He Who Rides a Tiger (1965)

Peter Rayston, has been in and out of prison most of his life. At 30, he is released for the eighth time, after serving a sentence for housebreaking. Immediately, he goes back to his old ... See full summary »

Director:

Charles Crichton

Writer:

Trevor Peacock

Stars:

Tom Bell, Judi Dench, Paul Rogers

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Bell	...	Peter Rayston
Judi Dench	...	Joanne
Paul Rogers	...	Supt. Taylor
Kay Walsh	...	Mrs. Woodley
Ray McAnally	...	Orphanage Superintendent
Jeremy Spenser	...	The Panda
Peter Madden	...	Peepers Woodley
Inigo Jackson	...	Det. Sgt. Scott
Annette Andre	...	Julie
Edina Ronay	...	Anna
Nicolette Pendrell	...	Ellen
Ralph Michael	...	Carter
Frederick Piper	...	Mr. Steed
Rita Webb	...	Flower Seller
Robin Hughes	...	Det. Sgt. Crowley

Storyline

Peter Rayston, has been in and out of prison most of his life. At 30, he is released for the eighth time, after serving a sentence for housebreaking. Immediately, he goes back to his old life, providing for his expensive tastes by executing a series of daring burglaries.

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Plot Keywords:

independent film

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1965 (UK)

Also Known As:

Cabalgando sobre un tigre

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Lion Film Corporation, David Newman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title comes from an Indian proverb, "He who rides a tiger can never dismount".

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Soundtracks

"I Won't Cry"
(uncredited)
Written by Paul Styles, Gerry Walton and A. Walton

User Reviews

Very Classy 'B' Movie.

One night, a notorious cat burglar, just out of prison, is driving through the woods of suburban Surrey, surveying a grand property for a future heist, when he's hailed down by a young woman who has missed the local late night bus.

He drives her back to London and then pursues her.

Judy Dench plays the young woman, Joanne, a gentle, single parent of a boy, born out of wedlock (in the days when this was still a social issue). Her son attends a local orphanage where she helps out in exchange for his education. Peter Rayston, played by Tom Bell, is the handsome, edgy criminal with a kind heart, who pursues her.

Initially, Joanne, is reluctant to get involved with this man who tries to woo her with his stolen fortune. Then she falls for him and the love story begins.

Shot in black & white and much of it at night. This is both a crime drama and a sensitive tale of a love in spite of itself. The film isn't quite a classic, more a classy B movie, but the cast are superb and its gentle message is memorable and effectively told.

Made just before London really started swinging, shot in a very grainy black & white, it would have looked very old fashioned by 1967. But it is still well worthy of a DVD release.