Tower of London (1939)
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65% of users liked it
(404 ratings)
Basil Rathbone's real-life son, John Rodion, has his head chopped off early on in this historical melodrama often mistakenly referred to as a horror film. Yes, a second-billed Boris Karloff does stomp about on a club-foot as the Duke of Glouchester's chief executioner, Mord, but… More Basil Rathbone's real-life son, John Rodion, has his head chopped off early on in this historical melodrama often mistakenly referred to as a horror film. Yes, a second-billed Boris Karloff does stomp about on a club-foot as the Duke of Glouchester's chief executioner, Mord, but Karloff's presence is really more colorful than horrifying. Rathbone is the main villain here, as the Duke of Glouchester, the deformed second brother of Edward IV (Ian Hunter), whose throne he covets. But before he can place himself on that exalted chair, there are quite a few relatives and pretenders to be rid off. The exiled Prince of Wales (G.P. Huntley) is dispatched during a battle, and his father, the feeble-minded Plantagenet King Henry VI (Miles Mander), who steadfastly refuses to gracefully die of old age, is murdered by Mord. Half-brother Clarence (Vincent Price), meanwhile, is drowned very picturesquely in a vat of Malmsey wine and when Edward IV dies of natural causes, only his two young sons remain. To the horror of Queen Elizabeth (Barbara O'Neil), Glouchester is named their protector -- which of course means that Mord the executioner will be working overtime once again. But the evil duke, now Richard III, has not counted on the heroic John Wyatt (John Sutton), who, by looting the treasury, is able to bring back from exile in France yet another pretender, Henry Tudor (Ralph Forbes). The latter's invasion proves victorious at the famous battle of Bosworth Field and the brutal reign of Richard II, and his executioner, comes to an end. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi
- Directed By
- Rowland V. Lee
- Written By
- Robert N. Lee
- Genres
- Drama, Horror
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Nov 17, 1939 Wide
- On DVD
- Sep 10, 1992
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Gruesome chilling tale of dynasty change.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Makes for pretty compelling entertainment. Just don't take it for anything like historically accurate
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Cast
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Basil Rathbone
as Richard III
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Boris Karloff
as Mord the Executioner
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Vincent Price
as Duke of Clarence
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Barbara O'Neil
as Elizabeth I
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Ian Hunter
as Edward IV
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Nan Grey
as Lady Alice Barton
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Ernest Cossart
as Tom Clink
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John Sutton
as John Wyatt
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Leo G Carroll
as Lord Hastings
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Miles Mander
as Henry VI
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Lionel Belmore
as Beacon Chiruegeon
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Rose Hobart
as Anne Neville
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Ronald Sinclair
as Boy King Edward
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Ralph Forbes
as Henry Tudor
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Frances Robinson
as Duchess Isobel
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G.P. Huntley
as Prince of Wales
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Walter Tetley
as Chimney Sweep
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Donnie Dunagan
as Baby Prince
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Ernie S. Adams
as Prisoner Begging for Water
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Reginald Barlow
as Sheriff at Execution
- Louise Brien
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Georgia Caine
as Dowager Duchess
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Harry Cording
as Tyrell Assassin
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Nigel De Brulier
as Archbishop
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Jean Fenwick
as Ladies in Waiting
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Robert Greig
as Father Olmstead
- Holmes Herbert
- Colin Kenny
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Michael Mark
as Servant to Henry VI
- Alec McCowen
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Charles Peck
as Page Boy
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Russell Powell
as Sexton Bell Ringer
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Evelyn Selbie
as Beggar Woman
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C. Montague Shaw
as Major Domo
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Ivan Simpson
as Retainer
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David Thursby
as Beggar
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Claire Whitney
as Civilian Woman
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Donald Stewart
as Bunch
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Jack C. Smith
as Forrest
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Ivo Henderson
as Haberdeer
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Yvonne Severn
as Princesses
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Arthur Stenning
as Soldier
- Denis Tankard
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Charles Miller
as Councilman
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Ann Todd
as Queen Elizabeth's Daughter
