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:

Jack Hobbs (teleplay), Joseph McGrath (teleplay)

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:

reference to doctor john watson | reference to hercule poirot | professor moriarty character | reference to sam spade | reference to sherlock holmes | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The Colombo character drives up in a Sunbeam Talbot convertible,, whereas in the Colombo series Peter Falk drove a Peugeot convertible.

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Goofs

The shot dead Australian cop laying over the table, can clearly be seen breathing at a rapid pace.

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Quotes

[Watson is reading clues from a crossword puzzle to Holmes]
Dr. William Watson, M.D.: 1 Across. A simple source of citrus fruit, 1, 5, 4.
Arthur Sherlock Holmes: A lemon tree, my dear Watson.
[Elsewhere in the hotel, Moriarty shoots Sam Spade]
Dr. William Watson, M.D.: 2 Down. Conservative pays ex-wife maintenance. 7, 5.
Arthur Sherlock Holmes: Alimony...alimony Tory, my dear Watson.
Arthur Sherlock Holmes: Never cease to astound me.
[Moriarty takes a sword to Hercule Poirot]
Dr. William Watson, M.D.: 2 Down. Southern California style. 1, 2, 8.
Arthur Sherlock Holmes: A la Monterrey, my dear Watson.
[...]

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Connections

Spoofs The Six Million Dollar Man (1974)

User Reviews

Several decent ideas interspersed with totally inferior material.

Considering that this pointless little comedy was sandwiched between the two terrific Fawlty Towers seasons, and written around the same time as the best Python movie, "Life of Brian", it is amazing to me how Cleese could possibly have co-written such a lame script. Perhaps it was McGrath's fault to an extent? The two had already collaborated once on a monstrously unfunny flop called "The Magic Christian".

TSCOTEOCAWKI starts off fairly well with the murder of Kissinger, and then a decently written, pythonesque skit in the White House. From there it goes gradually downhill. The movie gets worse and worse by the minute, culminating in a finale that was simply too embarrassing to watch. I'm embarrassed just thinking about it now! It's the kind of material that 16 year-old comedy hopefuls would write for a high-school play. Moronic and unfunny to a fault.

When I first saw Kissinger/Gropinger, I thought it was Peter Sellers with make-up. However, Sellers would have done his homework and spoken the way Kissinger really speaks. This other actor did a poor imitation, voice-wise...

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 September 1977 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shearwater Films, London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1