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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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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

Chief Commisioner Blocker: You've... ah, no doubt read, Mr. Holmes...
Dr. William Watson, M.D.: Good Lord.
Chief Commisioner Blocker: ...read in the newspapers...
Dr. William Watson, M.D.: Great Scott.
Chief Commisioner Blocker: ...of certain mysterious incidents?
Arthur Sherlock Holmes: The unexpected but accurate bisecting of the Belgian foreign minister, the royal college of needlework massacre, the strange affair of the seven boiled bishops, and the man eating poodles of Lambeth palace enigma?
Chief Commisioner Blocker: No.
Dr. William Watson, M.D.: Good Lord.
Arthur Sherlock Holmes: Just as I thought.
Chief Commisioner Blocker: No, I'm referring to the mysterious shooting of Dr. Gropinger.

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Connections

References Hawaii Five-O (1968)

User Reviews

incredibly unfunny

No laughs whatsoever. Yes, I watched this entire train wreck but only so that I wouldn't later wonder if Cleese had come to his senses in the latter part. (No, he had not.)

This may be historically interesting to you youngsters out there, to see that British "humor" included black "jokes" like these, thirty years ago.

What amazes me even more though, is to read the other reviewers' comments, which acknowledge this isn't very good, yet then turn around and give it high votes. If the vast majority of the comedies that you have seen are even much worse than this one, then I certainly pity your torturous existences.

The humor level of this show appears aimed at little kids, yet the subject matter does not. So who is this for? People who enjoy repeated & drawn-out double-takes, pratfalls, drug jokes (interesting only as a short trip back to '77), and other "low" humor. The Three Stooges are still funny, and were to me as a kid, too. THEY exerted some effort in making jokes work. This however is sloughed off schlock. I fear that it IS the end of civilization, if this stuff really is accepted as worthwhile. Next you'll be telling me that tabloid TV is popular. :(