Tiger in the Smoke

Operator from , 15th February, 2010

Based on the book by Margery Allingham, 'Tiger in the Smoke' is the story of a group of ex-servicemen in London posing as itinerate musicians. Operating outside the law, they are searching for their former Sergeant, Jack Havoc and the loot he has failed to share with them following a wartime raid on a French Chateau. I have to admit that I have not yet seen the DVD version of 'Tiger in the Smoke', however at the time of the film's original release in 1956, I was a Projectionist at the Odeon in Newcastle, and consequently saw the film maybe a dozen times. Tony Wright, who plays the main character 'Jack Havoc', was a Rank 'Starlet', and I believe that the film was largely a vehicle to showcase him. Incidentally I was fortunate to meet Tony Wright when he came to the Odeon as part of a promotional tour. There is an excellent supporting cast led by Donald Sinden with Muriel Pavlow, Bernard Miles and the ubiquitous Sam Kydd plus an early appearance by Stratford Johns. A good believable story-line coupled with the superbly atmospheric B/W Photography, and all set in a permanently fog-bound London. Excellent example of British Film-Making of the period, and a must for Movie Buffs.

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