Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective (1981) (TV)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Val Guest

Writers:

Leslie Thomas (novel)
Val Guest (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 January 1981 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Family

Plot:

When D. C. Dangerous Davies, not held in high regard by his superiors, is assigned to find a notorious criminal kingpin, he uncovers the details of 15 year old cold case.

Plot Keywords:

Dangerous Davies | Rape | Centegenarian | St. Bernard | British Mystery

Cast

Bernard Cribbins	...	Dangerous Davies
Bill Maynard	...	Mod Lewis
Joss Ackland	...	Chief Insp. Yardbird
Bernard Lee	...	Sergeant Ben
Frank Windsor	...	Fred Fennell
John Leyton	...	Dave Boot
Maureen Lipman	...	Ena Lind
Cindy O'Callaghan	...	Josie Norris
Derek Bond	...	Det. Supt. Carter
Patsy Rowlands	...	Madame Tarantella
Colin Baker	...	William Lind
Avril Angers	...	Mrs. Fulljames
Ken Jones	...	Mr. Norris
Jeremy Sinden	...	Det. Sgt. Green
Peter Bland	...	George Tilth

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

The last film of 'Lucy Griffths (I)'.

Quotes:

Madame Tarantella: [about her romance with Fennell] I couldn't see a future for us then.
Dangerous Davies: If you couldn't, who could?

Movie Connections:

Remade as "The Last Detective" (2003)

Fantastic

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.