Review of Tiger Bay (1959) by Alison O — 16 Mar 2004

Best in Show: Hayley Mills.

One for the future: Hayley Mills (with hindsight - she was 13 here).

Brainer or no-brainer: Brainer.

Stands up to one viewing or repeated?: Repeated.

DVD commentary any good?: n/a.

VIDEO.

Set in the place famous for spawning Shirley Bassey this black and white 1959 offering presents an interesting glimpse of attitudes towards immigration in the late 50s. Hayley Mills stars in her first film as Gillie, a tomboyish 12-year old scamp who witnesses the murder of her Polish neighbour at the hands of her sailor boyfriend, a fellow Pole. Hayley's dad John heads up the investigation into the shooting, Gillie being the only witness to the incident. She strikes up an unlikely friendship with the sailor, whose ill-doing is apparently put down to a fleeting fit of murderous rage and from them on does all she can to spare her friend from the clutches of the police. You can see why Disney signed up Hayley Mills after a performance like this; she shows maturity and an acting ability far beyond her years. Some fascinating period detail adds to the worth of this intriguing period piece.