And what a cast! A cavalcade of British TV screen greats including Maureen lipman, Bill Maynard, a future Doctor Who and a future Eastender. Check this one out if you are proud of your Brit heritage - if you're an American who likes our sense of humour - and there seems to be quite a few of you - then you'll love it too.

I found this utterly charming film by accident - it was the bonus feature of the box set (Region 1) of the later series "The Last Detective" with Peter Davison, also based on the work of Leslie Thomas, but made two decades later. The story of the Bernard Cribbens film is based on the same one told in the Peter Davison series pilot; comparison of the two versions is interesting, and although the later TV series was good, this Bernard Cribbens film is simply wonderful. Davis is a determined plodder but the action never ever seems slow - from one clue to the next, the charming vignettes and excellent acting move the story along perfectly. The action here follows the Leslie Thomas book closely and much of the dialogue is taken verbatim from the novel. I have watched it a few times, finding new things to appreciate with each reviewing - it's funny, touching, AND an excellent detective story - AND has great performances by Bernard Cribbens and the rest of the cast.

Altogether, a treat!

Loved this film, but then I love old films! Bernard Cribbins is fab in the title role and you instantly take to him as the well meaning underdog. His compassion for the victim and her family was not something that was always portrayed in many detective films of the time.

A very satisfying blend of detective whodunnit, sleazy subplots and dark humour. Bernard Cribbins is truly excellent as the eponymous "Dangerous" Davies, shambolic, accident-prone but dogged and tougher than the (also excellent) Peter Davison in the TV version some 20 years later.

Interesting to see the differences between the two versions- Bill Maynard is not so convincing as a 'Welsh' Mod, there is less interaction with his police colleagues in the film (the great Bernard Lee, in his last film role, has very little to do), and Davies's wife has much less input (and considerably less appeal) than in the TV version. That said, the film is probably truer to the Leslie Thomas original and retains the authentic suburban backdrops with great shots of West Hampstead, Kilburn and other NW London locations in the early 1980's. Maureen Lipman is hilarious and steals all her scenes as a wonderfully loose lady, although with the humour, there is pathos not far under the surface.

Thoroughly engrossing detective story with a good story, script and cast... which makes up for the stodgy direction and the fact that Cribbens was obviously too old for the part of 'Detective Constable'.

Lots of well-known faces do a great job of playing their parts straight despite the ambiguous intentions of the director and screenplay writers who could not, it seems, decide whether or not this was going to be a comedy or a drama.

As a comedy it fails but as a drama with some amusing bits, it passes with high marks. Another distraction is the fact that the police inspector is clearly a smart, inquisitive and insightful detective... so I'm always wondering why he is perceived by others as a bit rubbish, when he clearly isn't.

Maureen Lipman almost steals away the focus as the Lambert & Butler smoking, creme de menthe drinking tart with a hear.t. Lots of other interesting and well fleshed out characters also make an impact, but sadly, as it's a movie, most have just one or two scenes and minimal airtime.

Despite my critical comments I thoroughly enjoyed watching the entire movie from beginning to end.

What an excellent film. Good casting and a great performance by Bernard Cribbins - although he has a constitution of an ox to survive three attacks with a baseball bat. He wears bandages very well.

It is a story which moves with just about the right kind of pace - not rushed with developments at regular intervals.

Different from the latter series with Peter Davidson but with the same elements I think - good sporting cast, thoughtful main character and a gentle pace - and fans of the series will be familiar with the storyline.

I was hooked very quickly.

John