The Racing Game (Dick Francis/Mystery TV Series/1979-80/Acorn Media DVD)
Picture:
C Sound: C Extras: C- Episodes: C+
Dick
Francis is one of the most successful Mystery writers of his generation and has
delved into motion picture and TV production a few times. After Dead
Cert (1974), he tried to see his works become TV shows twice. A 1989 set of TV movies did not work out and
neither did this 1979 TV series coming out around the final wave of such
Action/Detective/Police shows at the time like Return Of The Saint, The
Professionals and other such shows.
For starters, here is our look at the 1989 show:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3576/Dick+Francis+Mysteries+(Telefilms)
This
version offered an hour-long show, but was cut short more quickly than the
Paramount/William Conrad Nero Wolfe
series. However, as compared to the
telefilms a decade later, these are tighter storytelling that works to the
shows advantage, which has a budget if no big names. The one big behind the scenes name is writer Terence
Feely, whose long career of great writing for British TV includes The Avengers, The Saint, The Prisoner,
UFO, The Persuaders, The
Protectors, Brian Clemens’ Thriller,
Space: 1999, The New Avengers and Return
Of The Saint, (all pretty much reviewed elsewhere on this site) gives this
an edge the later show did not have.
Jockey
Sid Halley (Mike Gwilym) is a champion rider who has a fatal injury that hurts
his arm for good and worse is on the way as he finds himself caught up in
investigating murder and more. Putting
his energies into his new found calling, he and his Judo/tough guy friend Chico
Barnes (Mick Ford) find themselves a team unraveling deadly plots and the
like. The six shows that did get made
include:
Odds Against
Trackdown
Gambling Lady
Horses For Courses
Horsenap
Needle
The
problem is that the show lacks panache, though it has some edge, but that makes
it more like a police procedural than a Mystery series reaching its greatest
potential. Too bad because this is done
in a first rate manner and all Mystery fans should see the series at least
once. Good to have it back on DVD.
The case
warns that the materials are a little weak and despite being filmed, the 1.33 X
1 color image is softer than it should be, whether it was shot in 16mm or
35mm. Where are the original film
prints? The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is
also a little weaker than expected, so expect some playback limits. Extras are weaker with only a text bio of
Francis, but a featurette would have been nice.
- Nicholas Sheffo