BLOOD SPORT

Canada/Ireland, 1989, 95 minutes, Colour.
Ian Mc Shane, Heath Roberts, Patrick Macnee, Lloyd Bochner, Carolyn Dunn, Jennifer Dale.
Directed by Harvey Hart.

Blood Sport is an adaptation of a Dick Francis novel for the television screen from Dick Francis Film Productions. It is written by Alan Payne, the author of the other films from Francis's novels, In the Frame, Twice Shy. The direction is much better in this film, by veteran director Harvey Hart.

The film is a better adaptation than In the Frame, much more of the flavour of the racing world, Dick Francis's specialty. It also has a better developed central character in David Cleveland, once again played by Ian Mc Shane. While Payne has his usual number of car rides, they do not seem like padding in this film as in In the Frame. The film has the advantage of being set in Ontario, and has wonderful landscapes of Toronto as well as of the mountainous and lake countryside of Alberta.

The film focuses on horses, stealing of horses out of envy, danger to millionaire racehorse owners because of rivalries. It is also a film of detection - with Ian Mc Shane much more convincing as detecting the truth and finding a missing horse, especially with a comic performance by Heath Roberts as a hungry, always hungry, insurance officer.

1. Entertaining mystery? The popularity of Dick Francis's novels? The adaptation for the screen? The transferring of the action to Canada?

2. The Toronto settings, the atmosphere of the city, the lake, the countryside in Alberta, lakes and mountains, ranches? Authentic atmosphere?

3. David Cleveland as hero, the British Jockey Club, his security skills? His friendship with Sir Geoffrey, at the races, meeting Offen? Accepting the invitation to go on Harry's yacht, meeting Harry's daughter Lyn, Peter with his video camera? The absence of Eunice? Harry on the water, the attempted fright - or killing attempt? Cleveland and the rescue, Harry in hospital? Harry's commission to Cleveland to rescue? Harry in hospital? Harry's commission to Cleveland to find his missing horse, Cleveland's unwillingness, accepting after the accident, examining the video photos of the would-be killers, approaching the insurance agency?

4. The meeting with Walt, the focus on his eating and the jokes about his eating, his reluctance to work with the Limey, their collaboration, the kind of Abbott and Costello touches? The information, developing the video photo, going on location in Alberta? His finally coming good in the fight in the stable? The final humorous jokes about food and the commission?

5. Sir Geoffrey, the racing fraternity, Offen and his horse, his farm? Harry and his wealth, his favourite horse? His relationship with his glamorous wife, his daughter?

6. Cleveland and his pursuing the case, using the matchbox clue, going to Alberta, the service station, the carrier, the suspicions of the owner? Going to the diners? Finally getting the information, booking into the range, discussions with the wife, going on the ride?

7. His seeing the horse, feeding it, the suspicions of the manager? The bugging of the phone and getting the evidence? His taunting the people at the ranch? Testing the horses with the sardines? His stealing the horse, caught? His being sent galloping down the hill, his survival?

8. The return to Toronto, the switch-over of the horses, the plan, Lyn and her participation, Walt and his? The guards, getting the best of Cleveland, the bashing? Walt to the rescue? Lyn and her achievement? The rounding up of the criminals, Offen going to the stables and being unmasked? His explanation of his motivation?

9. A popular entertainment, an undemanding adaptation of Dick Francis's novel?