This made-for-TV thriller – airing on Sunday 4 January 1981 – starred Bernard Cribbins as the titular policeman investigating the cold case file of the rape and murder of a young woman 15 years earlier.
The eternally crumpled Detective Constable “Dangerous” Davies – whose patch is in North West London around Willesden and Kilburn – is capably assisted in his investigation by his loyal civilian drinking chum Mod Lewis (Bill Maynard, with one of the dodgiest Welsh accents in film history).
They call him “Dangerous” because he’s a danger to everyone – except criminals. He’s also known as “the last detective” because, when there’s a crime to solve, Davies is the last DC you’re likely to call in. But every dog has its day
Doggedly tenacious, Davies survives multiple attacks with baseball bats and, by the end of the film, is in a wheelchair, bandaged from head to toe.
Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective has a clear narrative, a funny but keen script and excellent direction from Val Guest, who also wrote the screenplay with writer Leslie Thomas. The same storyline was later used for the pilot episode of the 2003 TV series The Last Detective starring Peter Davison.
Detective Constable “Dangerous” Davies
Bernard Cribbins Mod Lewis
Bill Maynard Chief Inspector Yardbird
Joss Ackland Sergeant Ben
Bernard Lee Fred Fennell
Frank Windsor Dave Boot
John Leyton Ena Lind
Maureen Lipman Josie Norris
Cindy O’Callaghan Detective Superintendent Carter
Derek Bond Madame Tarantella
Patsy Rowlands William Lind
Colin Baker Mrs Fulljames
Avril Angers Mr Norris
Ken Jones Detective Sergeant Green
Jeremy Sinden George Tilth
Peter Bland Celia Norris
Lucy Aston Mrs Norris
Pam St. Clement Albert
Eric Francis Dr Longton
Sam Dastor Mrs Fennell
Diana King Marie
Betty Romaine Tarquin
David Auker PC Westerman
Richard Hunter Venus
Marianne Stone Detective Constable Evans
Charles Pemberton Father Harvey
John Rogan Doris Davies
Pauline Delaney Patel
Barbar Bhatti Parsons
Norman Chappell Dulcie
Lucy Griffiths Harkness
Sydney Bromley Chrust
Gordon Rollings Pomeroy
Roy Stewart
Director
Val Guest
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