Questione di vita o di morte

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 movie stands out, I think, for not looking studio-bound in any way, unlike most British movies of the era. TIGER BAY is generally filmed very well with a nice blend of close-ups and low angles. It also succeeds in developing a sense of suspense that does not let down until the last few frames.

TIGER BAY is about a sailor, Korchinsky, who returns to Cardiff after being abroad for some months to discover his estranged fiance has been unfaithful in his absence. In a moment of anger, he shoots her dead in her apartment.

Initially unknown to Korchinsky, a young tomboy, Gillie (Mills), who would "rather play with guns and dress up as a gangster" than wear a dress, has witnessed the deed. Mills is almost unrecognisable in her role as the "proper little liar" apart from her full smile of teeth and her undeveloped trademark voice.

Gillie is a young girl who likes playing pranks as part of her good-hearted but cheeky nature. During the entire film, it seems she can never quite full understand or appreciate the devastation of the murder she has witnessed. As an example of her cheekiness, she takes the hidden gun and ammunition to show off to her fellow choristers at a church-wedding!

Korchinsky and Gillie become friendly after the murder and must avoid the authorities together as they both eventually become wanted for their respective parts in the murder - Gillie as a witness to the act, who has taken off with the murder weapon, and Korchinsky as he eventually becomes suspect for the deed itself. At the moment of truth, will Gillie stick up for her new friend?

Tiger Bay is the first picture of famous child star Hayley Mills. Daughter of John Mills, who also costars in this film about love, murder and unlikely friendship. Hayley Mills play a rebelious girl who lives with her poor aunt in a cheap housing block. She witnesses a murder in an adjoining flat. After initially running from the murderer, he catches her and she forms an unlikely friendship with him. Subsequently she lies to protect him and some fascinating drama ensues. John Mills plays a policeman on the crime case. Hayley Mills steals the show and is absolutely fantastic. John Mills is great as well, he's still alive believe it or not, in his mid 90's now I think. Lots of tension, drama, and plenty of chase scenes. If you like this you might want to check out 'Whistle Down The Wind' another Hayley Mills classic. I give this one 4 stars out of 5.

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..

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 ****