{"id":4110,"date":"2007-09-02T10:09:07","date_gmt":"2007-09-02T17:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4110"},"modified":"2021-01-02T11:27:48","modified_gmt":"2021-01-02T18:27:48","slug":"tower-of-london-1939","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4110","title":{"rendered":"Tower of London (1939)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;You&#8217;re more than a king, more than a man. You&#8217;re a god to me!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Poster-194x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"194\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-23549\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Poster-194x300.jpg 194w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Poster-83x128.jpg 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Poster.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 194px) 100vw, 194px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn 15th century England, the power-hungry Duke of Gloucester (Basil Rathbone) &#8212; assisted by his loyal club-footed executioner (Boris Karloff) &#8212; attempts to murder his way to the throne.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Basil Rathbone Films<\/li>\n<li>Boris Karloff Films<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>Ian Hunter Films<\/li>\n<li>Plot to Murder<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility<\/li>\n<li>Vincent Price Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis atmospheric Shakespearean horror-drama &#8212; directed by Rowland V. Lee &#8212; is primarily notable for its featured performances by three of Universal&#8217;s best-known actors: Rathbone, Karloff, and Vincent Price (in one of his earliest roles). Each has at least one memorably creepy scene: Rathbone periodically visiting his &#8220;doll house&#8221; and reconfiguring the placement of figurines near the throne; Karloff meandering purposefully through &#8220;his&#8221; dungeon, pausing (for all the world like an <em>artiste<\/em>) to pile additional weight upon a tortured prisoner; Price laughing maniacally as he wrongly assumes that he can win a drinking bet with Rathbone. While critics at the time were bothered by the film&#8217;s cheeky mix of horror and costume drama, there&#8217;s something undeniably <em>horrific<\/em> about the Duke of Gloucester&#8217;s ruthless climb to power. As noted in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/93725\/tower-of-london#articles-reviews?articleId=161101\">TCM&#8217;s article<\/a>, &#8220;The beauty of a film as diabolical as <em>Tower of London<\/em> is not [in] knowing who is going to die next, but [in] savoring each victim&#8217;s unorthodox journey from the castle to the grave&#8221;. Despite its obvious perks, being royalty in medieval Europe comes across here as unquestionably risky; after watching this film, it&#8217;s not something most viewers would wish upon themselves.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Basil Rathbone as &#8220;crookback&#8221; Richard<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Rathbone.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Rathbone-1024x678.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"424\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Rathbone-1024x678.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Rathbone-300x199.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Rathbone-128x85.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Rathbone-768x509.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Rathbone.png 1457w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ian Hunter as blueblood-obsessed King Edward<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Hunter.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Hunter-1024x696.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"435\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46803\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Hunter-1024x696.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Hunter-300x204.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Hunter-128x87.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Hunter-768x522.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Hunter.png 1431w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Vincent Price as the Duke of Clarence<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Price.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Price-1024x695.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"434\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Price-1024x695.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Price-300x204.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Price-128x87.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Price-768x521.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Price.png 1433w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Boris Karloff as Richard&#8217;s loyal, club-footed executioner<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Karloff.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Karloff-1024x668.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"418\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Karloff-1024x668.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Karloff-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Karloff-128x83.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Karloff-768x501.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Karloff.png 1465w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Rathbone continually returning to his &#8220;doll house&#8221; to remove &#8220;eliminated&#8221; royalty<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Moving-Dolls-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Moving-Dolls-1-1024x694.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"434\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46806\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Moving-Dolls-1-1024x694.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Moving-Dolls-1-300x203.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Moving-Dolls-1-128x87.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Moving-Dolls-1-768x520.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Moving-Dolls-1.png 1433w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography-1024x645.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"403\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography-1024x645.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography-768x483.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography.png 1517w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography2-1024x682.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography2-1024x682.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography2-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography2-128x85.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography2-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Cinematography2.png 1465w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Fine production values<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Production-Values.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Production-Values-1024x681.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-46797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Production-Values-1024x681.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Production-Values-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Production-Values-128x85.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Production-Values-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/09\/Tower-of-London-Production-Values.png 1453w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as an all-around creepy-good show. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0032049\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/93725\/tower-of-london#articles-reviews?articleId=161101\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rinkworks.com\/movies\/m\/tower.of.london.1939.shtml\">At-a-Glance Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=2064\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;You&#8217;re more than a king, more than a man. You&#8217;re a god to me!&#8221; Synopsis: In 15th century England, the power-hungry Duke of Gloucester (Basil Rathbone) &#8212; assisted by his loyal club-footed executioner (Boris Karloff) &#8212; attempts to murder his way to the throne. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Basil Rathbone Films Boris Karloff Films Historical Drama Ian Hunter Films Plot to Murder Royalty and Nobility Vincent Price Films Review: This atmospheric Shakespearean horror-drama &#8212; directed by Rowland V. Lee&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4110\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4110","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4110"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4110\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61276,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4110\/revisions\/61276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4110"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4110"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4110"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}