Customer Reviews

Dick Francis Mysteries - Twice Shy / Blood Sport / In the Frame

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is advertised as a duo, but it is actually all three of the Dick Francis novel to tele-movies McShane did in a joint Ireland/Canada venture. So you are getting three full length movies in this set.

McShane is gorgeous as Francis' David Cleveland, Jock Club Investigator, who becomes involved with three mysterious outside of the track.

In the Frame - Cleveland helps an old friend who has been robbed and his partner's wife is killed. The only trail to solving the murder is a painting that may be a forgery.

Blood Sport - a multi-million dollar stallion was stolen and never seen again. Why would someone steal a horse they could not race or breed?? David is drawn into the mystery in Canada, where he must ride to save his life.

Twice Shy - finds David helping his newphew's guardian. Her husband was killed in a rock climbing accident, and now someone is harrassing her. Kidnapping, ransom and a special code of picking winners lead David on a merry chase.

Any McShane fan will wish to add this super buy to their collection.

three Dick Francis novel to telly-movies McShane did in a joint Ireland/Canada venture. So you are getting three full length movies in this set. Upfront, this is mainly for McShane fans rather than Dick Francis fans. They will be grumped because of the changes in the books. However...

McShane is gorgeous as Francis' David Cleveland, Jock Club Investigator, who becomes involved with three mysterious outside of the track.

In the Frame - Cleveland helps an old friend who has been robbed and his partner's wife is killed. The only trail to solving the murder is a painting that may be a forgery.

Blood Sport - a multi-million dollar stallion was stolen and never seen again. Why would someone steal a horse they could not race or breed?? David is drawn into the mystery in Canada, where he must ride to save his life.

Twice Shy - finds David helping his nephew's guardian. Her husband was killed in a rock climbing accident, and now someone is harassing her. Kidnapping, ransom and a special code of picking winners lead David on a merry chase.

Any McShane fan will wish to add this super buy to their collection.

As others have said Ian McShane is fun in the lead role, and Patrick McNee makes for an entertaining (if slightly wooden boss cum side kick in two of the stories).

Things have changed a bit from the books but I'd guess that is mostly to do with the Irish/Canadian influences on location filming!

The style of filming and music is rather dated now but that doesn't detract from the entertainment too much.

What does detract from enjoyment is the DVD transfer quality. It looks and sounds as though it has been produced from an old VHS recording. Do you remember the slightly wobbly audio on VHS prior to the introduction of NICAM ?? Well that is what the sound often sounds like. The pictures are grainy and in 'Blood Sport' there were obviously some tape tracking issues or tape damage as there are a few brief episodes where there are distortions and interference typical of a poorly tracked VHS tape.

Overall I have given it 3 stars because the stories are worth watching but the audio and visual quality of the DVD transfer pulls down the score for me.

Koch Vision and Lance Studios present - "Dick Francis Mysteries" (In The Frame/ Blood Sport/ Twice Shy) (1994) - Ian McShane - (287 mins/Color) (Dolby Digital) --- Author Dick Francis OBE (born October 31, 1920) is a British jockey and author ... He was born Richard Stanley Francis in Lawrenny, South Wales. The son of a jockey, he had a successful career himself as a jockey, winning over 350 races ... During World War II, he served in the Royal Air Force piloting fighter and bomber aircraft including the Spitfire. He left the RAF in 1946 to become a celebrity in the world of British National Hunt racing ... From 1953 to 1957 he was jockey to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. He was forced to retire from racing as the result of a serious fall in 1957. His most famous moment as a jockey came while riding the Queen Mother's horse, Devon Loch, in the 1956 Grand National: the horse inexplicably fell when close to winning the race --- Francis is the only three time recipient of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award for Best Novel, winning for Forfeit in 1970, Whip Hand in 1981, and Come to Grief in 1996. Also in 1996, he was given the Grand Master Award, the highest honor bestowed by the MWA --- In 1962, he published his first thriller, Dead Cert, which was set in the world of racing. Subsequently, he regularly produced a novel a year for the next 38 years, missing only 1998 (during which year he published a short story collection). Although all his books were set against a background of horse racing, his heroes held a variety of jobs, from artist (To the Hilt) to private investigator (Odds Against).

Our of hero of Dick Francis Mysteries is DAVID CLEVELAND (played by Ian McShane), is the chief investigator for the British Jockey Club --- was a major TV Movie in a series that was based on many of Francis books --- Cleveland was a continuing character who was always on the side of right versus wrong when it came to horses and their racing --- many weave horse racing within action packed full of suspense, romance and a twist of danger just around the bend of a steeplechase run.

First up "IN THE FRAME" (1989) (97 mins/Color) --- Under Wigbert Wicker (Director), Mathias Wittich (Producer), Denis E. Doty and Jacky Stoller (Executive Producers), Andrew Payne (Teleplay) ----- the cast includes Ian McShane as David Cleveland, Lyman Ward, Amadeus August, Peter Sattmann, Patrick Cauderlier, Rainer Grenkowitz, Cedric Smith, Joseph Ziegler, Laura Dickson, Hans-Peter Korff, Jack Duffy, Liliane Clune, Karin Rasenack, Barbara Rudnik . . . . .the story thus far, will Cleveland (Ian McShane) be able to clear his old friend of of stealing fine wines and art ... is there a deeper secret behind all of the skullduggery ... tune in and find the answer.

Second we have "BLOODSPORT" (1989) (97 mins/Color) --- Under Harvey Hart (Director),Jonathan Hackett (Producer), Dennis E. Doty and Jacky Stoller (Executive Producers), Andrew Payne (Teleplay) ----- the cast includes Ian McShane as David Cleveland, Heath Lamberts, Lloyd Bochner, Kenneth Welsh, Patrick Macnee, Carolyn Dunn, Jennifer Dale, Timothy Webber, Laurie Paton, Cameron Graham, Barbara Franklin, R.D. Reid, Louis Tripp . . . . . our story is of a missing race horse that may still be alive and being switched with another stable of race horses ... Patrick Macnee as McShane's boss is a trip, with Ian finding everything he volunteers him too very boring or not worth his time ... let's see if McShane can make something out of this mystery.

Final and third is "TWICE SHY" (1989) (97 mins/Color) --- Under Deirdre Friel (Director)W. Paterson Ferns (Producer)Dennis E. Doty and Jacky Stoller (Executives Producer), Miles Henderson (Teleplay) ----- the cast includes Ian McShane as David Cleveland, Kate McKenzie, Karl Hayden, Dearbhla Molloy, Niall Toibin, Conor Mullen, David Herlihy, Stephen Brennan, John Keegan, Oliver Maguire, Pat Leavy, Patrick Macnee, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jim Reid, Deirdre O'Kane . . . . . the plot line has betting services over illegal computers, will the death of McShane's friend bring him full force into the mystery that Francis has contrived ... this one is a puzzlement for Ian, will he be able to find all the pieces and put them together before the final reel.

BIOS:
1. Ian McShane
Date of birth: 29 September 1942 - Blackburn, Lancashire, England, UK
Date of death: Still Living
2. Dick Francis (Author)
Date of birth: 31 October 1920 - Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
Date of death: Still Living

Great job by Koch Vision for releasing "Dick Francis Mysteries" (In The Frame/ Blood Sport/ Twice Shy) (1994) - Ian McShane, the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the foreign film market --- order your copy now from Amazon or Koch Vision where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch drama mixed with an outstanding cast and director --- gotta love it!

Total Time: 287 mins on DVD ~ Koch Vision KOCV #6651 ~ (5/02/2006)

Koch Vision and Lance Studios present - "Dick Francis Mysteries" (In The Frame/ Blood Sport/ Twice Shy) (1994) - Ian McShane - (287 mins/Color) (Dolby Digital) --- Author Dick Francis OBE (born October 31, 1920) is a British jockey and author ... He was born Richard Stanley Francis in Lawrenny, South Wales. The son of a jockey, he had a successful career himself as a jockey, winning over 350 races ... During World War II, he served in the Royal Air Force piloting fighter and bomber aircraft including the Spitfire. He left the RAF in 1946 to become a celebrity in the world of British National Hunt racing ... From 1953 to 1957 he was jockey to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. He was forced to retire from racing as the result of a serious fall in 1957. His most famous moment as a jockey came while riding the Queen Mother's horse, Devon Loch, in the 1956 Grand National: the horse inexplicably fell when close to winning the race --- Francis is the only three time recipient of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award for Best Novel, winning for Forfeit in 1970, Whip Hand in 1981, and Come to Grief in 1996. Also in 1996, he was given the Grand Master Award, the highest honor bestowed by the MWA --- In 1962, he published his first thriller, Dead Cert, which was set in the world of racing. Subsequently, he regularly produced a novel a year for the next 38 years, missing only 1998 (during which year he published a short story collection). Although all his books were set against a background of horse racing, his heroes held a variety of jobs, from artist (To the Hilt) to private investigator (Odds Against).

Our of hero of Dick Francis Mysteries is DAVID CLEVELAND (played by Ian McShane), is the chief investigator for the British Jockey Club --- was a major TV Movie in a series that was based on many of Francis books --- Cleveland was a continuing character who was always on the side of right versus wrong when it came to horses and their racing --- many weave horse racing within action packed full of suspense, romance and a twist of danger just around the bend of a steeplechase run.

First up "IN THE FRAME" (1989) (97 mins/Color) --- Under Wigbert Wicker (Director), Mathias Wittich (Producer), Denis E. Doty and Jacky Stoller (Executive Producers), Andrew Payne (Teleplay) ----- the cast includes Ian McShane as David Cleveland, Lyman Ward, Amadeus August, Peter Sattmann, Patrick Cauderlier, Rainer Grenkowitz, Cedric Smith, Joseph Ziegler, Laura Dickson, Hans-Peter Korff, Jack Duffy, Liliane Clune, Karin Rasenack, Barbara Rudnik . . . . .the story thus far, will Cleveland (Ian McShane) be able to clear his old friend of of stealing fine wines and art ... is there a deeper secret behind all of the skullduggery ... tune in and find the answer.

Second we have "BLOODSPORT" (1989) (97 mins/Color) --- Under Harvey Hart (Director),Jonathan Hackett (Producer), Dennis E. Doty and Jacky Stoller (Executive Producers), Andrew Payne (Teleplay) ----- the cast includes Ian McShane as David Cleveland, Heath Lamberts, Lloyd Bochner, Kenneth Welsh, Patrick Macnee, Carolyn Dunn, Jennifer Dale, Timothy Webber, Laurie Paton, Cameron Graham, Barbara Franklin, R.D. Reid, Louis Tripp . . . . . our story is of a missing race horse that may still be alive and being switched with another stable of race horses ... Patrick Macnee as McShane's boss is a trip, with Ian finding everything he volunteers him too very boring or not worth his time ... let's see if McShane can make something out of this mystery.

Final and third is "TWICE SHY" (1989) (97 mins/Color) --- Under Deirdre Friel (Director)W. Paterson Ferns (Producer)Dennis E. Doty and Jacky Stoller (Executives Producer), Miles Henderson (Teleplay) ----- the cast includes Ian McShane as David Cleveland, Kate McKenzie, Karl Hayden, Dearbhla Molloy, Niall Toibin, Conor Mullen, David Herlihy, Stephen Brennan, John Keegan, Oliver Maguire, Pat Leavy, Patrick Macnee, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Jim Reid, Deirdre O'Kane . . . . . the plot line has betting services over illegal computers, will the death of McShane's friend bring him full force into the mystery that Francis has contrived ... this one is a puzzlement for Ian, will he be able to find all the pieces and put them together before the final reel.

BIOS:
1. Ian McShane
Date of birth: 29 September 1942 - Blackburn, Lancashire, England, UK
Date of death: Still Living
2. Dick Francis (Author)
Date of birth: 31 October 1920 - Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
Date of death: Still Living

Great job by Koch Vision for releasing "Dick Francis Mysteries" (In The Frame/ Blood Sport/ Twice Shy) (1994) - Ian McShane, the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the foreign film market --- order your copy now from Amazon or Koch Vision where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch drama mixed with an outstanding cast and director --- gotta love it!

Total Time: 287 mins on DVD ~ Koch Vision KOCV #6651 ~ (5/02/2006)

These shows are great - I remember watching them when they were originally on TV and am delighted that they have been released.

But where is Lovejoy???? Hope they release it season by season. He's so sexy on that show!