Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective

1981
7| 2h0m| en| More Info
Released: 04 January 1981 Released
Producted By: Alliance, Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
Country:
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Synopsis

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.

... View More
Stream Online

Stream with Acorn TV

Director

Producted By

Alliance, Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

AD
AD

Watch Free for 30 Days

All Prime Video Movies and TV Shows. Cancel anytime. Watch Now

Trailers & Images

Reviews

Karry Best movie of this year hands down!
Executscan Expected more
Chirphymium It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional
Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
lambjw 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
imdb2003 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.
geordie87 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.
Malc-13 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!