BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Lawbolisted Powerful

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Inmechon The movie's only flaw is also a virtue: It's jammed with characters, stories, warmth and laughs.

alffsteinberger 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!

Ian Taylor 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.

David Parry (david-1888) 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.

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.