Tiger Bay (1959)

A twelve-year-old tomboy witnesses the murder of a woman by her Polish merchant marine boyfriend, but bonds with him and thwarts the police in their investigation.

Director:

J. Lee Thompson

Writers:

Noël Calef (short story "Rodolphe et le Revolver") (as Noel Calef), John Hawkesworth (screenplay)

Stars:

Hayley Mills, Horst Buchholz, John Mills

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Mills	...	Superintendent Graham
Horst Buchholz	...	Bronislaw Korchinsky
Hayley Mills	...	Gillie
Yvonne Mitchell	...	Anya
Megs Jenkins	...	Mrs. Phillips
Anthony Dawson	...	Barclay
George Selway	...	Det. Sgt. Harvey
Shari	...	Christine
George Pastell	...	'POLOMA' Captain
Paul Stassino	...	'POLOMA' 1st. Officer
Marne Maitland	...	Dr. Das
Meredith Edwards	...	P.C. Williams
Marianne Stone	...	Mrs. Williams
Rachel Thomas	...	Mrs. Parry
Brian Hammond	...	Dal Parry

Storyline

Gille Jenkins (Hayley Mills), a twelve-year-old tomboy and compulsive liar living in a sordid tenement with her single parent mother, witnesses the murder of an immigrant Polish woman living in an nearby apartment by her former boyfriend, Bronislaus Korchinsky. The young merchant marine becomes distraught when he discovers that she has become the mistress of a married British sports announcer and shoots her with her own gun. Gillie lies about the circumstances in order to keep the gun which she discovers where Korchinsky hid it. She ultimately bonds with him and misleads the police in their investigation.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | tomboy | liar | british noir | foreign language adaptation | 

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Taglines:

A Spellbinder that beats with the pounding suspense of Manhunt!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Superintendent Graham and his antagonistic child witness Gillie were played by real-life father and daughter Sir John Mills and Hayley Mills.

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Goofs

When Superintendent Graham is taking Gillie to the ship, the number plate of the following police car changes between scenes.

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Quotes

Superintendent Graham: Gillie, look at me. Now in this world we sometimes have to tell little lies to help other people out. Our friends. Now we call this being loyal. Everybody admires and loves somebody whose loyal. But sometimes it is very wrong to tell even little lies if, by doing so, we help someone bad go free. Now that's not being loyal, Gillie. That's being very wicked. Now you don't want to be wicked, do you? Now this is the one moment that you must tell me the truth. The truth, Gillie.
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Century of Cinema: A Personal History of British Cinema by Stephen Frears (1995)

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Soundtracks

The Lord's My Shepherd
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Francis Rous
Music by Jessie Seymour Irvine
Performed by Hayley Mills

User Reviews

Scenes aboard the ship

I was 2nd Radio Officer aboard the British cargo ship OSWESTRY GRANGE, which sailed regularly between the UK and the River Plate, from June 1958 until February 1959. At the beginning of October 1958, we were in Avonmouth (Bristol), when the "Tiger Bay" cast and crew came aboard to film the dock scenes, which were supposed to be in Barry. The ship's name was over-painted with the name LA PALOMA, and the white Maltese Cross on the funnel was transformed into a white square. When we sailed, we had to have our correct ship's name painted on boards, which were suspended over the bows, and only removed when filming was taking place. Our unique funnel must have caused a lot of puzzlement aboard other ships.

We then sailed up and down the Bristol Channel for a few days, while the filming of John Mills' arrival and boarding from the pilot boat, as well as the chase and jump involving the Hayley Mills character, took place. The jump was performed by a stunt woman, who was very much bigger than Hayley. It was a cold day, and the Bristol Channel looked very uninviting, but the stunt girl was cheerful and unperturbed. Fortunately for her, only one take was needed! The film people, including John and Hayley Mills, were very friendly. Of course, we had no idea what it was all about.

I didn't manage to see the film until I was serving with the Zim Israel line, when it was shown in a cinema on Mount Carmel in Haifa in June 1960. I'd expected to see myself in the scene where the ship was leaving Barry docks (i.e., Avonmouth), but I'd ended up on the cutting room floor.

I now have the film on DVD, and love re-watching it, because it's a really good film, with an amazing performance by Hayley Mills, and also, of course, because I can see my old ship again, and recall my youth and those fascinating days with the cast and crew.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Polish Spanish

Release Date:

14 December 1959 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mystery at Tiger Bay

Filming Locations:

Newport, Gwent, Wales, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Independent Artists

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1