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Mystery thriller

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977): Cast & Plot

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

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It is a 1977 mystery thriller directed by Joseph McGrath, starring John Cleese as Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Lowe and Stratford Johns. It runs 56 minutes.

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The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977) movie poster
Released
Runtime
56 min
Director
Joseph McGrath
Genres
Thriller , Mystery , Crime , Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
LWT
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It About?

The premise of The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

John Cleese plays the modern descendant of Sherlock Holmes in a comedic detective drama of international power politics and intrigue. Unlike his famed grandfather, he constantly bungles every job. The cast also includes Arthur Lowe as the “bionic” grandson of Dr. Watson, Stratford Johns as the Police Commissioner, and Connie Booth as Mrs. Hudson.

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • reference to doctor john watson
  • reference to hercule poirot
  • professor moriarty character
  • reference to sam spade
  • reference to sherlock holmes
  • satire comedy
  • parody comedy
  • london england
  • washington d.c.
  • detective
  • end of civilization
  • descendant
+38 more
  • sidekick
  • drugs
  • apocalypse
  • realization
  • hitting one's head
  • end of the world
  • downbeat ending
  • death of protagonist
  • gunned down
  • villainess
  • confusion
  • deception
  • mistaken identity
  • world domination
  • failing to save the world
  • unhappy ending
  • stewardess
  • cia agent
  • reference to eve moneypenny
  • reference to mccloud
  • reference to james bond
  • reference to m the james bond character
  • reference to miss moneypenny
  • crossover
  • reference to columbo
  • conspiracy
  • assassination
  • gathering
  • famous detective
  • spoof
  • hebrew
  • imbecile
  • doppleganger
  • reference to henry kissinger
  • reference to gerald ford
  • james bond spoof
  • lieutenant
  • president of the united states
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Cast & crew

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It Cast & Characters

John Cleese leads the cast as Sherlock Holmes, with Arthur Lowe as Dr. John H. Watson and Stratford Johns as Chief Commisioner Blocker. Directed by Joseph McGrath; 18 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It

· 14 more
From the director

More from Joseph McGrath

More films directed by Joseph McGrath, best-rated first: Casino Royale, The Magic Christian, Night Train to Murder and Rising Damp.

Full filmography
Plot

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

What happens in The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Aboard a private aircraft, Ron Moody as Dr. Henry Gropinger – a sharp parody of Henry Kissinger – embarks on a goodwill tour of Middle Eastern countries. He misplaces his diary, and with it his sense of direction, spiraling into panic as he realizes he may not know which country he’s about to land in. Stepping from the plane, he greets a congregation in Hebrew, only to be shot dead in a sudden and startling turn of events.

Full summary

The whole story of The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

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

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

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization As We Know It - Part 2
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor portrays Dr. Henry Gropinger, the parody of Henry Kissinger?

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FAQ

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It FAQ: Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It?

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It runs 56 minutes.

When was The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It released?

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It was released on September 18, 1977.

Who directed The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It?

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It was directed by Joseph McGrath.

More films by Joseph McGrath

Who is in the cast of The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It?

The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It stars John Cleese as Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Lowe as Dr. John H. Watson and Stratford Johns as Chief Commisioner Blocker, among 18 credited actors.

Does The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It have a post-credit scene?

No. The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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