Although he did occasionally get to play a leading role Nigel Patrick never quite received the recognition he deserved and it's probably fair to say that he's remembered for his excellent supporting roles in classics like Puffin Asquith's The Browning Version. His name on the credits was the only reason I took the trouble to watch this pot-boiler when it was screened on television the other day. The twist at virtually the last minute is a crib from a much finer film The Fallen Idol which was made some five or six years earlier and though the directors' idea of a racehorse training stable is a couple of shots of horses moving in single file on the horizon and Patrick doesn't appear to even try to be convincing as a leading trainer he still manages to walk away with the film in which he appears with his real-life wife Beatrice Campbell, but is lumbered with the OTT Moira Lister as his screen wife and despite the best efforts of Noel Purcell and Michael Horden to go head to head with him. I'm glad I saw it but once was enough.

Many films clearly betray their stage origin. Here most action involves people entering and leaving the same room. However the strength of the story is the tension between the characters as they stand in close proximity which a stage version would have amplified, this film version largely dissipates with its many outside scenes. Also the flat footed direction short changes a good cast and reasonable story. Hitchcock would surely have added red herrings and more visual drama - close-ups, silences, glances and deliberate mis-direction. Hitchcocks "Rope" as one example. It was also, for 1953, rather old fashioned with horsey people, country house and butler (the butler didn't do it but plays a major and interesting role. Doubt if you can get such staff these days unfortunately) It occurred to me that the play could make a good Am-Dram project? 6.5/10

A British film from 1953 starring Nigel Patrick as a racehorse owner and the beautiful Moira Lister as his wife Babs, this is a film about what happens after Gerald's (Mr. Patrick) horse wins the national. Babs, who doesn't seem to like horses much, parties in Liverpool without Gerald, thinks of divorce, drives home (without a license and probably a little impaired) and has a confrontation with her husband. A struggle occurs and she is killed. From there, the film becomes a detective story. This is where it gets more interesting, as the players in the film are questioned about certain aspects of their behavior. Not a long film (less than 80 minutes), it holds your interest from start to finish. Not essential, but a fairly good detective story/thriller.

This is a nifty little movie that surprised me, having come to it without great expectations. It centers about a racehorse owner and his playgirl type wife who doesn't even like horses. The Grand National for those that don't know is probably the worlds most famous steeplechase type race which is held every year at Aintree near Liverpool.Its a very demanding race bringing great kudos to the winner. The marriage of the principals and the wife storms off to a party on Grand National night and what develops from then on is a more than decent thriller with a couple of slick twists. It has a rather unexpected ending for its time, and is well worth watching if you get the chance.