Tiger Bay (1959)

In the gritty heart of Cardiff, Wales, Tiger Bay, dwells twelve-year-old Gillie Evans (Hayley Mills), a spirited tomboy with a stubborn string of lies and an insatiable urge to play "guns" with the neighbourhood boys. Living with her aunt in a worn-down tenement, Gillie's path collides with that of Bronislav Korchinsky (Horst Buchholz), a seasoned sailor who has always been lured by the call of the sea. His heart anchored to his girlfriend, Anya Haluba (Yvonne Mitchell), who he dreams of marrying, Korchinsky sends his hard-earned paychecks to her, unknowing of her unrequited love for him. Anya, a shrewd woman with a wandering heart, has moved into the same tenement as Gillie, seeking refuge from Korchinsky's love and in pursuit of a scandalous affair with Barclay, a married boxing announcer. A shocking criminal incident within the tenement walls binds Gillie and Korchinsky in an intricate web of adversarial encounters and mutual reliance. As Korchinsky grapples with the betrayal and the murder of the immigrant Polish woman, Gillie becomes an unexpected accomplice. She stumbles upon the gun Korchinsky used, her lies spiralling out of control as she obscures the truth to protect her newfound possession. This unlikely alliance between the seafarer and the young tomboy confounds the police investigation, led by the single-minded Police Superintendent Graham, who is bent on untangling this web of lies and deceit. Within this murky labyrinth of secrets, Gillie's propensity for falsehood and Korchinsky's desperate struggle intertwine in this compelling narrative, forcing Gillie to reckon with the consequences of her deception, even as the relentless pursuit of truth threatens to shatter their fragile bond. "Tiger Bay" captures the raw struggle for survival, the precarious balancing act between truth and lies, and the surprising alliances formed in the face of adversity.

Tiger Bay is a crime movie featuring John Mills.

Tiger Bay is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.

It is also possible to buy Tiger Bay on Amazon Video.