The Last Detective - DVD

The Last Detective - Series 1

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The name is Davies, "Dangerous" Davies. The moniker, unfortunately, is meant ironically. British Detective Constable Davies (Peter Davison) is a man out of his time, "a decent man in an indecent world," as his best friend, the fitfully employed Mod (Sean Hughes) tells him. As his derisive nickname indicates, Davies is not highly regarded by the public (at one point, he is pelted with garbage while chasing a suspect) or his colleagues. To his boss, he is "the last detective," as in "the last detective I'll ever think of, unless it's a crap job. Then you'll be the first." In the feature-length pilot episode that launched this inaugural series based on Leslie Thomas's books, a "waste of time" assignment leads the unprepossessing Davies to re-open an unsolved missing persons case from 1982. "They've given you a murder?" Mod incredulously asks him. "I was going to appropriate it," Davies confesses. The quartet of cases contained in this two-disc set are quirkily intriguing. In "Dangerous by Moonlight," Davies must make all the right moves when an investigation into a man's disappearance leads him to a dance club that caters to seniors. In "Tricia," Davies investigates two unwanted cases that involve demanding women. In "Lofty," an eccentric homeless man Davies has befriended is found dead in a canal. This entertaining series is a memorable introduction to this amiable sleuth and "dear, old-fashioned chap" who, despite his unglamorous appearance and rather plodding manner, is capable of a surprise or two. "Frankly," one captured criminal tells him, "it's a pleasure to be arrested by you." It's even more of a pleasure to watch him in action. --Donald Liebenson

The Last Detective - Series 4

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Yet another great Detective. 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Peter Davison is superb, in this highly unusual series.

The supporting cast, too, are all highly enjoyable and convincing. The fact that Davison the hard working, plodding but, in the end brilliant detective, is such a wuss regarding his estranged wife, was brilliant in its conception. It is always good to have heroes who have Achilles heels!

This series is brilliant and extremely well directed. Everyone, who enjoys a good detective yarn and a genuine smile, should see it.

Great series 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

You really should start with Series 1 to get the full flavor of the character. However, as with all of the British detective series, the acting, character development, dialogue and plots are great. His side kick is somewhat annoying at times but as I said if you start at the beginning, even he is likable. Generally speaking there is nothing on US television to compare with the British series.

Davies Doesn't Want to Set the World on Fire 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

"The Last Detective, Series 4"is another in the hit British television mystery series, now becoming available in the United States for the first time. This production was made by Granada for the United Kingdom's Independent Television (ITV). It debuted in the U.K. in February 2003, and offers a light-hearted blend of mystery and comedy similar to that of "Poirot,""Blue Murders," and "Rosemary and Thyme." It's based on the "Dangerous Davies" novels of Leslie Thomas. This release consists of a two-volume boxed set including five all-new, full-length police procedurals, but, unfortunately, does not come equipped with subtitles, so good luck with the North London accents.

Peter Davison (Tristan, in "All Creatures Great and Small") stars as Detective Constable (only a constable: quite a disgrace!!) in the totally unimportant, totally out of the way North London precinct of Willesden. He's the last detective his boss would ever willingly assign to a case, and he gets the least promising ones, but he generally does get his man - or woman, as the case may be. He's a rumpled, galumphing sort, of average looks and seemingly average brain, but he loves his job, and is good at it. In series 4, his luck has taken a turn for the better: his wife Julie (Emma Amos) has taken him back, though she finds she has to share her house with Mod, his freeloading,quirkster chum (Sean Hughes, "The Commitments.") Hughes brings a lot to his part; it must be said, just as his character brings a lot to the mix: he's much more than just a sounding board.

Episode 1, "Once Upon a Time on the Westway." Jimmy (the Gentleman) Vincent, former major crime boss, gets out of jail, and seems to be involved in a daring diamond heist on the same day. He is soon, however, found floating dead in his pool. This episode co-stars Roger Daltrey, lead singer of The Who, in a sizable part, with which he does well. It's full of charm, and paints a lovely, nostalgic, I'm afraid, picture of the London underworld, as it was supposed to be before Jamaican posses, Chinese tongs, and Russian Maffias.

Episode 2, "Dangerous Liaisons." The two-week old corpse of reclusive former architect Dominic Sylvester is found, and everyone but Davies assumes it's just business as usual; until, that is, Davies finds a homemade snuff film among the family movies. Hywel Bennett co-stars here, looking, oh well, nothing like his once-upon a time pretty boy self.

Episode 3, "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Willesden." Bunny Hopper, half of the once almost famous comedy team Bunny & Jules, literally dies onstage in a bingo hall, and what a way to go. But the postmortem says he'd been poisoned, and, as it soon becomes clear that, true to his nickname, Bunny had led a very busy love life, Davies has plenty of interviewing to do.

Episode 4, "The Man from Montevideo." Limo owner Tony Hill is dispatched by being slashed with a broken champagne bottle, an unfortunate end for an ex-pat just back from Uruguay to try to rebuild an English life. Davies soon finds there's a little matter of a missing two million English pounds in the dead man's past.

Episode 5, "Dead Peasant's Society." The finding of the body of a man dead behind the wheel of his car, on a soccer pitch, brings Davies to the Lodge of Divine Serenity, a secret, exclusive, all-male society. Here he finds Leslie Phillips ("Chancer,") doing his best to impersonate a toff.

Davies, as played by Davison, is a character that's easy to take, and so is his series. He doesn't aim to set the world on fire; neither does the series. But the time sure passes pleasantly.

Editorial Review:

Studio: Acorn Media Release Date: 04/08/2008 Run time: 342 minutes Rating: Nr

The Last Detective - Series 2

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Peter Davison is one of Britain's finest, most versatile actors, and creates a complex, counterintuitively compelling lead character in the British mystery series The Last Detective. The second series finds our unassuming detective inspector, "Dangerous" Davies (the nickname's ironic, blokes), quietly piecing together mysteries that the rest of the police force can hardly be bothered with. Davison makes Davies one of TV's unlikeliest heroes, and one of its most appealing: we see his self-doubts, personal pains (a not-quite-ex-wife whom he still loves dearly), and detective thought processes all expressed fleetingly across his craggy face. In one of the four excellent episodes here, "Dangerous and the Lonely Hearts," for instance, the case begins with the inconsequential incident of a child's shoplifting--but because of Davies' dogged investigation, layers of malice and intrigue are pulled back, revealing immigrant desperation, a shady matchmaking agency, and murder. As Dangerous methodically explores the case, his coworkers affectionately deride him and he struggles with his own demons. Yet almost obliquely, Davies manages to home in on the human weaknesses that inevitably lead to bad behavior--sometimes, his own included. Davison, whose storied British career includes standout roles in All Creatures Great and Small and Dr. Who, only gets better as an actor over the years, and this offbeat but oddly endearing series is a knockout showcase for his acting talents. Extras include a biography and bibliography for Leslie Thomas, author and creator of the Dangerous Davies mystery novels; a photo gallery, and filmographies of the impressive cast. --A.T. Hurley

The Last Detective - Series 3

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

It's hard to imagine a more put-upon cop than "Dangerous" Davies. Not quite financially solvent, Davies (played with wry humanity by the great character actor Peter Davison), still has a (very odd) flat mate, still is trying to jumpstart his marriage to the long-suffering Julie--and still finds himself swimming against the tide when it comes to solving crimes. In this cracking collection of four richly layered episodes, Davies seems to be finally comfortable with his role as odd man out, as he works on murder cases and follows leads that his colleagues and irritated boss can't fathom. Yet like all the great screen detectives, Davies picks up on the tiniest inconsistencies and refuses to tie up cases neatly--despite nearly all evidence to the contrary. In "Friends Reunited," a delicious opportunity presents itself with a school reunion of mates who ended up on very different paths--with resentments that have simmered for decades. When a rich mogul ends up dead, a deadbeat addict is fingered--but it doesn't sit right with Davies. As he tries to crack the case, the assortment of oddballs around him provide the slyest of comic relief; his flat mate, Mod, needs Davies to vacate the apartment so he can entertain the gorgeous Edith, a Norwegian who's "with the circus." Davies: "Ah... trapeze?" Mod: "No, she takes the tickets--and she's got the perfect looks for it, too." Extras include a biography of author Leslie Thomas, who created the novels with Dangerous Davies, and cast filmographies. Here's to living Dangerous-ly. --A.T. Hurley