Tower of London (1939)

Director:

Rowland V. Lee

Writer:

Robert N. Lee (original screenplay)

Release Date:

17 November 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

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...

Plot Keywords:

King | Brother | 15th Century | Executioner | Murder

Cast

Basil Rathbone	...	Richard - Duke of Gloucester
Boris Karloff	...	Mord
Barbara O'Neil	...	Queen Elyzabeth
Ian Hunter	...	King Edward IV
Vincent Price	...	George - 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	...	King Edward the Fifth
John Herbert-Bond	...	Boy Prince Richard of York
Ralph Forbes	...	Henry Tudor
Frances Robinson	...	Duchess Isobel
G.P. Huntley	...	Prince of Wales
John Rodion	...	Lord Devere
Walter Tetley	...	Chimney Sweep
Donnie Dunagan	...	Baby Prince Richard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ernie Adams	...	Thirsty Prisoner (uncredited)
Richard Alexander	...	2nd Gate Guard Greeting Tom Clink (uncredited)
Harry A. Bailey	...	Councilman (uncredited)
Reginald Barlow	...	Sherriff (uncredited)
Ted Billings	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Stanley Blystone	...	First Gate Guard Greeting Tom Clink (uncredited)
Ed Brady	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Louise Brien	...	Lady in Waiting (uncredited)
Howard Brooks	...	Cardinal (uncredited)
Georgia Caine	...	Dowager (uncredited)
Joan Carroll	...	Lady Mowbray (uncredited)
Carolyn Cooke	...	Woman (uncredited)
Harry Cording	...	Lead Murderer of the Children (uncredited)
Nigel De Brulier	...	Archbishop at St. John's Chapel (uncredited)
Fred Farrell	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Martin Faust	...	Dighton (uncredited)
Jean Fenwick	...	Lady in Waiting (uncredited)
Al Ferguson	...	Cleric (uncredited)
John George	...	Spy (uncredited)
Robert Greig	...	Friar Cautioning John Wyatt (uncredited)
Frank Hagney	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Sibyl Harris	...	Woman (uncredited)
Ivo Henderson	...	Haberdeer (uncredited)
Holmes Herbert	...	Councilman (uncredited)
P.J. Kelly	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Soldier (uncredited)
George Lloyd	...	Moat Guard (uncredited)
Murdock MacQuarrie	...	Councilman (uncredited)
Michael Mark	...	Henry VI's Servant (uncredited)
Jim Mason	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Merrill McCormick	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Charles Miller	...	Councilman (uncredited)
Arthur Mulliner	...	Councilman (uncredited)
Claude Payton	...	Councilman (uncredited)
Charles Peck	...	Page Boy (uncredited)
Russ Powell	...	Sexton (uncredited)
Francis Powers	...	Priest (uncredited)
Evelyn Selbie	...	Beggar Woman (uncredited)
Venetia Severn	...	Princess (uncredited)
Yvonne Severn	...	Princess (uncredited)
C. Montague Shaw	...	Majordomo (uncredited)
Edgar Sherrod	...	Priest (uncredited)
Ivan F. Simpson	...	Anne's Protector (uncredited)
Jack C. Smith	...	Forrest (uncredited)
Schuyler Standish	...	Page (uncredited)
Arthur Stenning	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Donald Stuart	...	Torturer Bunch (uncredited)
Denis Tankard	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Cyril Thornton	...	Prisoner (uncredited)
David Thursby	...	Beggar (uncredited)
Ann E. Todd	...	Princess (uncredited)
Claire Whitney	...	Civilian Woman (uncredited)
Guy York Jr.	...	Soldier (uncredited)

Directed by
Rowland V. Lee

Writing credits
Robert N. Lee		(original screenplay)

Produced by
Rowland V. Lee	....	producer

Original Music by
Frank Skinner		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
George Robinson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Edward Curtiss

Art Direction by
Jack Otterson

Set Decoration by
Russell A. Gausman		(as R.A. Gausman)

Costume Design by
Vera West		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Sam Kaufman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Otto Lederer	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Jack P. Pierce	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred Frank	....	assistant director
Ford Beebe	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Richard H. Riedel	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Bernard B. Brown	....	sound supervisor
William Hedgcock	....	sound technician

Visual Effects by
Jack Cosgrove	....	matte effects (uncredited)
Russell Lawson	....	matte effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Edward Colman	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Henry Schuster	....	background photographer (uncredited)
George J. Teague	....	process photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Paul Landres	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Charles Previn	....	musical director
Frank Skinner	....	orchestrator
Louis Forbes	....	music associate (uncredited)
Ralph Freed	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Hans J. Salter	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Hans J. Salter	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Frank Skinner	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)

Other crew
G.O.T. Bagley	....	technical advisor (as Major G.O.T. Bagley)
Gerald Grove	....	technical advisor (as Sir Gerald Grove)
Fred Cavens	....	fencing master (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1939) (USA) (theatrical)
• Film Classics (1948) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Universal (1948) (France) (theatrical) (as Universal Films S.A.)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (Canada) (theatrical) (5 film collection)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #5819) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating) | UK:PG (DVD rating) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Castle, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Vincent Price later admitted the "wine" he got drunk with in the film was Coca Cola.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: (At 20:15) A person can be seen walking past the window.

Quotes:

Mord:[to Richard] You're more than a king, more than a man. You're a god to me!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Best of Sex and Violence (1981)

TOWER OF LONDON IS SINISTER

Tower of London is as sinister as Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff and the rest of Universal's horror department can make it. Although the picture is not without its weaknesses, lack of thrills is not one of them. Neither is the casting--Rathbone and Karloff are savage enough to please the most bloodthirsty. Karloff enjoys his role as executioner and spends plenty of time in his torture chamber.