THE DARK TOWER
UK, 1943, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Ben Lyon, Anne Crawford, David Farrar, Herbert Lom, Frederick Burtwell, William Hartnell, Josephine Wilson, Elsie Wagstaff.
Directed by John Harlow.
This is an unusual British film, a film about a travelling circus. There are very enjoyable sequences of circus acts, a troupe of women on bikes, horseriding, sharpshooting, trapeze acts but, most especially the clowns, the circus acts staged by the Reco Brothers. The manager of the circus is American, played by Ben Lyon.
The circus falls on hard times. Performance and crew all agree to suspend wages. When the lion tamer is attacked, a mysterious stranger, Torg, looks at the animal and subdue is it. The stranger does not explain his background except to say that he has this skill in hypnotism. He is played, very effectively, by Herbert Lom who actually deserves top billing.
Torg is ambitious, wants recognition, is able to hypnotise the trapeze artist, Mary, Anne Crawford, and eventually have her under his control. She is in love with Tom, David Farrar, but allows herself to be hypnotised completely by Torg. There are the expected clashes, Torg wanting a partnership with the manager, wanting Mary to love him, wanting to get rid of Tom.
This leads to a melodramatic ending on the high wire.
1. The title? Trapeze acts? The circus?
2. The British story? The British circus? Travelling the countryside? The marquee, the big top, caravans? The musical score?
3. Travelling circuses in the past, from town to town, the local audiences, the publicity, the range of acts, the performances of the clowns, women on bikes, on horses, the trapeze acts, the lion and the lion tamer?
4. The manager of the circus, Phil Danton, American, entrepreneur, hard times, lack of income, the appeal to the team, their support? Relationship with Tom?
5. Tom and Mary, the relationship, work on the trapeze, support and trust?
6. The enjoyment of the clown performances, the tightrope walker and his acrobatics? The women and their bikes, the horses?
7. The incident with the lion tamer, his loss of control? The arrival of Torg, his focus on the lion, subduing it? The consequences, his looking like a tramp, wanting a job? His mysterious background?
8. The team, the discussion about hypnosis, Torg and his control of the animals, whether this was possible with humans? With Mary? Phil agreeing? Mary agreeing to the trial? Tom upset, disagreeing, hostility towards Torg? The test, the agreement and incorporated into the act?
9. The publicist, the posters, the promotion of the act is extraordinary? The celebration, the guests? The continued success, the box office, from town to town?
10. The ringmaster, cheerful, large, his cell wife and her comments?
11. Mary, controlled by Torg? His change, manner, better clothes, buying the car, taking Mary to dinner? His suggesting that her arms were too weak to hold Tom? His fall? Hospital? The consequences for Mary?
12. Hypnosis, possibilities, control of a person?
13. Torg and his wanting to be a partner? Phil agreeing? The reaction of the others?
14. Dora, her presence in the group, sharpshooting? Her dislike of Torg? Her drinking, condemnation?
15. Tom, hospital, recovery, Mary and her visit?
16. Tom at the performance, calling out to Mary, putting her off guard? Torg and his control? The effect on Phil, his cutting the rope and Torg falling? The discovery that he had been shot? Dora confessing that she had shot him?
17. The links with Svengali? The role of hypnosis? The control of another person? And the credibility of its been incorporated into a circus and trapeze acts?
