Princes in the Tower

In 1491, Flemish merchant Perkin Warbeck claimed to be one of the young princes of the British throne who'd been locked up (and presumably murdered) in the Tower of London eight years earlier, allowing Henry VII to claim the throne and establish the Tudor line. Was Warbeck the rightful heir, or one of history's greatest imposters? Filmmaker Justin Hardy's 2005 made-for-British-TV-movie explores this historic mystery, and serves up an intriguing answer. Unfortunately, however, Princes in the Tower also undermines its own power by eschewing all traces of any sentiment or sensationalism that might have boosted its cinematic urgency, so that the film comes across more as a dramatized documentary than a compelling narrative. Partial blame lies with the staid narration by Sir Thomas More (Richard Griffiths), which sounds like a lecture. Still, hot up-and-coming British actor Mark Umbers is riveting as Warbeck, and the plot, revolving around Warbeck's attempts to prove his claim after being captured by Henry VII's military forces, boasts wonderful—if fleeting—moments. Optional. [Note: DVD extras include an excerpt from the documentary series The Tower that focuses on the fate of the young princes. Bottom line: a small extras package for an uneven film.] (M. Johanson)