A vast majority of my film/television watching has in common two primary reasons for watching them. One is a good, or more, idea for the story, even though the execution has been understandably variable. The other is a promising cast, comprising of talented actors/actresses. 'Tiger in the Smoke' had both of those primary common reasons, and further advantaged by that it was directed by Roy Ward Baker who did a great job with a not too dissimilar though also different enough film not too long before ('The October Man').
'Tiger in the Smoke' could have been better, while still being worth watching. The idea is not wasted, though more could have been done with it. There is some good talent in the cast, but the acting had both hits and misses with better work from most having been done elsewhere. It's not one of Baker's best either. 'Tiger in the Smoke' is a case of starting off really, really well, but sadly losing focus halfway through. Which is a real shame and quite frustrating thinking about it.
Will start with what works in 'Tiger in the Smoke'. It looks great, especially the photography which is so beautiful to look at and full of style and atmosphere. Malcolm Arnold's music score is suitably brooding without being discordant with what is going on. Baker's direction is sturdy enough, especially in the first half.
Much of the script is tight and with the right amount of entertainment value and intrigue. The story is absorbing on the most part, certainly so in the first half which is entertaining and suspenseful. The characters aren't complex but the best of them don't bore or annoy, Bernard Miles and Laurence Naismith (well mostly) coming off best as they are the two most likeable ones. There are some good performances, great in the case of Miles and Naismith. Then again you wouldn't expect much less from those two. Muriel Pavlow is a luminous presence, Charles Victor brings some nice vim to his role and there are some personification of evil moments from Tony Wright.
Having said that, Wright's performance is uneven which is also true for the general standard of the performances. Starting off well but as the character becomes more "evil", or at least that was the intent, Wright became increasingly taxed and tends to over-compensate while also betraying too much how quite bland Havoc is generally as a villain despite showing potential initially. Alec Clunes is also a bit dull and Donald Sinden has very little to do other than being the standard kidnap victim. Less characters would have helped, as not all of them contribute much, which would have helped giving the characters more development rather than particularly Havoc being missed opportunities.
A couple of scenes particularly don't work, and generally the second half isn't nearly as strong as the first. The suspense dissipates and some of it felt a bit silly and rushed, as well as not being focused. Am another person that found the scene in the church with Wright and Naismith implausible and over-explained and anti-climactic is a very good way to sum up the ending.
Overall, decent but not great. 6/10
'Tiger in the Smoke' could have been better, while still being worth watching. The idea is not wasted, though more could have been done with it. There is some good talent in the cast, but the acting had both hits and misses with better work from most having been done elsewhere. It's not one of Baker's best either. 'Tiger in the Smoke' is a case of starting off really, really well, but sadly losing focus halfway through. Which is a real shame and quite frustrating thinking about it.
Will start with what works in 'Tiger in the Smoke'. It looks great, especially the photography which is so beautiful to look at and full of style and atmosphere. Malcolm Arnold's music score is suitably brooding without being discordant with what is going on. Baker's direction is sturdy enough, especially in the first half.
Much of the script is tight and with the right amount of entertainment value and intrigue. The story is absorbing on the most part, certainly so in the first half which is entertaining and suspenseful. The characters aren't complex but the best of them don't bore or annoy, Bernard Miles and Laurence Naismith (well mostly) coming off best as they are the two most likeable ones. There are some good performances, great in the case of Miles and Naismith. Then again you wouldn't expect much less from those two. Muriel Pavlow is a luminous presence, Charles Victor brings some nice vim to his role and there are some personification of evil moments from Tony Wright.
Having said that, Wright's performance is uneven which is also true for the general standard of the performances. Starting off well but as the character becomes more "evil", or at least that was the intent, Wright became increasingly taxed and tends to over-compensate while also betraying too much how quite bland Havoc is generally as a villain despite showing potential initially. Alec Clunes is also a bit dull and Donald Sinden has very little to do other than being the standard kidnap victim. Less characters would have helped, as not all of them contribute much, which would have helped giving the characters more development rather than particularly Havoc being missed opportunities.
A couple of scenes particularly don't work, and generally the second half isn't nearly as strong as the first. The suspense dissipates and some of it felt a bit silly and rushed, as well as not being focused. Am another person that found the scene in the church with Wright and Naismith implausible and over-explained and anti-climactic is a very good way to sum up the ending.
Overall, decent but not great. 6/10