The 1939 film "Tower of London" is a film set in 15th century England and is about the scheming of Richard, Duke of Gloucester to become king of England (as Richard III). The film is not based on Shakespeare's play Richard III but much of the story is the same with Richard being portrayed as a vicious deformed prince. Here Richard is assisted by the fictional Mord, a deformed official at the infamous Tower of the title, while going about eliminating the men ahead of him in line to become king. The film is a historical drama, not a horror film, although well-known horror film actors Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, and Basil Rathbone appear as major characters. A man about to be executed gives a groat (four pence coin) to the executioner along with an insult. The coin is not shown in the film. Later a treasure box full of coins appears.

A Foreword appears:

Mord, an official at the infamous Tower of London prison, is working late:

Mord is sharpening his axe as he is the executioner and specialist in "enhanced interrogation."

The year is 1471 and Edward IV is king of England. He and his brothers are from the York faction who are rivals of the Lancaster faction led by another Edward, the Prince of Wales.

Edward IV, Richard (Duke of Gloucester), and George (Duke of Clarence). Richard begins his plotting to take the throne, in the succession he is behind his brother the Duke of Clarence, the two sons of Edward IV (the "little princes"), Edward IV himself, the Prince of Wales (also an Edward, the son of King Henry VI), and Henry VI himself. Officially Henry VI is king of England, he is feeble and possibly senile, and is a prisoner of Edward IV.

Lord DeVere, a Lancasterian nobleman, has been captured by the York forces and is to be executed for fighting against Edward IV. DeVere is allowed to give a speech before he is executed.

An official advices DeVere to "make it short."

DeVere tells his cousin John Wyatt to "beware of Gloucester." He then turns to Mord.

DeVere hands the coin to Mord.

Silver, 26 mm, 2.81 gm
Obverse:
Crowned head facing front, quatrefoils flanking neck
EDWARD DI GRA REX ANGL Z FRAN Mintmark: sun
Reverse:
Long cross pattée; trefoils in quarters, pellet in second quarter.
POSVI DEVM ADIVTOREM MEVM (I have made God my helper)
CIVI TAS LON DON
Struck: London Tower Mint 1465-1466

Mord holds the coin, spits on it, and throws it to the ground. He then proceeds to test his ax.

His work done, Mord reports to Richard who gives him five pounds.

Mord worships Richard and they have a bond as both were born with deformities, Richard is a hunchback and Mord has a club foot; they call themselves "Crookback and Dragfoot."

Mord tells Richard: "You're more than a king, more than a man. You're a god to me!"

Richard visits Edward's wife, Queen Elyzabeth.

Richard, Elyzabeth, and her two sons, the princes Edward and Richard. Richard sends Mord to take care of King Henry.

Richard's next victim is his older brother, George, the Duke of Clarence. He challenges George to a duel, George accepts but makes it a drinking contest. They drink Malmsey, a sweet wine.

George collapses and Richard and Mord drown him in a large wine barrel (a "butt").

King Edward is dying and appoints Richard as "protector" for his two sons. Edward dies and his older son, a child, becomes Edward V with Richard as his regent. Later Richard declares himself as king by "the will of the people."

Queen Elyzabeth is worried about her sons and decides to support the Lancastrian nobleman Henry Tudor, who is living in France and is planning an invasion of England. The queen gives the location of King Edward's treasure to John Wyatt, a nobleman aligned with Tudor. John Wyatt has a girlfriend, Lady Alice, who works for the Queen. John Wyatt and some assistants find the treasure.

A man packs some gold coins into a bag. John Wyatt hides the treasure but is then arrested and taken to the Tower.

Mord and Richard employ various methods to get the location of the treasure from John, including the rack.

John doesn't give up the location and his girlfriend Alice, dressed as a man, manages to get into his cell and give him some escape tools. John escapes and heads to France with the treasure.

Richard decides to deal with the little princes.

Meanwhile, in France, John Wyatt and his girlfriend Alice meet with Henry Tudor.

Henry Tudor now has enough money and lands in England to raise an army. The armies of Henry Tudor and Richard III meet at Bosworth. Mord has always wanted to fight in a battle and accompanies Richard.

The battle occurs with Henry Tudor's army as victors and Richard and Mord meeting being killed.

Basil Rathbone as Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III)
Vincent Price as George, Duke of Clarence
Boris Karloff as Mord
Ian Hunter as King Edward IV
Barbara O'Neil as Queen Elyzabeth
John Sutton as John Wyatt
Nan Grey as Lady Alice Barton
John Rodion as Lord DeVere (John Rodion was Basil Rathbone's son)
Director: Rowland V. Lee
Writers: Robert N. Lee