“Crook back and drag foot. Misfits eh?”
In 1471 the Ambitious Richard, Duke of Gloucester (Basil Rathbone) has eyes on the throne. He has already maneuvered to help his older brother Edward IV (Ian Hunter) to become King of England. The deposed senile old King Henry VI (Miles Mander) is sent to the Tower of London. He has also made sure that Lord DeVere (John Rodion), one of the old king’s supporters, lost his head under the axe of the executioner Mord (Boris Karloff).
Richard keeps a box with doll figures in it. Each figure represents a person that stands between him and his goal to be King. There are still six people in his way. The senile king Henry VI, Henry’s son the Prince of Wales (G.P. Huntley), Richard’s own brother King Edward IV, his brother’s two sons, both children and his other brother George, the Duke of Clarence (Vincent Price).
Several things must fall into place in order for him to gain all he desires. One of his desires was Anne Neville (Rose Hobart). Anne was married off to Henry’s son the Prince of Wales. Edward wants Richard to marry some dowager duchess but Richard is still pining for Anne. He convinces Edward to marry her off to John Wyatt (John Sutton). Wyatt is in love with Alice Barton (Nan Grey). When Wyatt refuses he is sent into exile in France.
When the Prince of Wales sails across the channel with an Army he is killed in battle. That makes one less person in his way. Then Richard has the old king murdered by his trusty henchman Mord. Now two people closer Richard marries Anne and convinces his brother the king to award him lands that belong to his other brother the Duke of Clarence. When the Duke plots against the King and Richard he is put in the Tower. Richard devises a plan and soon the Duke is dead as well.
Eventually Edward gets sick and dies, as far as we know, of natural causes. The Queen is sent to a convent and Richard acts as regent for Edward’s oldest son who is now the King as well as becoming the younger brother’s guardian. But Richard is not done.
“Tower of London” was released in 1939 and was directed by Rowland V. Lee. Although it stars Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff and Vincent Price it is not a horror movie. It is a historical period drama loosely based on the life of King Richard III and how he came to power. How much of it is true is up for debate. I wouldn’t use the movie as my basis on what is fact and what is fiction. Much of what was said about him could very well be propaganda spread by people such as John Rous and William Shakespeare.
The movie itself is quite good. The acting is great and the sets are expansive. If you’re not into English Monarchy it may seem a little slow and it can get a little confusing at times with everybody marrying everybody else. If you like period pieces and are partial to the fifteenth century this will be right up your alley. If not, you at least get to see Basil Rathbone with Mr. Spock eyebrows.