A struggling circus finds salvation in the form of an exciting new twist on their high-wire act.A struggling circus finds salvation in the form of an exciting new twist on their high-wire act.A struggling circus finds salvation in the form of an exciting new twist on their high-wire act.
William Hartnell
- Jim Powers
- (as Bill Hartnell)
Elsie Wagstaff
- Eve Wainwright
- (as Elsie Wagstaffe)
Patricia Laffan
- Nurse
- (uncredited)
Peter Noble
- Circus Worker
- (uncredited)
Jack Sharp
- Circus Worker
- (uncredited)
Cecil Ayres Trio
- Skaters
- (uncredited)
Victor Wood
- Journalist
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- Trivia"The Dark Tower" was a play by George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott which ran for 57 performances on Broadway between November 1933 and January 1934. Warner Brothers bought the rights and made it as a vehicle for Edward G. Robinson later that year under the title "The Man with Two Faces". Nine years later Warner Brothers U.K. remade the film under the original title "The Dark Tower". The two films have very little resemblance to each other in their plots and backgrounds except for the heroine falling under the spell of a demonic fiend who controls her mind. The Hollywood version is faithful to the original with a Broadway actor trying to rescue his sister from her Svengali husband; the British version has an aerial artist in the power of a hypnotist against a circus background.
- GoofsWhile Tom and the other members of the troupe are packing; at one point the hidden overhead lighting used on the set begin to blink.
- Quotes
Willie Wainwright: Ladies and gentlemen, once more we bring to your town the thrill of a lifetime. The unparalled, the inimical, unrivalled Empire Circus. Come in your thousands and enjoy this feast of equine dexterity and acrobatic marvels we shall place before your astounded gaze. Never before in the history of this town has such a gay galaxy of talent and of beauty been set before you.
- ConnectionsRemake of The Man with Two Faces (1934)
Featured review
Familiar circus yarn with a new twist...Herbert Lom as hypnotist...
Murder under the big top has often been a favorite topic for the screen, especially when you add jealousy and rivalry to the mix. This is a British film made during the war years at a studio that was later bombed and put out of use.
HERBERT LOM has a key role as a hypnotist hired by the circus to give one of their high wire performers (ANNE CRAWFORD) the nerve to perform a dangerous act while under his positive spell. She's married to David FARRAR but soon attracts the hypnotist with her blonde beauty. BEN LYON is manager of the circus troupe. Lom wants respect and tells the circus manager he has the power to command success.
The plot ambles along rather pleasantly with just enough tension to keep the interest up as Lom soon becomes important to the circus because he has complete control over Crawford, much to her husband's dismay. There are a few surprises later on, when the high wire act under the hypnotist's guidance goes awry with tragic circumstances. An additional surprise is the twist given the ending.
Lom really steals the film as the hypnotist with magnetic eyes. David Farrar and Anne Crawford are both perfect as the husband and wife team torn apart by his interference.
Better than average circus drama from the U.K.
HERBERT LOM has a key role as a hypnotist hired by the circus to give one of their high wire performers (ANNE CRAWFORD) the nerve to perform a dangerous act while under his positive spell. She's married to David FARRAR but soon attracts the hypnotist with her blonde beauty. BEN LYON is manager of the circus troupe. Lom wants respect and tells the circus manager he has the power to command success.
The plot ambles along rather pleasantly with just enough tension to keep the interest up as Lom soon becomes important to the circus because he has complete control over Crawford, much to her husband's dismay. There are a few surprises later on, when the high wire act under the hypnotist's guidance goes awry with tragic circumstances. An additional surprise is the twist given the ending.
Lom really steals the film as the hypnotist with magnetic eyes. David Farrar and Anne Crawford are both perfect as the husband and wife team torn apart by his interference.
Better than average circus drama from the U.K.
helpful•161
- Doylenf
- Sep 24, 2007
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Dantonmysteriet
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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