Alan York is stunned when his dear friend, skilled jockey Bill Davidson is killed during a simple steeplechase. Convinced Davidson's death was no accident, York begins an investigation with a suspicion that Davidson's racehorse, Admiral, was drugged in a murderous act of sabotage. Assisting him as he delves into this world of high stakes, horses and gambling is Davidson's devoted widow, Laura.
The film was premiered on 9 May 1974 at the London Pavilion, with guest of honour Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips. The film ran for three weeks in London before going on general release. It was the only Dick Francis novel to make it to the cinema.[5]
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Dead Cert is rather revealing, as evidence of how a director experienced in other fields can take a toss on the deceptively simple terrain of a straightforward thriller. What it needs is basically what Dick Francis' heavily adapted original provided: robust action, a rising curve of suspense and a professional background accurate and interesting enough to ease the plot over its implausibilities. But Tony Richardson's film is all stop-start, never building real momentum, or even much sense of urgency around the doings of its oddly boorish, woman-encumbered hero as he prowls about a kind of Soho-on-Sea – strip clubs as a change of scene from stables. The picture also gets itself into quite a plot tangle about just what its villains are supposed to be doing ...The unit went to some trouble to stage their own Grand National, with a field of chasing veterans, and a camera at one point strapped to a jockey's chest; a pity that the cut-in close shots and choppy editing spoil the effect."[6]
Other reviews in the UK were also not favourable. Its gross in the first 6 days at the Pavilion was a poor $5,349.[7]
Dick Francis later told Clive Hirschhorn of the Sunday Express that the film had been:
an utter disaster. I blame the director, Tony Richardson, for its failure. He chopped and changed it about so badly it was virtually unrecognisable. This was particularly embarrassing because Princess Anne sat next to me at the premiere. It was the first time I'd seen a completed version of the film and I was appalled. I'm sure the princess hated it, but, of course, she was very gracious.[5]
References
^"Dead Cert". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
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