A petty thief, Bogarde, gets more than he bargained for when he breaks into the home of a criminal psychiatrist, Knox. Knox manages to subdue the intruder, and has him agree to serve as a guinea pig in the doctor's psychological experiments in exchange for freedom. If Knox's theories
prove correct, he will be able to totally rehabilitate Bogarde after six months of intensive reconditioning. When Knox's wife, Smith, returns from a vacation, she allows herself to be seduced by Bogarde, and the two make plans to run off together. Bogarde plans one last robbery that will pay their
way, but the police uncover the plot and try to arrest the thief. Surprisingly, Knox provides an alibi for Bogarde, frustrating the investigators' efforts to arrest him. Shocked by Knox's actions, Bogarde rejects Smith's advances and begins to respond to the psychiatrist's treatments. Seeking
vengeance, the rebuffed Smith tells her husband that Bogarde attacked her. Knox suspects the truth, however, and pretends to shoot Bogarde dead. Bogarde then escapes the house, but he is picked up by Smith who drives frantically from the scene and crashes the car off a cliff.
THE SLEEPING TIGER was American director Joseph Losey's first feature film after being blacklisted by Hollywood because he refused to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Forced to flee to England, Losey was allowed to direct but he was credited as "Victor Hanbury"--the
name of a real director turned producer--so as not to ruin the market for the film in the US. For his return to the screen, Losey turned in a competent, although unremarkable, crime melodrama that did little to enhance his reputation with the critics. Though Losey had little enthusiasm for the
material he was given to direct and accepted the job just to keep working, he managed to expand upon his thematic concerns with morality, corruption, and the loss of spirituality. THE SLEEPING TIGER is also notable for the first-time collaboration of director Losey and actor Bogarde. Both men
began fine-honing their respective skills together and would go on to make several fascinating films including THE SERVANT (1963); KING AND COUNTRY (1964); MODESTY BLAISE (1966); and ACCIDENT (1967). leave a comment