Le tigre aime la chair fraiche (1964)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Claude Chabrol

Writers:

Roger Hanin (original scenario)
Jean Halain (adaptation)

Release Date:

3 September 1965 (West Germany)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Nudity | Beautiful Woman | Spy

Cast

Roger Hanin	...	Louis Rapière, 'le Tigre'
Maria Mauban	...	Madame Baskine
Daniela Bianchi	...	Mehlica Baskine
Roger Dumas	...	Duvet
Antonio Passalia	...	Coubassi
Jimmy Karoubi	...	Jean-Luc, le nain
Roger Rudel	...	Benita
Carlo Nell	...	L'assassin du théâtre
Henri Attal	...	Le tueur de l'aéroport #2
Christa Lang	...	La fille avec Dobrovsky
Guy d'Avout	...	Le ministre français
Albert Dagnant	...	Le général Condé
Jacky Corn	...	Un catcheur (as Jackie Corn)
Dominique Zardi	...	Le tueur de l'aéroport #1
Pierre-François Moro	...	Ghislain

Also Known As:

Code Name: Tiger (USA)
La tigre ama la carne fresca (Italy)
The Tiger Likes Fresh Blood
The Tiger Likes Fresh Meat (USA) (video catalogue title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

French

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Egypt

Company:

Alexandra Film

Movie Connections:

Followed by Le tigre se parfume à la dynamite (1965)

Entertaining spy flick

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

How's this for confusing? The indispensable Eurospy Guide indicates that this early Claude Chabrol feature originally ran 100 minutes, but was cut to an unbelievable 65 when it was released to the American market. IMDb lists it at 90 minutes. This review, however, is based on the 82 minute version available through Something Weird Video! Whichever running time is definitive, however, Code Name Tiger is a very entertaining entry in the genre, which generated scores of identikit features throughout the 1960s thanks to the success of the James Bond films. Chabrol acknowledges his debt to Bond by prominently featuring a French-language copy of From Russia to Love in one scene, and other fixtures of the meme--ranging from beautiful women (From Russia With Love's absolutely stunning Daniela Bianchi) to oddball villains (a midget in a bird cage)--pop up throughout the film. Chabrol also displays his talent with a camera, especially in the early going, when a chase scene is shot from overhead and an assassin comes to a sticky end in a bizarre flooded mansion. Starring the still active Roger Hanin as the titular secret agent, this is a prime candidate for DVD--assuming someone can find the full length version!