''Dead Cert'' is a 1974 British
crime
In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Ca ...
thriller film
Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...
directed by
Tony Richardson
Cecil Antonio "Tony" Richardson (5 June 1928 – 14 November 1991) was an English theatre and film director and producer whose career spanned five decades. In 1964, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for the film ''Tom Jones''.
Early ...
. It is an adaptation of the 1962
novel of the same name by
Dick Francis.
Plot
In this film based on
Dick Francis' mystery novel, Alan York (
Scott Antony) is stunned when his dear friend, skilled jockey Bill Davidson (
Ian Hogg) 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
Sabotage is a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, effort, or organization through subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction. One who engages in sabotage is a ''saboteur''. Saboteurs typically try to conceal their identitie ...
. Assisting him as he delves into this world of high stakes, horses and gambling is Davidson's devoted widow, Laura (
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Regarded as one of Britain's best actresses, she is noted for her versatile work in various films and television programmes encompassing several genres, as well as for her ...
).
Cast
References
External links
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1974 films
1974 crime films
British crime films
Films based on British novels
Films directed by Tony Richardson
Films scored by John Addison
British horse racing films
United Artists films
1970s English-language films
1970s British films
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