The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977)

The grandson of the world's first and foremost consulting detective and his bumbling, bionic sidekick attempt to catch the only living descendant of Professor Moriarty.

Director:

Joseph McGrath

Writers:

John Cleese, Jack Hobbs (original idea),

Stars:

John Cleese, Arthur Lowe, Ron Moody

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cleese	...	Arthur Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Lowe	...	Dr. William Watson, M.D.
Ron Moody	...	Dr. Henry Gropinger
Holly Palance	...	Air Hostess
Joss Ackland	...	President
Val Pringle	...	Black CIA Man
Bill Mitchell	...	Klein
Christopher Malcolm	...	The Other CIA Man (as Chris Malcolm)
Gyearbuor Asante	...	African Delegate (as Christopher Asante)
Denholm Elliott	...	English Delegate
Nick Tate	...	1st Australian
Josephine Tewson	...	Miss Hoskins
Burt Kwouk	...	Chinese Delegate
Stratford Johns	...	Chief Commisioner Blocker
Connie Booth	...	Mrs. Hudson / Francine Moriarty

Storyline

The grandchild of Professor James Moriarty had promised the world that it has only five days left to live. Moriarty is a master of disguise, a crack shot, and is very patient. Several government figures are shot to death, and it seems that it truly is the end of civilization as we know it- until the President learns that the grandson of Sherlock Holmes is living at 221B Baker Street, and send the Police Commisioner of Scotland Yard to employ him. Unfortunately, Arthur Sherlock Holmes is a quick-tempered, ranting, violent bungler, and his assistant, Dr. William Watson (grandson of Dr. John H. Watson) is one of the most moronic creatures ever to walk the earth, although he is invaluable because he has "bionic bits". Holmes has inherited a drug habit from his grandfather, one which his housekeeper, Mrs. Hudson, is less than discreet about, and the sleek Moriarty is also one step ahead of him, eventually murdering the police commisioner. Finally, Holmes decides to hold a party, inviting ...

---

Plot Keywords:

detective | drugs | u.s. president | murder | sherlock holmes parody | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1977 (UK)

Also Known As:

Dziwna sprawa konca cywilizacji

Filming Locations:

Baker Street Underground Station, Baker Street, Marylebone, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT), Shearwater Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Arthur Sherlock Holmes: Get a crossword, Watson. There's several moments to lose.

---

Connections

References Hawaii Five-O (1968)

User Reviews

A Park, a Policeman and a Pretty GIrl

The strange case has been made through studies that kids will laugh when presented with something out of place, like a funny face, if the face is made by someone with whom they are acquainted, but they will repel if it's presented by a stranger. This conveys that our reactions to inconsistencies, oddities, unanticipated discrepancies with normalcy and established ranks will differ in terms of particular circumstances. If the incongruity happens in a context where it's threatening, it'll dispose us toward a threatened reaction. This is maybe the seed of the horror genre. On the other hand, if the context is one that is distinguished as non-threatening, where the possibility of hurt and fear has been withheld, the scenarios are opportune for humor.

We follow the attempts of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and various governments to stop all civilization from being destroyed, but everyone is too terminally stupid or apathetic to be successful at it. We need not worry about the targets of all the brutality and cruelty in blacker realms of comedy, including slapstick, because they're not completely human.

It's an accelerated, often hilarious jaunt that heckles at just about everything mystery, espionage or potboiler in English and American media. Holmes, Bond, Columbo, etc., little more than a vaudeville act in breadth and elaboration. The peak of this film is Arthur Lowe as the guileless, blundering Watson, his stupidity and listlessness always counterblowing Cleese's temperamental ingenuity.