Tower of London (1939): cast, story & where to watch
1939 · Film · ★ 5.9
Released in 1939, Tower of London is a drama and history film directed by Rowland V. Lee, running about 92 minutes. “See: VAST ARMIES CLASH BEFORE YOUR EYES! See: AX-COLD MASTERS OF TREACHERY! See: DARK SECRETS BEHIND GRIM TOWERS! See: CRUELTY, COLD AS A HEADSMAN'S AX! See: BLOOD BOILING, LUSTY EXCITEMENT!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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, then occupied by his brother King Edward IV of England. As each murder is accomplished he takes particular delight in removing small figurines, each resembling one of the successors, from a throne-room dollhouse, until he alone remains. After the death of Edward he becomes Richard III, King of England, and need only defeat the exiled Henry Tudor to retain power.
Who’s in it. Tower of London stars Basil Rathbone as Richard - Duke of Gloucester, Boris Karloff as Mord, Barbara O'Neil as Queen Elyzabeth and Ian Hunter as King Edward IV, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.9/10, Tower of London has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Tower of London page.
If you liked it. Fans of Tower of London tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Tower of London (1939)?
- In US, Tower of London is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Tower of London worth watching?
- Tower of London holds an audience score of 5.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and history. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Tower of London?
- Tower of London stars Basil Rathbone, Boris Karloff, Barbara O'Neil, Ian Hunter and Vincent Price.
- When was Tower of London released?
- Tower of London was released in 1939, with a runtime of about 92 minutes.