I remember watching this as a 9/10 year old and was a bit spooked by it. The odd characters, the music, the feeling (even then) that the comic aspect to it sat uneasily next to main story of the murder/rape of a young woman.Watching it again recently (on DVD), I now see the naivety of it, the lack of political correctness, the slightly perverse emphasis on the young woman's sex life & her underwear, the painting by numbers plot continually has to circle itself. It's all a bit cack-handed, but scores points for its nostalgic portrayal of what comedy/drama/suspense was like on TV in the late 70's/early 80's.It also scores heavily for its cast. Although the story development is risible, the actors play it mostly straight (save perhaps Lipman).very watchable, but if it was on TV now, you'd want your licence fee back.

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.

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.

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 :-(