JohnHowardReid Allegedly based on the 1933 play of the same name by George S. Kaufman and Alexander Woollcott, the movie bears little resemblance to this source at all and is actually based on the 1894 novel, Trilby, by George Du Maurier - a property that Warner Brothers also owned. The most notable film version was Svengali (1931) in which John Barrymore played the title character. On this occasion, the role is played - and played well - by sanpaku-eyed Herbert Lom, while Anne Crawford makes a most effective Trilby and David Farrar a more powerful and charismatic version of Little Billee. The setting has been cleverly changed from opera to a circus, enabling director Harlow to incorporate a number of genuine acts, including a thrilling sequence in which a clown performs a number of breathtaking high wire stunts. Nominal star, Ben Lyon, doesn't get too much in the way. Production values impress and the noirish photography by Otto Heller is a stand-out, particularly in the Herbert Lom sequences.

Alex da Silva Mysterious Herbert Lom (Torg) wanders into circus life and starts to take over from circus owner Ben Lyon (Phil). Lyon has a brother David Farrar (Tom) who is top-billed with his girlfriend Anne Crawford (Mary) as the trapeze and high-wire act. However, once Lom arrives he takes over the top bill and also takes Crawford to be his partner in his hypnosis stage act. Just how far is Lom going to take the hypnosis act? He's pretty handy at revenge.Herbert Lom is what this film is all about. From his first entrance, dressed all in black, you just know he's evil. He can control a lion and he can control people. What I didn't get about this film was why everyone was so nasty to him. I ended up taking his side but I feel that was not the point of things. Anyway, he alienates himself, nicks Farrar's girlfriend and starts to have a power over her in everything that she does. The rest of the cast aren't very interesting and the two top-billed male actors aren't very likable. This is Lom's film.I don't like circuses so the film's setting just doesn't do it for me. I find clowns scary and not at all funny. And how about that laughing sailor dummy? That is pure nightmare material. Not funny. I'm not too bothered about this film either way – it sits firmly mid-scale."Look into my eyes" "Look into my eyes" – "Go and mow the lawn" "Go and mow the lawn"

wes-connors Financially strapped circus manager Ben Lyon (as Phil Danton) hires hypnotist Herbert Lom (as Stephen Torg) after the latter helps capture an escaped lion. Fortunes turn when Mr. Lom is asked to use his hypnotic prowess to enhance stunts performed by trapeze artist Anne Crawford (as Mary). Her high-flying partner and boyfriend David Farrar (as Tom) becomes an obstacle when Lom wants to control Ms. Crawford. We assume Lom wants to romance Crawford, but the story seems to stall in this area, just as it gets going. Poor Mr. Lyon is easy to control without hypnotism. Perceptive Josephine Wilson (as Dora Shogun) lives up to her name. The characters and production make it an engaging melodrama.****** The Dark Tower (10/18/43) John Harlow ~ Herbert Lom, Ben Lyon, Anne Crawford, David Farrar

Sleepy-17 I certainly enjoyed this film, but it made me very uneasy. Herbert Lom, who is fourth-billed, his name appearing on the second panel of the credits even though he has the biggest part, is a phenomenal screen presence, menacing and charming. All the Anglo characters despise him without any reason. The Anglo male leads, Lyons and Farrar, are jealous, rude and finally homicidal. And you get the impression that the film-makers think that all their maliciousness is justified merely because Lom is foreign and intelligent. Made in 1943, this film could have easily been made in Germany at the same time with Lom posing as a Jew. I suppose he's supposed to resemble a German, but Lom (who is 5 foot 9 inches) is constantly referred to as "little" and "dirty". Great suspense scenes, well worth seeing, but...