drjgardner "A Tale of Two Cities" is the remarkable 1859 story by Charles Dickens that appeared as 31 weekly installments in Dickens' own periodical. It was made as a film several times, including 3 silent versions and a marvelous 1935 version. The 30s were a great time for Dickens films, including "Oliver Twist" (1933) with Dickie Moore, "Great Expectations" (1934) with Henry Hull and Jane Wyatt, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" (1935) with Claude Rains, "Scrooge" (1935), "David Copperfield" (1935) with none other than W. C. Fields, and "A Christmas Carol" (1938) with Reginald Owen.Comparing the 1935 and the 1958 versions - Sydney Carlton – Dirk Bogarde (1958) does a good job, one of his best, but Ronald Coleman (1935) is my preference.Charles Darney – Donald Woods (1935) is the better player. Paul Guers is a bit wooden for my tastes.Marquis St Evremonde – Basil Rathbone (1935) is one of the best villains anywhere, exceeding even Christopher Lee (1958).Miss Pross – Edna May Oliver (1935) was a hoot, much better than Athene Seyler (1958).Lucie Manette – Dorothy Tutin (1958) and Elizabeth Allen (1935) both do an admirable job.C.J.Stryver – Reginald Owen (1935) is more compelling than Ernest ClarkBoth versions are 2+ hours long and both don't fully represent the richness of the novel. I think the 1935 versions moves a bit better with fewer lapses, but both films are pretty well paced. Recall that Dickens' works are extremely long so no film can capture everything.In terms of production values, the 1935 version is surprisingly good, even though producer Selznick put more effort into other films at the time. The 1958 version, done in black and white, is certainly OK, but not any better than the 1935 version.The 1935 film was nominated for Best Picture and Best Film Editing. It lost to "The Great Ziegfeld" (picture) and "Anthony Adverse" (editing). The 1958 version received no nominations.Bottom line – if you're going to see only one version of this great novel, pick the 1935 version.

peter-woodhart I'm old now, and I've been watching films (movies!) since the 1940's!This black and white 1958 version of 'A Tale of Two Cities' is a beautiful love story. Although we owe the wonderful Charles Dickens all the credit for creating such an outstanding act of bravery by Sydney Carton, I defy anyone to suggest a better actor than Dirk Bogarde to play this part.Dirk Bogarde starts the film as a drunk who has nothing to live for. Through his love for Lucie, he learns to redeem himself. The words he dictates at the end of the film to Charles Darney in the prison, 'I knew it was not in your nature.....' are real tearjerkers.I watch the film at least once a year and always find it a moving experience.Highly recommendedPS The haunting music by Richard Addinsell is fabulous.....

Rozinda This is my favourite Dickens book and my favourite Dickens dramatisation. I remember reading that there had been some doubts originally whether Dirk Bogarde matinée idol could manage this part. Instead it was presumably his first chance to show the inimitable quality of his acting. He is perfect in this part and I cannot imagine anyone else ever doing it better although I'd guess Ronald Coleman could equal it. I've seen one other, more recent version and although Carton's actor had a good go at it, it totally lacked the amazing charisma Bogarde provided for what is one of Dickens' most poignant characters - flawed, fascinating, cynical, damaged but wonderful.It's a crying shame this wasn't filmed in colour since the producers did consider doing so and then didn't. But the production and acting are so excellent that you soon don't notice it isn't colour as you become completely immersed in the movie. I suppose it's always possible the lack of colour actually enhances the drama, and for me this story is the most dramatic and poignant of all Dickens - a work of pure genius.

Daniel Kincaid "A Tale of Two Cities" is based on the novel by Charles Dickens. The story is not focused on the plight of the poor in Victorian England as with many of Dickens' novels, but rather an exploration of France prior to and in the wake of the French Revolution.The nice thing about this film is that it has a sense of the scope of the history it portrays but also tells a personal story with connected people from England and France. The essential story concerns a hunted French aristocrat, an English barrister and a French woman whom they both love. These characters are not only linked to each other but to the French Revolution via the French aristocrat. The film shows the indiscretions by the aristocrats, the desperation of the beggars in Paris prior to the Revolution and but the arbitrary actions of Committee of Public Safety after the Revolution equally well. The transition with the storming of the Bastille was handled well. Importantly this film is in the end a very touching tale of self-sacrifice.Dirk Bogarde is Sydney Carton, the English barrister of the story. Bogarde is effective at portraying Carton's transition from a comical though shrewd drunkard to a man that achieves a degree of nobility (pardon the pun). Dorothy Tutin and Paul Guers were also solid leads Lucie Manette as Charles Darnay. Donald Pleasence has a relatively small but memorable role as the profiteering spy Barsad. Christopher Lee is well-suited to his oft-played role as a villain, who in this case is a haughty and despicable French aristocrat. Rosalie Crutchley's performance as Madame Defarge also deserves note. Defarge is a truly chilling woman, and Crutchley brings out the transition from quiet glaring knitter to overwrought Reign of Terror fanatic very well. "A Tale of Two Cities" tells a personal story of a group of characters and self-sacrifice but also how France replaced its former repressors with new ones.