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The Dark Tower (1943 film)

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5.8/10
Letterboxd

Genre
  
Drama, Thriller

Story by
  
Language
  
English

6/10
IMDb

Music director
  
Duration
  

Country
  
United Kingdom

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Director
  
John Harlow, John Fawcett

Release date
  
18 October 1943 (1943-10-18)

Based on
  
the play by George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott

Cast
  
(Phil Danton), (Mary), (Tom Danton), (Stephen Torg), (Willie Wainwright), (Jim Towers (as Bill Hartnell))

Similar movies
  
The Walk
,
Dumbo
,
Oz: The Great and Powerful
,
The Last Romantic Lover
,
Wallenda
,
Thousands Cheer

The Dark Tower is a 1943 British thriller film starring Ben Lyon, Anne Crawford, David Farrar and Herbert Lom. The film marked Herbert Lom's first major film role.

Contents

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Plot

The Dark Tower (1943 film) movie poster

Stephen Torg (Herbert Lom) seeks work at a struggling traveling circus. While there, a lion escapes; Torg is able to control it with his skill at hypnotism. Phil Danton (Ben Lyon), the head of the circus, is so impressed, he hires the newcomer. Then someone comes up with an idea. Torg hypnotizes Mary (Anne Crawford) so that she can perform a dangerous aerial stunt without props. Her partner and boyfriend, Tom Danton (David Farrar) is suspicious, but is overruled by the others.

The Dark Tower (1943 film) movie scenes

With Torg's help, the circus becomes very successful, and Torg is able to force Phil into making him a partner. Meanwhile, Torg falls in love with Mary, though she makes it clear to him that her heart belongs to Tom. As time goes on, Torg begins to exert control over Mary. Before one performance, he tells her under hypnosis that she will be so tired that she will be unable to hold onto Tom during their trapeze act. As a result, Tom falls and is injured so badly, he has to stay in the hospital. The others suspect what is going on, but have no proof and are powerless to do anything.

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When Tom recovers enough to return to the circus, he finds that Torg has Mary performing an even more dangerous stunt. While watching it, he unthinkingly cries out her name, breaking her trance and almost causing her fall from the high wire. While Torg is being lowered to the ground, Phil cuts the rope and Torg falls to his death. However, in a twist, the doctor reveals that Torg was shot in the head in mid-air, a feat that could only have been done by the circus's sharpshooter, Dora (Josephine Wilson).

Cast

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  • Ben Lyon as Phil Danton
  • Anne Crawford as Mary
  • David Farrar as Tom Danton
  • Herbert Lom as Stephen Torg
  • Frederick Burtwell as Colonel Willie Wainwright
  • William Hartnell as Jimmy Powers
  • Josephine Wilson as Dora Shogun
  • Elsie Wagstaff as Eve
  • J.H. Roberts as Dr. Wilson
  • Aubrey Mallalieu as Doctor
  • Cecil Ayres as Trio
    Victor Wood Skaters
  • Critical reception

    The Dark Tower (1943 film) movie poster

    Aveleyman called the film an "enjoyable little B-film with noir overtones, with some excellent performances. Lyon may be top-billed, but this is Lom's film all the way. Too bad much of the rest is strictly routine."


    The Dark Tower (1943 film) movie scenes

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    References

    The Dark Tower (1943 film) Wikipedia
    The Dark Tower (1943 film) IMDbThe Dark Tower (1943 film) LetterboxdThe Dark Tower (1943 film) themoviedb.org