Herbert Lom, in his first major role, is the best thing about The Dark Tower, a B-level British circus thriller, directed by John Harlow and also starring Ben Lyon, Anne Crawford, David Farrar.
It was written by Reginald Purdell and Brock Williams based on George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott’s 1933 play.
Seeking work at a struggling travelling circus, Stephen Torg shows his worth when he control an escaped lions with his hypnotism skills. Phil Danton, the circus head, is impressed and hires him.
Torg hypnotises Mary so that she can perform a dangerous aerial stunt without props. Her partner and boyfriend Tom Danton is suspicious, but is no one bothers to listen.
A sort of romantic triangle emerges, when Torg’s makes the circus successful, and he becomes a partner. Meanwhile, he falls in love with Mary, though her heart belongs to Tom.
Torg begins to exert control over Mary, telling her, under hypnosis, that she will be unable to hold onto Tom during a trapeze act. As a result, Tom falls and is injured.
Upon return to the circus, Tom finds that Mary is performing more dangerous stunt; crying out her name, he breaks her trance, almost causing her fall.
Phil then cuts the rope and Torg falls to his death–it’s the only way to free Mary. However, in a twist, the doctor reveals that Torg was shot in mid-air by anoher person, and calls the police.
The plot of this modest circus melodrama is not particularly convincing, and the atmosphere is only semi-thrilling, but it is enjoyable as a second-tier programmer.
The movie was not popular with audiences in the U.K. or U.S., but it hekped catapulting Lom into intyernational stardom.
Ferrar will reaffirm his status as a handsome lead man in The Black Narcissus, made in 1947 by the team of Powell and Pressburger.
Cast
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
John Harlow Filmography
My Lucky Star (1933)
Master and Man (1934)
Spellbound (1941)
This Was Paris (1942)
The Dark Tower (1943)
Candles at Nine (1944)
Headline (1944)
The Agitator (1945)
Meet Sexton Blake! (1945)
The Echo Murders (1945)
Appointment with Crime (1946)
Green Fingers (1947)
While I Live (1947)
Old Mother Riley’s New Venture (1949)
Old Mother Riley Headmistress (1950)
Those People Next Door (1953)
The Blue Parrot (1953)
Dangerous Cargo (1954)
Delayed Action (1954)
