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Tiger Bay (1959 film)

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Wikipedia article




'Tiger Bay' is a 1959 British crime drama film based on the short story "Rodolphe et le Revolver" by Nol Calef. It was directed by J. Lee Thompson, produced by John Hawkesworth, and co-written by John Hawkesworth and Shelley Smith (pseudonym of Nancy Hermione Bodington). It stars John Mills as a police superintendent investigating a murder; his real-life daughter Hayley Mills, in her first major film role, as a girl who witnesses the murder; and Horst Buchholz as a young sailor who commits the murder in a moment of passion.

The film was shot mostly on location in the Tiger Bay district of Cardiff, at Newport Transporter Bridge in Newport (12 miles/19 km from Cardiff) and at Avonmouth Docks in Bristol. It features many authentic scenes of the children's street culture and the black street culture of the time, along with many dockside shots and scenes in real pubs and the surrounding countryside. It marks a vital transitional moment in the move towards the British New Wave cinema exemplified a few years later by 'A Taste of Honey'.

Unusually the overall ambience is one of sympathy towards the killer, seeing him as a basically good person, and victim of circumstance.

Plot



A young Polish sailor Bronislav ("Bronek") Korchinsky (Horst Buchholz) arrives in Cardiff, planning to propose to his girlfriend Anya (Yvonne Mitchell). However, he discovers Anya gone and someone else living in the flat. The landlord reveals that Anya left several weeks ago and owes back rent, even though Bronek was sending monthly payments to her. Bronek pays Anya's debts so that the landlord will give him her new address.

Meanwhile Gillie Evans (Hayley Mills), an orphaned tomboy who lives with her Aunt, is playing with boys at the dockside. Bronek approaches the group, seeking help in locating the address he has been given. Gillie, who lives in the same building, walks with him.

Bronek finds Anya in her new flat, but she tells him to leave. Frustrated by Bronek's long trips at sea, Anya has been seeing a married sportscaster named Barclay (Anthony Dawson). Bronek, furious with jealousy, screams at her, and she pulls a gun from her dresser, but he takes the gun and shoots Anya dead. Gillie who had been playing in the halls with caps, hears the shouting and witnesses the murder as she peeks through the apartment door's letter box. Gillie's play with caps has also masked the sounds of the gun shots for the rest of the building.

Gillie sees where Bronek hides the gun, and she takes it to use as a toy. Barclay arrives to visit Anya, but, finding her dead, quickly flees. A neighbour discovers the body and summons the police.

The investigating police superintendent, Graham (John Mills), learns that Gillie was in the halls during the shooting and deduces that she witnessed the murder. However, Gillie, a habitual liar, gives an incorrect description of Bronek and does not tell Graham that she has the gun. Later, Bronek, who saw Gillie take the gun, chases her into the attic. He takes the gun from her, and they become friends. He agrees to take her to sea with him when he flees the country.

Bronek plans to depart the next day on a Venezuelan merchant ship, the 'Poloma'; for the night, Gillie leads him to a hiding place in the countryside, where he entertains her by re-enacting his overseas adventures. Meanwhile, the police discover a photograph of Bronek and Anya together, sparking interest in Bronek's identity. Under police questioning Barclay admits to having visited Anya's apartment the day she was shot, making him a prime suspect.



With the 'Poloma' set to sail, Bronek persuades Gillie to let him go alone. Bronek leaves her with his metal cigarette case. Some picnickers find Gillie at the country hideout and take her to the police, where she continues to lie, identifying Barclay as the murderer. With Barclay as the suspect, she admits that she saw the crime and re-enacts it for Graham at the apartment, but accidentally reveals that she knows the killer is Polish. She still denies knowing Bronek, but by now the police know he is the murderer. Both the police and Bronek are aware of the three-mile limit for British legal jurisdiction.

Graham drives Gillie to the pilot station at Barry Docks and takes her on a pilot boat to the 'Poloma' as the ship approaches the boundary of territorial waters. At this point, Gillie is obviously trying to obstruct Graham's progress. When the inspector confronts Gillie and Bronek now together aboard the 'Poloma', they deny knowing each other. Nevertheless, Graham attempts to arrest Bronek, but the ship's captain prevents him, saying that his navigation officer has plotted 'Poloma's position as just outside the three-mile limit, and therefore beyond the jurisdiction of the British police.

Gillie runs around on the ship trying to evade both crew and police, and falls overboard while trying to stow away on the ship in the hope of remaining with Bronek. Being the only person to see her fall, Bronek dives into the water to save her and loses his ship. The pair are rescued by the police boat sent from Barry Island. Bronek admits his guilt after Gillie hugs him, and Graham commends him for his bravery in saving her. The "Poloma" sails off and his chance of freedom has gone.

Cast



* John Mills as Police Superintendent Graham

* Horst Buchholz as Bronislav Korchinsky, a professional Polish seaman

* Hayley Mills as Gillie Evans, a wayward young girl

* Yvonne Mitchell as Anya Haluba, Korchinsky's long-time girlfriend

* Megs Jenkins as Mrs Phillips, Gillie's aunt.

* Anthony Dawson as Barclay, Anya's new boyfriend

* George Selway as Detective Sergeant Harvey

* George Pastell as 'Poloma' Captain

* Paul Stassino as 'Poloma' First Officer

* Marne Maitland as Dr. Das

* Meredith Edwards as PC Williams

* Marianne Stone as Mrs Williams

* Rachel Thomas as Mrs Parry

* Brian Hammond as Dai Parry

* Kenneth Griffith as Choirmaster

* Eynon Evans as Mr. Morgan

* Christopher Rhodes as Inspector Bridges

* Edward Cast as Detective Constable Thomas

* Shari as Christine, the new resident of Anna's flat.

Production



The film was based on a short story 'Rodolphe et le Revolver' by French writer Nol Calef. In the story the witness to the murder was a young boy. Director J. Lee Thompson originally intended to film it that way and in August 1958 sent a copy of the script to John Mills, with whom he had worked on 'Ice Cold in Alex' and wanted to play the part of the detective. Mills felt the right actor in the part of the 12-year-old boy would "walk away with the picture" but he liked the script and wanted to work with Thompson again.Mills p 342

Thompson went to Mills' house in Sussex to discuss the project and wound up talking to Mills' daughter Hayley. After lunch he told Mills that he wanted to change the role of the boy to a girl and cast Hayley in the part as "the whole story will be much more moving and touching in every way."Mills p 342 Although Hayley had not expressed that much interest in acting, John Mills and his wife agreed. Thompson decided to cast her even without testing.Mills p 343-344

The role of male lead went to Horst Buchholz. Several movies financed by Rank had German stars around this time in an attempt to appeal to the German market.

Filming started 15 September 1958. The film was shot on location in Cardiff, Wales and in Beaconsfield Studios. Regarding daughter Hayley's acting abilities, John Mills said when they started filming "I simply couldn't believe what was happening. She looked as if she'd been born in front of a camera."Mills p 344

The film has repeated sections showing the Newport Transporter Bridge in action, one of the few travelling bridges in the world.

Although the captain and first officer of the 'Poloma' are shown speaking Spanish the actors were both Cypriots.

Reception



Critical

'Variety' said the film "stacks up as a lively piece of drama... no blockbuster but it is plausible and holding."[https://archive.org/details/variety214-1959-04/page/n77/mode/1up?q=%22tiger+bay%22 Review of film] at 'Variety'

Box Office

The film was popular at the box office.

John Mills said after the film there were no offers for Hayley's services from British film producers, but Walt Disney offered her the lead in 'Pollyanna'. This launched Hayley Mills' career as a movie star.Mills p 349 Bucholz and Thompson were to reunite in a film called 'The Rebel' but it appears to have not been made.NOTED ON THE LOCAL SCREEN SCENE: Fox to Make Dr. Dooley Story -- Poetic Saga -- Other Matters

By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 13 Dec 1959: X9.


Awards & nominations



* 1960 Won BAFTA Film Award Most Promising Newcomer to Film, Hayley Mills

* 1960 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best British Film, J. Lee Thompson

* 1960 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best British Screenplay, John Hawkesworth and Shelley Smith

* 1960 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Film from any Source, J. Lee Thompson

* 1959 Won Silver Bear, 9th Berlin International Film Festival Special Prize, Hayley Mills

* 1959 Nominated Golden Berlin Bear, J. Lee Thompson

Citations



Bibliography



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