Black Tide (1958)
"Stormy Crossing" (original title)

Two swimmers are attempting to swim across the English Channel when one of them disappears. The other swimmer is convinced that it was no accident, and insists on investigating himself, ... See full summary »

Director:

C.M. Pennington-Richards

Writers:

Lou Dyer (story), Sid Harris (story),

Stars:

John Ireland, Derek Bond, Leslie Dwyer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Ireland	...	Griff Parker
Derek Bond	...	Paul Seymour
Leslie Dwyer	...	Bill Harris, Kitty's Trainer
Maureen Connell	...	Shelley Baxter
Sheldon Lawrence	...	Danny Parker, Griff's Brother
Joy Webster	...	Kitty Tyndall
John Horsley	...	Detective Inspector Parry
Cameron Hall	...	Grantly Memorial Doctor
Arthur Lowe	...	Garage Owner
John Schlesinger	...	Tim, garage mechanic
Anita Sharp-Bolster	...	First Nurse
Patricia Ellis	...	Pretty Young Nurse
Jack Taylor	...	Race Navigator
Reginald Hearne	...	Police Sergeant Masters
Graham Stewart	...	Bob McEwan, Clarion Reporter

Storyline

Two swimmers are attempting to swim across the English Channel when one of them disappears. The other swimmer is convinced that it was no accident, and insists on investigating himself, even though the police do not believe him.

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Plot Keywords:

swimmer | female in swimsuit | mysterious death

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Genres:

Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1958 (UK)

Also Known As:

Black Tide

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tempean Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Channel training and swimming are the setting for this little suspenser

John Ireland is his brother's (Sheldon Lawrence) swimming trainer in England where Sheldon is going to swim the English Channel. We learn many little-known facets of what such a swim entails. Meanwhile, Sheldon gets quite chummy with Joy Webster, who is also making the swim. (Ireland is setting his sights on hotelier Maureen Connell.) But Joy is involved with Derek Bond, who is married.

When the swim does not go as planned due to a fatality, the police think accidental death due to one or more of the swimming risks and what they see as a lack of reliable observation from those who might have information. This leads into private investigation by those who have other ideas.

This movie is a Brit noir and a b-movie, as many of the Brit noirs are. Brit noirs tend to be "lighter" than the Hollywood ones, but of course there are a good many very fine ones. The ones that are b-movies are also usually rather short and underproduced, yet quite a lot of fun. This one has few noir elements. It has only a few awkward moments, including a poor double in a fight scene and a certain amount of abruptness.

It's rare that one of these pictures is a complete loser. This one is certainly not in that category. And so 54 years after having been made, it is still giving some pleasure.