“A Tale of Two Cities” (1935)

A Tale of Two Cities

Brief Description: 

France and England, 1775-1792

Lucie Manette has just recovered her father after eighteen years of unjust imprisonment., and the two seek a quiet life of recovery in England. Charles Darnay, ex-aristocrat who chose honest work and a quiet English gentleman’s life, finds himself falsely accused of spying and on trial. Sidney Carton, raging alcoholic lawyer, drags out a miserable, shameful existence bullied and used by his much less capable superior. 

Lucie loves Charles. Charles loves Lucie. Carton loves Lucie enough to step aside and use his love for her as motivation to clean his life. But that isn’t enough to break him free from his chains…

When Darnay returns to France on an errand of mercy and is caught in the meshes of the Terror, can anyone save him from the guillotine? Will Carton ever rise above his struggles and prove his real character? And can true freedom ever be found? 

(written by me)

Date: 1935

Genre: British romance historical fiction action adventure drama thriller

Running time: 2 hours 6 minutes

Cast: 

Ronald Colman (Sydney Carton)

Donald Woods (Charles Darnay)

Elizabeth Allan (Lucie Manette)

Henry B. Walthall (Dr. Alexandre Manette)

Edna May Oliver (Miss Pross)

Reginald Owen (C.J. Stryver)

Basil Rathbone (Marquis St. Evremonde)

Mitchell Lewis (Ernest Defarge)

Blanche Yurka (Madame Defarge)

Walter Catlett (John Barsad)

Claude Gillingwater (Jarvis Lorry)

Billy Bevan (Jerry Cruncher)

Isabel Jewell (Seamstress)

Lucille LaVerne (The Vengeance)

Fritz Leiber (Gaspard)

H. B. Warner (Theophile Gabelle)

Tully Marshall (Woodcutter)

Fay Chaldecott (Lucy Darnay, child)

Eily Malyon (Mrs. Cruncher)

E.E. Clive (Judge in Old Bailey)

Lawrence Grant (Prosecutor)

Robert Warwick (Judge at Tribunal)

Ralf Harolde (Prosecutor)

John Davidson (Morveau)

Tom Ricketts (Tellson Jr.)

Donald Haines (Jerry Cruncher Jr.)

Barlowe Borland (Jacques)

Director: Jack Conway

Production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Based on: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

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Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5

OKAY THE OPENING MUSIC IS FANTASTIC. Mixing La Marseillaise with O Come, All Ye Faithful?? Brilliant. And then the setting is EXCELLENT. So accurate to the book and to the actual history. They captured the times, the cities, the people, everything, perfectly. My only complaint is, of course, that everyone has a British accent and decidedly can’t pronounce French!

Characters: 5/5

Ronald Colman was Sydney Carton. Perhaps not in looks—but the personality, oh my heart, he got it, right down to the look in Carton’s eyes and the pathetic impudence in his manners. And Donald Woods was Charles Darnay—polished, upright, the perfect gentleman. Lucie was perfect—sweet, passionate, beautiful Lucie—and Dr. Manette was just as good. As for Miss Pross, Cruncher, Barsad, the Dufarges, Stryver, Evremonde, the Seamstress, and the Vengeance, they were all equally perfect and themselves. I don’t think a single person in this cast was not perfect, or could be done better. 

Plot: 5/5; Theme/Message/Topics: 5/5

The film followed the plot of the book more faithfully than most films ever do. There were small changes, but they always mirrored a scene from the book or showed something the book told—and they showed it well. This film is a masterpiece of filming and writing. It has all the art and grandeur, beauty and pathos, heaviness and humour of the novel, and it captured the message of the book excellently. Every time I read the book I want to watch the film, and every time I watch the film I have to read the book. They complement each other perfectly. The only thing I wish was shown was Carton’s conversion. It’s only hinted at the end… But otherwise, literally all of this is perfect. I’m in awe.

Content: 5/5 (low)

A kiss or two (Lucie & Darnay, Carton & the Seamstress). Drinking. 

Violence: 3/5 (medium)

Like the book, the film doesn’t mince on the horrible conditions of the poor of France—or the horrors of the Terror. Nothing is gratuitous, though, and nothing is over-disturbing to me, though granted I knew of all the disturbing things ahead of time… There is a scene where Jerry Cruncher throws things at his wife; he never actually beats her but he acts aggressive and she is evidently afraid of him. 

Overall: 5/5

One of the best films ever produced, in my humble opinion; and equally the top best film adaption of a novel I have ever seen; and finally, the best visual presentation of A Tale of Two Cities—all high praise, because this is one of my top favourite books ever.