''Harry Black'' (later titled ''Harry Black and the Tiger'') is a 1958 British

film adaptation A film adaptation is the transfer of a work or story, in whole or in part, to a feature film. Although often considered a type of derivative work, film adaptation has been conceptualized recently by academic scholars such as Robert Stam as a dial ...

of the novel '' Harry Black'' by David Walker, released by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

. The film stars

Stewart Granger Stewart Granger (born James Lablache Stewart; 6 May 1913 – 16 August 1993) was a British film actor, mainly associated with heroic and romantic leading roles. He was a popular leading man from the 1940s to the early 1960s, rising to fame thr ...

Barbara Rush Barbara Rush (born January 4, 1927) is an American actress. In 1954, Rush won the Golden Globe Award as most promising female newcomer for her role in the 1953 American science-fiction film ''It Came from Outer Space''.Warren 1982, pp. 151–6 ...

, Anthony Steel, and I. S. Johar in a BAFTA nominated role. It was shot in India.

Plot

Professional hunter A professional hunter (less frequently referred to as market or commercial hunter and regionally, especially in Britain and Ireland, as professional stalker or gamekeeper) is a person who hunts and/or manages game by profession. Some professional ...

Harry Black is in India. He wants to bag a tiger that is threatening a nearby village. As he proceeds on his journey, he encounters numerous people, including the young, and maybe too smart, Desmond Tanner and his wife Chris, who was Harry's past love.

Cast

as Harry Black *

as Christian Tanner * Anthony Steel as Desmond Tanner * I. S. Johar as Bapu * Martin Stephens as Michael Tanner * Frank Olegario as Dr. Chowdhury * Kamala Devi as Nurse Somola * John Helier as German Sergeant * Tom Bowman as British Officer * Allan McClelland as British Officer *

Harold Siddons William Harold Henry Siddons (17 September 19224 November 1963)Gladys Boot Gladys Boot (1890 – 16 October 1964), was a British actress. She studied acting privately with Elsie Fogerty, and made her stage debut in Newcastle in 1940 in ''Quiet Wedding''; and in London at Wyndham's Theatre the following year in ''Quiet W ...

as Mrs. Tanner * George Curzon as Mr. Philip Tanner * Archie Duncan as Woolsey * John Rae as Fisherman * Jan Conrad as Tower guard * Michael Seavers as Frenchman * André Maranne as Frenchman

Novel

The book was published in 1956. It was by David Walker, who had been an officer in the British army and an aide to John Buchan. Walker had emigrated to Canada. The ''New York Times'' called it "a most intelligent novel". An obituary of Walker said " the symbolism and allegorical overtones helped raise it to the level of a kind of jungle '' Moby Dick''."

Production

Film rights were purchased by 20th Century Fox in March 1956. In July 1957 John Brabourne was assigned to produce, in part because he was son-in-law of Lord Mountbatten, former viceroy of India, and thus had many contacts in that country. In August Fox announced Stewart Granger and Anthony Steel would star. At this stage of his career Granger was making movies primarily to finance the ranch he owned with then-wife

Jean Simmons Jean Merilyn Simmons, (31 January 1929 – 22 January 2010) was a British actress and singer. One of J. Arthur Rank's "well-spoken young starlets", she appeared predominantly in films, beginning with those made in Great Britain during and afte ...

. In September it was announced Sydney Boehm was writing the script. Boehm was promoted to producer at Fox but did not produce ''Harry Black''. Also in September Fox announced Hugo Frugonese would direct as the first of a three-picture contract with the studio. Stewart Granger and Anthony Steel signed to play the lead roles. Brabourne cast IS Johar after hearing the actor speak at the London Indian Film Festival. Filming began in India on 2 January 1958. Filming was completed by March. Don Sharp was in charge of second unit directing.

Reception

The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it a "most uncommonly intelligent and excellent film." The ''New York Times'' called it "slow, unconvincing and pretty dull." ''Filmink'' said "The movie was a fine chance for Steel to reinvent himself, but he is unable to suggest the inner demons of his character. (As adventure tale, it is too slow, but is redeemed by location footage.)" ''Kinematograph Weekly'' listed it as being "in the money" at the British box office in 1958.

References

External links

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Review
at Variety {{Hugo Fregonese 1958 films 1950s adventure drama films British adventure films British drama films Films based on Canadian novels Films about hunters Films set in India Films shot in India 20th Century Fox films CinemaScope films Films directed by Hugo Fregonese Films scored by Clifton Parker Films about tigers Canadian novels adapted into films 1956 Canadian novels HarperCollins books 1958 drama films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films