Dead Cert (1974)

When an amateur jockey (Ian Hogg) takes a fatal fall during a race, his best friend (Scott Antony) suspects foul play. With the help of the jockey's widow (Judi Dench), the friend launches an investigation. Based on the novel by Dick Francis and directed by Tony Richardson (THE ENTERTAINER). I've not read the source material which apparently is much admired in literary circles (at least ones catering to the crime genre) but the movie version is quite pedestrian. One can only wonder what drew Tony Richardson to the material. One of the most admired British directors in the 1960s with movies like A TASTE OF HONEY, THE ENTERTAINER, LOOK BACK IN ANGER, LONELINESS OF A LONG DISTANCE RUNNER and the Oscar winning TOM JONES in his filmography, the 1970s weren't very good to him (he was even fired from the Diana Ross film MAHOGANY). Aside from the racing sequences which are very good, Richardson doesn't seem particularly interested in the material and doesn't bring much to this thriller. Everyone goes through their paces but it's a flabby movie. As the male lead, Scott Antony is a cipher but Judi Dench and Michael Williams (married at the time) bring some much needed edge to the film. With Julian Glover, Mark Dignam, Joseph Blatchley and Nina Thomas.