Tiger Bay

There were plenty of British crime thrillers about at that time. They were pretty black and white not only in photography. Here we have one that strikes out on its own. Here the differences between good and bad are blurred. Indeed towards the end, we find ourselves hoping that the Polish sailor gets clean away.

Unusually for a crime thriller, we have some pretty good acting from the two central characters, one of them a child, played by the daughter of John Mills (who plays a detective). German actor Horst Bucholz plays the part of the Pole.

The setting is Cardiff, and some of the street types are pretty good, and very atmospheric.

At a time when Britain was turning out some pretty rotten stuff, this is a film that is very watchable, quite well written and well acted.

this is a hidden gem... quickly, the film transports you to a different world, one of varying shades of gray, skies, people, emotions, degrees of truth.... the cinematography is surprising and fresh for a movie that is more than 40 years old, the camera angles that tell more in a one-second frame than a lot of movies nowadays take minutes to set up and then fail to do... there are no special effects, but there are plenty of moods and thoughts carried on faces in close-up and in backgrounds that move the story along.. hayley is great, the scene where she re-enacts the murder alone is worth watching the movie for.. and buchholz also is fun to see and totally credible in how his heart has pushed him in ways he never thought he would go.... a very brave man indeed..

It's been a long time since I first saw this movie, but it's one that I'll likely never forget. Hayley Mills is truly a joy to watch. She portrays the many moods with ease and is deservedly one of the best-loved child stars. Horst Buchholz gives a very believable portrayal of a young man betrayed and bewildered by the action of his girlfriend and of his murdering her. Hayley as Gillie is the strong one in this movie. She is the one who hides him and protects him after getting the gun from him. She seems to relish her role. As others have said already the ending seems to be lacking true zest. I actually can't remember what happened. However, the rest of the movie, showing the wonderful interaction between Gillie and the sailor is more than worth the price of admission or the DVD.

Tiger Bay was a great movie for a number of reasons. I will admit the kid and the killer plot is very familiar territory, and while the film offers very little new it is still a remarkable and I think underrated movie. The best element was the truly terrific debut performance of Hayley Mills. Quite frankly, her performance is one of the greatest child performances ever, that's how good it was. The plot about a young girl befriending a murderous sailor and her attempts to hinder the detective's investigation is still suspenseful and clever, and still manages to be intriguing in the slower moments. The cinematography is fabulous, and perfectly captures the sights of the Cardiff docklands and of Hayley's photogenic face. Also J Lee Thompson is a fine director of children, and directs Hayley with care and precision. Even more remarkable is the credible characters and the supporting acting of Hayley's father the wonderful John Mills and Horst Buchholz. All in all, a very good movie. 9/10 Bethany Cox

When a sailor discovers his girlfriend has dumped him while he's been away, they argue, she pulls a gun, he gets it away from her, and then shoots her several times. A streetwise British girl from Cardiff, who does nothing but lie and cause trouble, is the only witness. She eventually befriends the Polish sailor and helps him hide. What could've been a cloying story--even perverse--is handled with impeccable taste and turned into a very moving, human tale. Cinematographer Eric Cross and his camera obviously adore Hayley Mills' 12-year-old face (her round, inquisitive eyes in particular); the scene-stealer is shown off to an incredible advantage in her acting debut. Real-life papa John Mills (as the investigator of the murder) and Horst Buchholz are also fine. An intriguing, absorbing film, though with a somewhat padded conclusion. *** from ****