People are voting emotionally.

Load of rubbish!!

Fresh and Exciting

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Shakespeare -- Universal Pictures style! Basil Rathbone plays Richard III, who rises to power with the help of his club-footed executioner Mord, played by Boris Karloff ("crookback and dragfoot"). Excellent historical suspenser from Universal. Not a horror movie, despite the cast and studio. Although Karloff's Mord would be right at home lurking around Castle Frankenstein. In addition to Karloff and Rathbone, the cast includes Vincent Price, Leo G. Carroll, Ian Hunter, and lovely Nan Grey. Great sets, costumes, and direction by Rowland V. Lee. Rathbone is having lots of fun being evil and Karloff is always a treat to watch. I really like this one!

Those who have seen Richard III as written by William Shakespeare (or even the updated version with Ian McKellan) will find this to be the "cliff notes" version of that classic play. Basil Rathbone, after going into the Bard with "Romeo and Juliet", now enters the world of one of the most vile rulers of England's history, a hunchback who basically killed off his entire family to rise to the thrown and only be knocked right back down again. It is obvious that historical villains like this keep winning on their rise to the top so their fall will only be greater, and that is the fate of the Duke of Glouchester who has too many steps in his way to get to the throne. His brother (Ian Hunter) has already usurped the throne, has two sons in line, followed by a cowardly brother (Vincent Price) who simultaneously hates and fears him at the same time. The Queen (Barbara O'Neil) senses that her two sons are in danger from their supposedly loving uncle, and other royal in-laws either go abroad or are executed to avoid the wrath of his ambition and the evil executioner (Boris Karloff).Poor Price gets the worst fate, a drinking contest which ends with a visit to the wine vats. How does Rathbone stay so sober? Perhaps, like a camel, he is able to store the wine in his hump. In real life, Richard III's hump was much more obvious than it was, maybe not as large as the one of the bell-ringer of Notre Dame, but certainly not as subtle as the one Rathbone has here. Not since Livia of "I Claudius" has someone dispatched so many relatives in an effort to get closer to the throne, and Duke Richard delightfully steps on as many heels as he can to get there. Even children aren't safe, and one poor child (delivering a message for a princess) feels the wrath and literally Karloff's boot while trying to get out of the castle.Handsomely made, this delightful epic may not be as poetic as Shakespeare, but it is certainly better than other historical epics who changed a lot of facts to add more drama to the plot. (Like this story could use any more drama...) Made just at the outbreak of war in Europe, I'm sure this was seen as a warning to Hitler and Mussolini that previous ruthless leaders ultimately fell. It is ironic that Price (playing the Duke of Clarence) ends up in the hunchback costume years later when American International filmed its own version of the story that was a bit darker, if not even more camp.

The picture begins with a foreword : ¨No age is without its ruthless men -who , in their search for power , leave dark stains upon the pages of history . During the Middle Ages -to seize the tower of London was to seize the throne of England . In 1471 this has been done by Edward IV (Ian Hunter)- who has violently deposed the feeble Henry IV (Miles Mander) and holds him prisoner . Within the deep shadows of the Tower walls lives the population of a small city , some in prison cells and torture chambers , some in palaces and spacious lodgings , but none in peace . A web of intrigue veils the lives of all who know only too well that today's friends might be tomorrow's enemies¨ . As this excellent film tells the story of power-hungry Richard III Crookback (an incisive Basil Rathbone who features an acclaimed acting) , 6th in throne succession , subsequent and eventually crowned king , the English monarch who brutally executed the people who attempted to get in way to the throne . Richard eliminates those ahead of him in succession to the throne, then occupied by his brother King Edward IV of England. Richard , Duke of Gloucester , is a dominant , unstoppable , mean lord , gross black spider of a figure that devours or possesses everything on its path . After the death of Edward he becomes Richard III, King of England, and he needs only defeat the exiled Henry Tudor to retain power . Deformed and ruthless English king Richard battles Prince of Wales' army , as the opposing forces converge in Gloucester-shire and the Prince prays for victory at the Priory of Hereford . This melodrama is based on historical events , during Two Roses War , ¨Red Rose (York)¨ ruled by Edward IV and Richard III followers and ¨White Rose (Lancaster)¨ Henry VII followers who vanquish them . There finally takes place battle of Bosworth , in which Richard III is defeated and takes over the kingdom , a new ruler named Henry VII Tudor.Dazzling , hypnotic entertainment that was deemed extremely graphic for its time and some of the torture scenes had to be cut before it was released . More interested as historical drama than as a terror film , the picture profits from a magnificent cast who gives over-the-top interpretations . Well produced and atmospheric picture , being stunningly directed by Rowland V .Lee , which gives Boris Karloff one of his best characters as the shaven-headed executioner who looks like a forerunner of ulterior roles . Gorgeously polished visuals are perfect foil for the slimy , evil goings-on . 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 . Production wrapped on 4 September 1939, 10 days and nearly $80,000 over budget . Tremendous black and white cinematography by George Robinson and stunning dramatic impact in one of the most successful Universal films ever made . Good musical score , though studio heads were alarmed that the score contained nothing but period music and ordered a new score be written ; time considerations ultimately prevented this, with Frank Skinner cobbling together pieces from his score from The son of Frankenstein , only pieces of the original score survived the final cut. Other films dealing with this historic personage are the followings : ¨Tower of London¨(1962) by Roger Corman with Vincent Price as Richard III , Michael Pate , Sandra Knight ; it results to be a sophisticated remake and Price plays a role taken over in the 1939 rendition who coincidentally appeared as the doomed Duke of Clarence ; the classic ¨Richard III¨ (1955) starred and directed by Laurence Olivier with Ralph Richardson , John Gielgud , Cedric Hardwicke , this is the landmark version of the Shakespearean play . And modern take ¨Richard III (1995) by Richard Loncraine with Ian Mckellen , Jim Broadbent , Robert Downey Jr and Nigel Hawthorne , being set in an imagined 1930s London of swanky Art Deco .

Tower of London is Universal's attempt to bring the classic Shakespeare play 'Richard III' to the silver screen. I can't say I'm a big fan of Shakespeare; but since this film puts a lot of focus on the dastardly nature of its lead character and numerous torture sequences; I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Rowland V. Lee's film attempts to tell the story of Richard III from his time as Duke of Gloucester, all the way to his reign of king - but since the film only runs for ninety minutes, it gets a little crammed; although that does mean things always stay interesting. The film takes place in the 15th century and we focus on Richard, duke of Gloucester and fourth in line to be king of England. He's not particularly happy about those people in front of him, and so sets out to eliminate them one by one; with the help of his trusty deformed assistant Mord. Richard slowly turns the tide in his favour as he gets the people on his side and plays various people above him to unwittingly fall into place.The film features a really good cast, headed up by Basil Rathbone. Rathbone is absolutely brilliant in the lead role and really capture the central character's slyness and lust for power. The actor would of course become most famous for playing Sherlock Holmes; but he really enjoys himself in this role also. Aside from Rathbone, the film also features two other great luminaries in smaller roles; Boris Karloff and Vincent Price. The plot has rather a lot to it and certain things are rushed; which means that the film can be a bit hard to get to grips with in the early stages, although it is saved by some truly great scenes; a pivotal one between Rathbone and Price is a particular highlight. Rowland V. Lee is keen to portray the horror of this story as much as possible and the film features a brilliant foreboding atmosphere and there are plenty of torture scenes (courtesy of Karloff's sadistic character) also. There are also a couple of battle scenes that highlight the film's weakness in terms of budget. The film would be remade in 1962 by Roger Corman; but the films are really very different and for my money, this is better of the pair. Overall, Tower of London works both as a historical drama and as a thriller and comes highly recommended!