On the Nose

Robbie Coltrane stars as Delaney, a university janitor and reformed gambler whose past habits come back to haunt him. Having squandered the savings set aside for his daughter’s education through ill-judged horse-race bets, Delaney has promised his wife to give up gambling for good. But when his daughter Sinead is accepted into Trinity College in Ireland and the tuition money is suddenly needed, desperation sets in. While carrying out his duties at the university, Delaney makes an extraordinary discovery: the preserved head of an Aboriginal tribesman which, under the right conditions, can accurately predict racehorse winners. As Delaney is tempted back into gambling to secure his daughter’s future, he must fend off the mob and a determined representative from an Australian university intent on reclaiming the head and returning it home, pushing Delaney’s morality, resolve, and luck to their absolute limits.

Directed by David Caffrey, On the Nose leans on a strong ensemble — Dan Aykroyd, Robbie Coltrane, Brenda Blethyn — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 2001.