He Who Rides a Tiger

1965 British film by Charles Crichton

1965 (1965)

Running time

103 minsCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishBudget£47,479^[1]

He Who Rides a Tiger is a 1965 British crime drama directed by Charles Crichton, and starring Tom Bell and Judi Dench.^[2]^[3] It was written by Trevor Peacock.

Plot

On his release from Peter Rayston returns to his life as a house-breaker, which funds his affluent lifestyle. He meets and becomes involved with Joanne, but when she discovers the source of his wealth she breaks up with him. When his latest burglary job goes wrong, leading to the death of one of his accomplices, he goes on the run.

Production

The film was based on the real-life cat-burglar Peter Scott.^[4] The title was derived from the Indian proverb, "He who rides a tiger can never jump off," and implies that the main character cannot escape from his way of life.

Crichton called making the film "a bad experience" because "the producer was a shit, a cheat and a bastard."^[5] He did not direct another theatrical film until A Fish Called Wanda (1988), his final film.

Cast

Tom Bell as Peter Rayston
Judi Dench as Joanne
Paul Rogers as Superintendent Taylor
Kay Walsh as Mrs. Woodley
Ray McAnally as orphanage superintendent
Jeremy Spenser as The Panda
Peter Madden as Peepers Woodley
Inigo Jackson as Detective Sergeant Scott
Annette Andre as Julie
Edina Ronay as Anna
Nicolette Pendrell as Ellen
Ralph Michael as Carter
Frederick Piper as Mr. Steed
Rita Webb as flower seller
Robin Hughes as Detective Sergeant Crowley
Jimmy Gardner as waiter
Howard Lang as prison governor
Naomi Chance as Lady Cleveland
Harry Baird as Stan (uncredited)
Patricia Shakesby as policewoman (uncredited)

Rececption

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Although it is superficially a straightforward 'crime does not pay' yarn, He Who Rides a Tiger goes deeper into character than is usual in this sort of exercise. Essentially it is a study of a psychopathic personality, and Tom Bell's tense but likeable performance gives an only too believable reality to Peter's sudden violent rages, his equally unpredictable gentleness, and his palpably hopeless responsibility. He and Judi Dench, who brings warmth and integrity to Joanne, make their uneasy relationship very real, and in the orphanage scenes in particular, Charles Crichton has drawn a delightful response from the professional players and from the children. He is much less successful with the police side of the operation, and Paul Rogers seems wooden in the feebly written part of the Superintendent. Indeed the film's weakness lies mainly in the script which, in spite of a good central idea, suffers from some silly plot mechanics and bad dialogue. Still, the genuine concern of the director and his leading players with the human problems of the story results in a liveliness and charm which are rare in this type of British thriller."^[6]

References

^ Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 217
^ "He Who Rides a Tiger". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
^ "He Who Rides a Tiger (1966)". Film & TV Database. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
^ "Peter Scott". The Daily Telegraph. 22 March 2013. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021.
^ "Charles Crichton Interview" (PDF). British Entertainment History Project. 14 December 1988. p. 25.
^ "He Who Rides a Tiger". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 33 (384): 24. 1 January 1966 – via ProQuest.