Harry Black and the Tiger starts off promisingly, with a tense and expertly directed (if far too short) opening sequence involving a man-eating tiger as he ponders a possible prey. And indeed, when the film is dealing with the tiger itself -- a gorgeous, seductively dangerous Bengal -- it often has a power that is commendable and offers flashes of what a fine adventure film Tiger could have been. Unfortunately, much too much of the film is taken up with the "relationships" of the trio of humans involved in capturing this magnificent beast. Their story is unbearably dreary and predictable, full of melodramatic Sturm und Drang that quickly becomes tedious. The plot grinds to a halt as these three go through their "dramatic" motions, all while the viewer waits impatiently to get back to the hunt. Eventually, even the hunt gets bogged down in this morass, and Tiger just grinds to a halt. Don't blame the stars -- Stewart Granger, Barbara Rush, and Anthony Steel don't have a prayer with the stilted characters and dialogue, especially with Hugo Fregonese's languid direction. Amazingly, one actor -- I.S. Johar -- manages to rise above the material, turning in a surprisingly appealing performance. It by no means makes Harry Black and the Tiger worth watching, but it does help get one through it.