TOWER OF LONDON (1962)

                                             
 It feels a little odd that this "remake" would make it to CotF before the 1939 original, but it just so happens I'm in Price mode at the moment. Watching this movie again only made it a little better..... Do you have the courage to spend 83 minutes in THE TOWER OF LONDON? Don't worry, it's actually only 80 minutes.....

                                               
                                                      
Vincent Price, Sinister as ever, assays the role of  the bloodthirsty Richard III, a man who's path to king includes murder, even of his own family and blood. Price makes the kills, the tortures and the arrests all too often throughout the film, so there is plenty of carnage in that regard that helps to keep things interesting whenever the pace slows down. The film might technically be refferred to as a costume drama, with the horror (or fantastic) elements kept to a minimum. This is an accurate statement, but as with the original film, the actors and style relate so closely with many other period films, that Tower of London becomes associated with them. It is horror by proxy perhaps.... The torture scenes are pretty good, and they seem a lot fresher seeing as this was the early 60's.....


The horrific elements come into play as the ghosts of Price's victims, never allowing his conscience any peace or rest. His guilty mind manufactures scenes of madness throughout the film and as it drags on, Price becomes all the more unreasonable as a character. He is quite fun, as usual, to watch in this film. His right hand man Ratcliffe (played by Micheal Pate) is more than happy to perform Price's dirty work in the TOWER OF LONDON. No one is safe from their desires. Joan Freeman (who would later costar in Friday the 13th: the Final Chapter) makes an appearance. She is an observer to a key torture scene....

The story is ok. It's the sets that add much merit to the film. Not many were used and the film was low budget but the money was well spent. Roger Corman intended to direct the film in colour, but this was turned down by studio heads who wanted a B&W picture. Further arguments arose when, to save money, the studio decided to showcase stock footage (substituting for the final battle) from the 1939 original Tower of London, thus Basil Rathbone can be seen. It amazes me how cheap they went yet still made a decent picture. Overall Tower of London is nothing special, but it's sets, and Price definately merit the film a watch. Available on a two-disc DVD set (from MGM's Midnite Movies line) with THE HAUNTED PALACE (1963). Buy now. THREE STARS OUT OF FIVE.