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Tiger Bay

"MURDER...enacted before the eyes of a little girl. She alone has the proof the police are searching for."

1959-03-01 Thriller 1hr 45m

In Tiger Bay, the docklands of Cardiff, rough-and-tumble street urchin Gillie witnesses the brutal killing of a young woman at the hands of visiting Polish sailor Korchinsky. Instead of reporting the crime to the authorities, Gillie merely pockets a prize for herself — Korchinsky's shiny black revolver — and flees the scene. When Detective Graham discovers that Gillie has the murder weapon, the fiery young girl weaves a web of lies to throw him off course.

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Storyline

In Tiger Bay, the docklands of Cardiff, rough-and-tumble street urchin Gillie witnesses the brutal killing of a young woman at the hands of visiting Polish sailor Korchinsky. Instead of reporting the crime to the authorities, Gillie merely pockets a prize for herself — Korchinsky's shiny black revolver — and flees the scene. When Detective Graham discovers that Gillie has the murder weapon, the fiery young girl weaves a web of lies to throw him off course.

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Cast

John Mills

John Mills

Superintendent Graham
Horst Buchholz

Horst Buchholz

Korchinsky
Megs Jenkins

Megs Jenkins

Mrs. Phillips
George Selway

George Selway

Det. Sgt. Harvey
Shari

Shari

Christine
George Pastell

George Pastell

Poloma Captain
Paul Stassino

Paul Stassino

Poloma First Officer
Marianne Stone

Marianne Stone

Mrs. Williams
Rachel Thomas

Rachel Thomas

Mrs. Parry
Brian Hammond

Brian Hammond

Dal Parry
Kenneth Griffith

Kenneth Griffith

Mr. Seymour
Eynon Evans

Eynon Evans

Mr Morgan
Christopher Rhodes

Christopher Rhodes

Inspector Bridges
Edward Cast

Edward Cast

Det. Con. Thomas
David Davies

David Davies

Desk Sergeant
Michael Anderson Jr.

Michael Anderson Jr.

Boy with Cap Gun (uncredited)
Harry Baird

Harry Baird

Bridegroom (uncredited)
Tom Bowman

Tom Bowman

Seaman (uncredited)
Jim Brady

Jim Brady

Pub Customer (uncredited)
Peter Halliday

Peter Halliday

Seaman (uncredited)
Hubert Hill

Hubert Hill

Policeman (uncredited)
Glyn Houston

Glyn Houston

Detective at Police Station (uncredited)
John Howard

John Howard

Detective (uncredited)
Jack May

Jack May

Mr Willis (uncredited)
Harry Phipps

Harry Phipps

Man in Bar (uncredited)
Stan Simmons

Stan Simmons

Referee (uncredited)
John Wilder

John Wilder

Police Line-Up (uncredited)

Videos and Photos

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Movie Reviews

Reviews for Tiger Bay
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A Review by John Chard 9

Written by John Chard on 2015-09-06

I spy, I spy you. Tiger Bay is directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by John Hawkesworth and Shelley Smith. It stars Horst Buchholz, Ha... read more

I spy, I spy you. Tiger Bay is directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by John Hawkesworth and Shelley Smith. It stars Horst Buchholz, Hayley Mills, John Mills, Megs Jenkins and Anthony Dawson. Music is by Laurie Johnson and cinematography by Eric Cross. A young girl witnesses a murder and complicates the investigation by becoming attached to the killer. The Lord's My Shepherd. Set in the Principality of Cardiff, South Wales, Tiger Bay is a boffo noir drama in the tradition of the excellent Charles Crichton/Dirk Bogarde picture, Hunted (1952). The core of the story is about the friendship that forms between a murderer and the child that saw him do it. There is nothing remotely risqué in this friendship, it's tender and pertinent given the absence of parents and kin in Gillie's (H. Mills) life (she lives with her Auntie played by Jenkins). Korchinsky (Buchholz) is not a madman psychopath, his crime was a moment of madness, a crime of passion, and he is very likable and therefore it's believable that young Gillie would take him for surrogate kinship. If you want to be happy and live a king's life, never make a pretty woman your wife. The drama comes from the investigation led by Superintendent Graham (J. Mills), who has to stay on top of things whilst being spun lots of yarns by the precocious Gillie. Things are further spiced up by the presence of another suspect played by Dawson, who is all jittery and suspicious, this is a very good splinter in the narrative, ensuring that the pic never relies on being just about a special/odd friendship. The writers also provide much intelligence as regards the era, with nods to sexual politics, the changing of attitudes with children, while there's a multi cultural background to the play. Pat on the back is deserved as well for incorporating a thread about the opposing laws of maritime and those of the land. Yes, I have, and a very brave man. The aged dockside locales keep things earthy, as does the run down and cramped housing arrangements, these allow Thompson & Cross to cover it with noirish tints, the dockside scenes (and the church interiors) are all shadows and shimmers, it really is gorgeous work, the black and white compositions perfectly lit. Cast are superb, has Buchholz - away from the iconography of The Magnificent Seven - ever been better than he is here? J. Mills is class, but then he almost always was, Dawson is quality old boy, but it's young Hayley's movie, a stupendous performance from one so young, it's easy to see why she would carve out a considerable career in acting. A little irk exists about the complete lack of any scene showing Gillie's Auntie being worried that her charge has gone missing, especially since there has been a murder in the block, but it's a small itch to scratch. Tiger Bay, smart, pretty and dramatic. 9/10

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by John Chard

I spy, I spy you. Tiger Bay is directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by John Hawkesworth and Shelley Smith. It stars Horst Buchholz, Hayley Mills, John Mills, Megs Jenkins and Anthony Dawson. Music is by Laurie Johnson and cinematograp...

reviewer avatar

A Review by John Chard 9

Written by John Chard on 2015-09-06

I spy, I spy you. Tiger Bay is directed by J. Lee Thompson and written by John Hawkesworth and Shelley Smith. It stars Horst Buchholz, Hayley Mills, John Mills, Megs Jenkins and Anthony Dawson. Mus...

read more