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Tower of London (1939) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   546 votes
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Director:
Rowland V. Lee
Writer:
Robert N. Lee (original screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Tower of London on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 November 1939 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | History | Horror more
Plot:
In the 15th century Richard Duke of Gloucester, aided by his club-footed executioner Mord, eliminates those ahead of him in succession to the throne... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
And Then There Were None! more (23 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Basil Rathbone ... Richard - Duke of Gloucester

Boris Karloff ... Mord
Barbara O'Neil ... Queen Elyzabeth
Ian Hunter ... King Edward IV

Vincent Price ... Duke of Clarence
Nan Grey ... Lady Alice Barton
Ernest Cossart ... Tom Clink
John Sutton ... John Wyatt
Leo G. Carroll ... Lord Hastings
Miles Mander ... King Henry VI
Lionel Belmore ... Beacon - a Chamberlain
Rose Hobart ... Anne Neville

Ronald Sinclair ... Boy King Edward
John Herbert-Bond ... Boy Prince Richard
Ralph Forbes ... Henry Tudor
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Additional Details

Runtime:
92 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)
Certification:
USA:Approved (PCA #5819) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The battle scenes were an ordeal to film. Principally shot on August 19, 1939 at a ranch in Tarzana, the fog machine proved ineffective in the face of high winds. The 100-degree heat caused the 300 extras to suffer and rain machines caused the soldier's cardboard helmets and shields to disintegrate. Additional battle scenes were shot on August 22 and on September 4, 1939, but the California heat continued to play havoc with the cast, crew and equipment. more
Quotes:
Mord: [to Richard] You're more than a king, more than a man. You're a god to me! more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Best of Sex and Violence (1981) more

FAQ

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5 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
And Then There Were None!, 2 October 2006
7/10
Author: (bsmith5552@rogers.com) from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

"The Tower of London" was made by the same Director (Rowland V. Lee) and the same stars (Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff), that had made "Son of Frankenstein earlier the same year.

This is the story of the evil King Richard III's (Rathbone) rise to the throne of England in the 15th century. We learn that Richard (known as crooked back because of a deformity) as the Duke of Gloucester is sixth in the line of succession. Standing in his way are his brother King Edward IV (Ian Hunter), the feeble minded King Henry VI (Miles Mander) who is being kept prisoner, the Prince of Wales, Edward's two young sons and Richard's other brother the Duke of Clarence (Vincent Price).

With his faithful servant, the club-footed executioner Mord (Karloff) Richard begins to destroy all who stand in his way. Queen Elizabeth's (Barbara O'Neill) nephew John Wyatt (John Sutton) refuses to marry the King's choice, preferring instead the Queen's lovely handmaiden Lady Alice Barton (Nan Grey) instead. Wyatt is imprisoned and tortured, however, the Queen aids his escape. Wyatt escapes to France and plots the overthrow of Edward with Henry Tudor (Ralph Forbes).

Meanwhile, Richard has started to move up the line of succession. First to go is Henry who has emerged as a hero following his survival in a battle in which he was supposed to be killed. The Prince of Wales is killed in the battle. The Duke of Clarence is drowned in a barrel of wine and ultimately Edward dies of natural causes.

Richard is appointed Prortector of the two young princes (Ronald Sinclair, John-Herbert Bond). He soon proclaims himself king and to be sure has Mord murder the two young princes.

Wyatt returns to England to claim his bride. After stealing the King's treasure Wyatt returns to France and turns the treasure over to Henry Tudor. Tudor mounts an invasion of England and......

Director Lee gives us a couple of exciting battle sequences over the course of the film. The murder of the two young princes cements the true evil of Richard.

Rathbone's character is behind Price's in the line of succession, which would make him younger. Rathbone however, was almost 20 years older than price. Karloff has merely a supporting role here but does his best as the evil Mord. John Rodian who plays Lord DeVere who is executed at the start of the film was Rathbone's real life son.

Karloff and Price would not work together again until 1963's "The Raven" for Roger Corman. Price had starred in the remake of "The Tower of London" in a low budget re-make, also for Corman in 1962. Price, Karloff and Rathbone, appeared together in Corman's "The Comedy of Terrors" (1964).

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Familiar Music vacousin
What Did Vincent Price Drown In? calfan
What was up with Mord tucking the princes into bed? tcshan
who dunit? jamdonahoo
Horror? jjkxbtt
'A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!' railyard
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