TOWER OF LONDON
US, 1939, 92 minutes, Black and white.
Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Barbara O’ Neill, Ian Hunter, Vincent Price, Nan Grey, John Sutton, Leo G. Carroll.
Directed by Rowland V. Lee.
Audiences might be mistaken to think this is a horror film with Boris Karloff and Vincent Price in the cast. However, it is a historical drama focusing on Richard, the hunchback Duke of Gloucester who was to become Richard III. The film focuses on the material covered so effectively in Shakespeare’s Richard III. Laurence Olivier’s version of Richard III is the classic version – though Ian Mc Kellan made a very interesting version in the 1990s giving it a fascist 1930s setting.
Basil Rathbone, a splendid villain from many films of the 30s to the 50s, is the hunchbacked (slightly) Richard. At this stage he also appeared in The Adventures of Robin Hood as well as his Sherlock Holmes series. Boris Karloff has a small role as his assistant who assists him in eliminating the rivals to the throne including the two young princes in the tower as well as the Duke of Clarence (here played by Vincent Price – who was to be Richard in the 1960s remake of Tower of London).
The film is a psychological drama, focusing on the mind and ambitions of Richard. It shows his ruthlessness – and the final confrontation with Henry Tudor who was to defeat him at Bosworth Field and become Henry VII, father of Henry VIII.
The film was directed by Rowland V. Lee who began direction in 1920, made some significant films in the 1930s including the classic Count of Monte Cristo as well as a version of The Three Musketeers and The Son of Frankenstein. He also made The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Captain Kidd during the 1940s.
1. Was this an enjoyable film? As history, drama, Boris Karloff horror? Which aspect predominated?
2. How important were the 1930s film techniques: the sets, the costumes, the production values? The quality of the acting?
3. Why is the historical background of the War of the Roses so interesting to English speaking audiences? The Civil War background, the personalities involved, the historical background and understanding of human nature? Were these themes emphasised in the film?
4. How well did the film focus on Richard? His ambitions, a sinister character? Basil Rathbone’s performance, not so disfigured as other Richards, his ambitions and his tableau of statues, his removing his rivals, his devices for murder, his overreaching himself and his death? Was there insight into Richard in this characterisation?
5. How important was Boris Karloff’s executioner for the film? How horrifying? How real a character? The sensationalism of his cruelty?
6. The insight into Edward IV? As a weak king, as the crony of Richard, the importance of the execution scenes, his death?
7. The contrast with the Duke of Clarence, his weakness, his trusting Richard, his being out manoeuvred, the irony of his drinking and his death?
8. The portrayal of the Queen Dowager, her collaboration with Edward, her fear of Richard, the inevitability of the murder of her children in the tower?
9. Was Lady Anne an attractive character? Was her relationship with Richard convincing?
10. How well drawn were the minor characters and the people at court? The young man executed, his cousin? The quality of the intrigues at the court? The role of executions? The fleeing to France and to Henry Tudor?
11. How did the Tower of London serve as a symbol for the events of this film?' How successful was this as a historical movie compared with modern epics? Where are the differences? Are they important?
