Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Tower of London (1962) movie poster

Timeline

Tower of London (1962) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
1962 · 80 mins · English
JustWatch #7,136
Directed by
Roger Corman
Starring
Charles Macaulay, Vincent Price, Sandra Knight, Robert Brown, Bruce Gordon, Joan Freeman

Enter the historic Tower of London for an 83‑minute descent into terror, where a twisted version of Richard III is tormented by the restless ghosts of the victims he slew while scheming for the English crown. Their vengeful hauntings turn the ancient fortress into a nightmarish courtroom of conscience.

On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Movie threads
  4. 4 Movies like Tower of London
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Tower of London (1962)

Where can you watch Tower of London? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and History Vault: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Tower of London Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Tower of London (1962) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Edward IV names Protector

    In 1483, King Edward IV, on his deathbed, designates George, Duke of Clarence, as Protector for Prince Edward. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, watches this with dismay as his own path to power appears blocked. The decision plants the seeds of Richard's growing ambition to seize control.

    When
    1483
    Where
    Royal Court, England
  2. Clarence murdered and Richard named Protector

    Richard secretly stabs George, Duke of Clarence, with a dagger bearing the Woodville crest, framing the dying king's in-laws. With Clarence dead, Richard is named Protector and begins to position himself for power.

    When
    1483
    Where
    Castle, London
  3. Anne approves Richard's climb to power

    Richard's wife Anne approves of his crime and encourages him to take the throne for himself. Her support cements his ascent and legitimizes his ruthless tactics.

    When
    1483
    Where
    Palace
  4. Mistress Shore coerced; tortured; dies

    After Edward IV's death, Richard pressures Mistress Shore to claim that the princes are illegitimate. She refuses, and he tortures her until she dies on the rack. He then uses her death in his justification to place the princes in his custody.

    When
    1483-84
    Where
    Royal Court
  5. Ghosts warn Richard; Bosworth foretold

    The ghosts of Clarence, Edward IV, and Mistress Shore haunt Richard, warning him of revenge at Bosworth. He is told that he will be killed by a dead man, foreshadowing his downfall.

    When
    1483-84
    Where
    Tower / Court
  6. Shore's ghost merges with Anne; Richard strangles Anne

    Shore's specter merges with the living Anne, and a tormented Richard strangles his wife, believing her to be Shore. This act deepens his isolation and guilt.

    When
    1483-84
    Where
    Castle
  7. Tyrus shows visions of kingship

    Richard consults the Moorish physician Tyrus, who shows him visions of his future, including a prophecy that he will become king. The prophecy feeds his ambition and paranoia.

    When
    Late 1483
    Where
    Tyrus's Chamber
  8. Jasper and Margaret plot prince rescue

    Tyrus informs Sir Jasper about the danger to the princes, and Jasper plots with his girlfriend Lady Margaret Stanley to rescue them. They plan to extract the young Duke of York and his mother.

    When
    Late 1483-early 1484
    Where
    London / Westminster
  9. Duke of York and mother freed; Jasper captured with Edward

    Jasper frees the young Duke of York and his mother, but is trapped and captured along with the child-king Edward. The rescue attempt partially succeeds before falling apart.

    When
    Late 1483-early 1484
    Where
    Westminster / Surroundings
  10. Archbishop surrenders York; princes murdered

    Richard forces the Archbishop to surrender the Duke of York, who seeks sanctuary in Westminster Abbey. With Ratcliffe's aid, he murders the two princes in their beds and proclaims himself king.

    When
    Early 1484
    Where
    Westminster
  11. Buckingham doubts Richard; Buckingham's fate

    The ghosts intensify Richard's fear, and Buckingham quietly doubts his sanity. Ratcliffe informs Richard, who then has Buckingham tortured to death to remove a rival.

    When
    Mid-1484
    Where
    Tower / London
  12. Tyrus dies; Jasper rescues Margaret

    Tyrus aids Jasper in rescuing Margaret, but the Moorish physician is mortally wounded in the escape. Jasper and Margaret press on, escaping the pursuit and aligning with Stanley.

    When
    Mid-1484
    Where
    Escape Route
  13. Jasper and Margaret join Stanley

    Jasper and Margaret join Lord Stanley's coalition, rallying additional support to topple Richard from the throne. The rebellion gains momentum as Stanley's forces amass.

    When
    Late 1484
    Where
    Stanley's Domain
  14. Richard crowned; Stanley advances

    Richard is crowned king, but his fear and paranoia intensify. Ratcliffe informs him that Stanley has marched toward Bosworth with an army.

    When
    Late 1484
    Where
    London
  15. Battle of Bosworth; Richard dies

    At Bosworth Field, Richard's forces are defeated and he is left alone on the battlefield. The ghosts of his victims appear as he fights, and a dead soldier's battleaxe mortally wounds him as he attempts to mount a horse.

    When
    1485
    Where
    Bosworth Field

Last updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:32

Was this helpful?

Movie threads

More Movies Like Tower of London, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Tower of London tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Gothic Descent into Madness Stories like Tower of London

Stories where a character's ambition unravels in a haunted, oppressive setting. If you enjoyed the haunting psychological unraveling in Tower of London, explore more movies like it. This section features similar gothic horror stories where ambition leads to a paranoid descent into madness, set against oppressive, historical backdrops filled with vengeful spirits and impending doom.

  • gothic
  • oppressive
  • haunting
  • paranoid
  • claustrophobic
  • descent into madness
  • Tone: dark, oppressive, tragic
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a tragic anti-hero whose ruthless ambition triggers a psychological and supernatural reckoning. The story structure is often a linear descent, where each immoral act deepens the protagonist's isolation and paranoia, culminating in a bleak confrontation with the consequences, often represented by ghostly apparitions or the oppressive environment itself.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on a gothic atmosphere, a central character's mental unraveling, and the theme of supernatural retribution. They deliver a consistent experience of high-intensity dread, claustrophobia, and a dark, fatalistic tone that makes the downfall feel inevitable.

Movies with Haunted Protagonists like Tower of London

Protagonists tormented by ghosts, guilt, or the consequences of their actions. Fans of Tower of London's theme of a king haunted by his victims will find more similar films here. Discover movies like it featuring protagonists tormented by ghosts and guilt, where the past comes back to deliver psychological punishment in stories with dark tones and heavy emotional weight.

  • vengeful
  • paranoid
  • guilt-ridden
  • psychological torment
  • sinister
  • fated
  • Tone: dark, vengeful, bleak
  • Pacing: fast, driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a character who commits a series of terrible acts, only to be pursued—physically or mentally—by the consequences. The hauntings serve as a manifestation of their guilty conscience, accelerating their mental breakdown. The plot is driven by this internal/external pressure, leading to an ending where there is no escape from their crimes.

Why they belong together: These movies share a core premise of a protagonist being actively haunted, creating a consistent mood of paranoia and inescapable fate. They are united by a dark tone, high emotional weight from themes of murder and guilt, and a straightforward cause-and-effect structure where crime leads directly to punishment.

If you liked this

Movies Like Tower of London

Similar movies to Tower of London: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Tower of London (1962) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Tower of London in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app