The Dark Tower
Stephen Torg (Herbert Lom) seeks work at a financially struggling traveling circus. While there, a lion escapes; Torg is able to control it with his skill at hypnotism. Phil Danton (Ben Lyon), the hea…
The Dark Tower
Stephen Torg (Herbert Lom) seeks work at a financially 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 and protests strongly, but is overruled by the others. After his first success, Torg begins to demand respect even as he inserts himself between Tom and Mary. The rest of the crew soon sees Torg also completely shirks manual labor during setup and cleanup in between shows. With Torg's hypnosis, the circus becomes very successful, and Torg is able to force Phil through hypnosis into making him a equal partner without consulting partner Tom. Meanwhile, Torg falls in love with Mary, though she makes it clear to him that her heart belongs to Tom. He takes her on a dinner date. He tries to impress her with his new convertible and new clothes. As time goes on, Torg begins to exert complete control over Mary but realizes Tom is the impediment to having Mary for himself. Just 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 is kept in the hospital. Then, Phil and the others suspect his deadly sabotage, but have no proof and are powerless to do anything. Phil and Torg get into an argument and then Torg tries to kidnap Mary. Tom gives in to Torg in order to prevent a disagreement. On advice, he asks a psychiatrist to examine Mary. He confirms the hypnosis control. Phil brings her to the hospital to visit Tom, but she appears distant and cold to him. Some time later, when Tom using a cane recovers enough to return to the circus, he finds that Torg has Mary performing an even more dangerous high-wire stunt without safety net over a fire pit. While watching it, he unthinkingly cries out her name, breaking her trance and almost causing her fall from the wire. While Torg is being lowered to the ground, Phil cuts the rope and Torg falls to his death. Phil admits his actions to his colleagues as it was the only way to free Mary. 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), who steps forward. She sacrificed herself to save Phil, Mary and Tom. The doctor goes to call the police and summons Tom to where Mary is waking up. They are happily reunited and kiss. Cut to the ringmaster announcing Danton's Empire Circus, and the credits roll over the performance.
The Dark Tower
Drama,Thriller
Film Details
Stephen Torg (Herbert Lom) seeks work at a financially 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 and protests strongly, but is overruled by the others.
After his first success, Torg begins to demand respect even as he inserts himself between Tom and Mary. The rest of the crew soon sees Torg also completely shirks manual labor during setup and cleanup in between shows. With Torg's hypnosis, the circus becomes very successful, and Torg is able to force Phil through hypnosis into making him a equal partner without consulting partner Tom.
Meanwhile, Torg falls in love with Mary, though she makes it clear to him that her heart belongs to Tom. He takes her on a dinner date. He tries to impress her with his new convertible and new clothes.
As time goes on, Torg begins to exert complete control over Mary but realizes Tom is the impediment to having Mary for himself. Just 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 is kept in the hospital.
Then, Phil and the others suspect his deadly sabotage, but have no proof and are powerless to do anything. Phil and Torg get into an argument and then Torg tries to kidnap Mary. Tom gives in to Torg in order to prevent a disagreement.
On advice, he asks a psychiatrist to examine Mary. He confirms the hypnosis control. Phil brings her to the hospital to visit Tom, but she appears distant and cold to him.
Some time later, when Tom using a cane recovers enough to return to the circus, he finds that Torg has Mary performing an even more dangerous high-wire stunt without safety net over a fire pit. While watching it, he unthinkingly cries out her name, breaking her trance and almost causing her fall from the wire. While Torg is being lowered to the ground, Phil cuts the rope and Torg falls to his death.
Phil admits his actions to his colleagues as it was the only way to free Mary. 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), who steps forward. She sacrificed herself to save Phil, Mary and Tom.
The doctor goes to call the police and summons Tom to where Mary is waking up. They are happily reunited and kiss. Cut to the ringmaster announcing Danton's Empire Circus, and the credits roll over the performance..