Review of Tiger Bay (1959) by Matt T — 20 Dec 2010

My wish list: I wish there was a film from the 1950's that was set in my home town of Cardiff. It would have to be a thriller of course and shot in black and white. Maybe starring a respectable actor like John Mills perhaps. Well, there is such a movie - Tiger Bay.

Long time at sea, Polish sailor Korchinsky (Horst Bucholz) arrives at the Bay to meet up with his girlfriend. He soon discovers that she has been having an affair and in a fit of rage shoots her. Young whippersnapper Gillie (Hayley Mills) witnesses the murder and steals the gun as a souvenir. He finds out and abducts her. A police detective investigates the matter.

Tiger Bay used to be the nickname of the the area of Cardiff that included the Docks and Butetown. A multicultural area, with many merchant seamen passing through, it had a reputation as a tough neighbourhood with gambling dens and a red light district. In recent years it has been sanitised and rebranded as Cardiff Bay. With developments such as The Senedd (the Welsh Assembly), a new opera house and the snazzy upmarket apartments it has been well and truly yuppified.

The film depicts the Docks when it was run down, notorious area and prostitues are shown in the movie. When the police investigate the murder many of the locals clam up and are uncooperative. The film is not too negative as a sense of community spirit is reflected in the scenes of multi racial children playing in the park and Afro Carribean wedding celebrations. But there were many unsolved murders in the area and that is why the film has a murder plot set there.

Tiger Bay is very much a childrens film as well as a thriller and Hayley Mills made her screen debut as the tomboy with a penchant for lying. Her performance is excellent (she was nominated for a BAFTA) and she would become a child star. Her real life daddy, John Mills plays the detective and their interplay together is a highlight. Horst Bucholz was a popular German actor whose most famous role was the sixth member of the Magnificent Seven (Toshiro Mifune's role in The Seven Samuria). I say sixth member as not many can remember the seventh actor. Here though he is a little bland in comparison with Hayley. The focus of the drama centres on the growing friendship between the two and a special bond is formed. These scenes are handled with affection.

Overall an enjoyable melodrama with enough thrills to keep you entertained.

Question: What's your favourite film set in your home town?