The exciting story of Dr. Manette, who escapes the horrors of the infamous Bastille prison in Paris. The action switches between London and Paris on the eve of the revolution where we witness 'the best of times and the worst of times' - love, hope, the uncaring French Aristocrats and the terror of a revolutionary citizen's army intent on exacting revenge.

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mark.waltz from United States
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When screen masterpieces of literary works are discussed, this version of Dicken's classic is sure to be one of them. Yet at the time of its release, it did not get the acclaim it deserved. None of its fabulous cast received Oscar nominations, although it was up for Best Film. To this viewer, it was the best film of 1935, and tops in many other categories as well.

From the moment this movie begins, the audience is transported back to pre-French Revolutionary Europe. It is England and Lucy Mannette (the now forgotten Elizabeth Allen) is called to France to be reunited with her father (Henry B. Walthall). Meanwhile, aristocrat Marquis St. Everymonde (Basil Rathbone) is accidently responsible for the death of a child, and ends up murdered after disowning his nephew (Donald Woods) who changes his name to Charles Darnay and moves to England. He is put on trial for having secret British documents, but is helped to freedom by the similar looking Sydney Carton (Ronald Colman). Darnay marries Lucy Mannette, but his past threatens to tear them apart forever as the French Revolution begins.

That is just a snippet of the plot, just to give the reader a taste of the classic story. All of Dicken's story would have made enough material for two films, so of course, there was some liberty taken when writing the screenplay. Dickens' stories concentrated on the abundance of characters he wrote in and out of the storyline, and "A Tale of Two Cities" is no exception. Every character from beginning to end has some connection to the basic plot; there are enough twists and turns to keep the audience interested through the two-hour running time. What makes this film work is the amount of effort by the writers to make each characterization important to the overall structure.

First, heroine Lucy Mannette; seemingly fragile, she never-the-less manages to survive every ordeal she faces; Elizabeth Allan is lovely and believable, yet never weak. She had minimal screen work (most notably a supporting role in "Camille"), but this film assured her of screen immortality. Donald Woods is less impressive as Charles Darnay; he does not entirely convince the audience in his scenes with scoundral Basil Rathbone as his uncle. Rathbone easily chews him up and spits him out. As Lucy's devoted companion Miss Pross, Edna May Oliver is a true scene stealer. One of Hollywood's best character actresses during the 30's, Oliver was truly lovable in spite of her outward sourness; beneath that beats a heart of gold that always came through for the heroines in their time of need. If there had been Oscar nominations for Supporting Actress at this time, Oliver would be a candidate-either for this film or for another Dickens adaption released through MGM the same year, "David Copperfield".

Oliver's rival in the film onscreen and off (for awards) is the unforgettable European stage actress Blanche Yurka playing the pathetic Madame DuFarge. You can't help but sympathize with this tragic yet bitter character who has seen so much suffering that she can't help but want revenge. Yurka had only a few more opportunities to shine in films, but this was her showiest roles, and one for which she deserved recognition. In subsequent versions of this film, DuFarge was a much younger character, making her seem less hard. Yurka's scene in court where she reveals all is simply one of the best performances of a monologue in screen history.

Then, there is Ronald Colman as the tragic Sydney Carton who suffers an unrequitted love for Lucy and decides as a result to make the ultimate sacrifice. No one other than Colman could have done this role justice; he simply is Sydney Carton just as much as Gable was Rhett Butler, just as much as James Cagney was George M. Cohan. No, it is not the leading role. He doesn't even appear until way into the film, but once he does, he is unforgettable. What then turns into the film's lead makes for breathtaking cinema presence.

I also want to take time to mention the little-talked-about Lucille LaVerne who plays the part of DeFarge's co-hort "La Vengeance". Watch this film (again if you've already seen it) with D.W. Griffith's "Orphans of the Storm". This is a good companion piece with "A Tale of Two Cities" as both are about the French Revolution, and it is amazing the similarity of the two characters which LaVerne played. It is almost like they are the same ones, here living with two different storylines. One of those rare occurances in films that just has to be seen.

"A Tale of Two Cities" is a film I can watch over and over. I have seen other versions, but this film ranks as the very best. The production design is outstanding; the music brilliant; and the writing excellent. Very few films in history rank total perfection; this is one of them.

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theowinthrop from United States
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Most of the fiction of Charles Dickens is set firmly in the 19th Century, from roughly 1820 to 1865 or so. Twice, however, he essayed the historical novel. It was really not his specialty. His rival, William Thackeray, was into the past and constructed several notable tales of 18th Century life ("Henry Esmond", "The Virginians", "Denis Duval", "Barry Lyndon", "Catherine"). Compared to this Dickens only squeezed out "Barnaby Rudge" and "A Tale of Two Cities". The first one (published in 1842) was interesting, as it dealt with a serious riot that almost overthrew the monarchy in 1780. But few people read it. Ironically enough, the following year Dickens wrote a novella of 100 pages which became one of his perennial favorite works - "A Christmas Carol". But the second novel (published in 1859 - as Dickens reached the heights of his literary powers) became one of the greatest historical novels ever written. It also has the best introductory paragraph of any of his novels (see the "summary" line to see the opening of it).

He had prepared on the background to "A Tale of Two Cities" by reading Thomas Carlyle's classic "History of the French Revolution". It might have been better if he had read some of the French historians, for Carlyle was a great colorist (he created the "green-eyed" monster image of Maximillian Robespierre that most British and Americans still adhere to), but he saw the Revolution from an ultra-conservative view. It colors Dickens' version, where nothing good seems to come from the French revolutionaries. In his essay on Dickens, George Orwell says that his constant image of carts filled of guillotine victims made the very word "tumbril" sinister. It did. By all means read this novel, and see this film, but don't base your view of that historical event on the novel or film.

The story follows the events of the Manette and St. Evremonde families and their friends (particularly Sidney Carton, a barrister) in England and France, as well as the growing revolutionary spirit in France that is symbolized by the Defarges from 1780 to 1793. Dickens is basically claiming that the cruelties of the ancien regime (represented by the old Marquis St. Evremond) will end by creating new cruelties and new masters now from the lower classes itself. Monsieur Defarges is somewhat more sympathetic to some people (after Charles is condemned to death by a revolutionary tribunal he sees no reason to continue going after the others), but Madame Defarges, remembering the sufferings of her own family, is willing to kill anybody connected to the aristocrats (including the Englishwoman Miss Pross). When one reads the full final speech of Sidney in the novel he foresees that the new leaders are doomed to be eaten up by the guillotine as well (including Defarges).

Much of the five hundred page novel (one of Dickens shortest novels - which helps it's narrative flow) is cut in the film, but the main points are kept. Possibly the most important cut deals with a minor character, Serjeant Stryver - he is Sidney's boss, and uses Sidney's brilliance to win his cases. He actually is a rival for Lucy Manette's hand in the novel, but this is not in the film. Reginald Owen did well in the part, but it would have been hard to see him as a potential lover (especially as Sidney is played by Ronald Colman, or Darnay by Douglas Woods).

The cast was an excellent one, giving Colman, Woods, Rathbone, Oliver, Yurka, Warner, Walthall, and Catlett exceptionally good moments to shine. Witness Rathbone dismissing the murmurs of the intelligentsia (although he finds Voltaire amusing). Witness Yurka's testimony at Darnay's trial. See Catlett's final moments, watching the last tumbrel of guillotine victims going to their doom, and calming down two men who are shouting with glee (very subtly done, and unusual for Catlett - usually a comic actor). Whether Sidney Carton is Colman's greatest performance is questionable (his mad actor in "A Double Life" is better, as is his George Apley and Dick Heldar), but it is a signature part. To this day he's imitated saying, "It is a far, far better thing I do...." No quote for the other roles is submitted by budding Rich Littles among us.

Such an excellent film owes it's production to one man: David O. Selznick, it's producer. A man who loved literature, Selznick made "A Tale of Two Cities" as one of a series of literary based films (with "David Copperfield", and "Little Lord Fauntleroy") that were uniformly excellent, and culminated in "Gone With The Wind". "A Tale of Two Cities" is not as long as "Gone With The Wind", but shows the same taste and craftsmanship that made the latter film a great one too.

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Snow Leopard from Ohio
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Perhaps best known for Ronald Colman's signature performance as Sidney Carton, this excellent adaptation of Dickens's "A Tale of Two Cities" also has a lot of other strengths to offer. Colman is joined by the likes of Edna May Oliver and Basil Rathbone in a fine cast that brings the characters to life. The story itself is filled with good scenes, ranging from the exciting Bastille scene to courtroom showdowns to important confrontations between the characters.

The novel contains a lot more material than would ever fit into a normal-length movie, and the screenplay does a good job of selecting sequences that fit together and that work well on the screen. While differing in places from the original, it preserves the most important themes and ideas. The French Revolution is an interesting and multi-layered subject, and a good number of high-quality classic films are set in the period. The Dickens novel, in particular, lends itself readily to a cinema adaptation.

The role of Sidney Carton is almost an actor's dream, an unlikely hero who has to battle his own limitations as well as the situation around him. Colman's classic style does full justice to the role, making the character fully sympathetic without pretending that he is something he is not, and without drawing attention away from the overall themes and focus of the story. Most present-day actors would be far too self-absorbed to play the role as it should be played.

Almost everything in this version is satisfying and enjoyable. It combines plenty of drama with some good lighter moments and period detail, almost all of it done with skill. Colman himself clinches it with his memorable portrayal of a challenging and interesting character.

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ccthemovieman-1 from United States
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Rarely have I upgraded a film between viewings as much as I did this one. I saw it quite a while ago and thought it was so-so, but watched it again last week after re-acquiring the VHS....and wow, what an incredible movie! This has to be one of the finest movies of the 1930s.

Production-wise, with the big cast of extras, the photography, the superb acting and powerful story, I can't see how another film, with the exception of "Gone With The Wind," that featured all that this film boasts. Why it is not out on DVD as of this writing - June of 2006 - is a disgrace.

Starting with visuals, this movie reminded me in parts of a good film-noir with the shadows-and-light and great facial closeups. It's just beautifully filmed, and the big reason I'd want to view this on disc.

As for the acting, if ever a man looked and sounded like he was perfectly suited for a certain role, it has to be Ronald Colman playing "Sidney Carton." The anguished, reflective sorrowful looks alone made Colman memorable in this role. It's hard to picture anyone else doing a better job as the man who has no esteem, finds love, is greatly disappointed but then does the most noble thing any human being can do for another, giving up his own for a friend. It's fitting you get Scripture at the end of this film, and in earlier parts of the story as Colman plays a role in which Jesus himself describes how best to show one's love for someone. This is a very spiritual film, by the way, which may turn off some people but was an inspiration to this reviewer.

Almost as riveting as Colman was Blance Yurka. Hers is a not a familiar screen name but apparently she was a big success on the stage during her era. As "Madame DeFarge," Yurka plays on the most vengeful and frightening female figures I've ever seen on film. Too bad she wasn't seen in more movies; she had the charisma for the silver screen.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Allan as the female lead ("Lucy Manette") and Donald Woods as the other male interest ("Charles Darnay") do well in their leading roles. Three other supporting players also are notable for their standout performances: Edna Mae Oliver as Lucy's protective maid/companion "Miss Pross;" Basil Rathbone as the evil French Aristocrat "Marquis St. Evremonde" and Henry B. Walthall as "Dr. Manette."

This Charles Dickens story couldn't have been translated any better to the big screen that what you see here.

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Neil Doyle from U.S.A.
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A TALE OF TWO CITIES contains enough material for a four hour movie but amazingly David O. Selznick's production has managed to tell the epic tale in just a little over two hours. While there are many memorable characters, the ones that stay in the memory longest are Ronald Colman as Sydney Carton and the little seamstress (Isabel Jewell) who gets her courage from him before they go off to the guillotine and he utters those immortal words, "It's a far, far better thing I do..."

Edna May Oliver is just one of the pleasures among the supporting players. Donald Woods makes a handsome, if somewhat subdued, Charles Darnay and Blanche Yurka does an outstanding job as the bitter Madame Defarge. Basil Rathbone is excellent as the aristocratic Marquis St. Evremonde who is annoyed when his horse-driven carriage runs amok and kills a child, setting in motion the bitter Evremonde legacy of hate and mistrust among the French peasants.

The storming of the Bastille is awesome in its detail, as is all of the set decoration for interiors and exteriors which really captures the atmosphere of this turbulent time in history.

Probably Ronald Colman's finest hour--his world weary Sydney Carton becomes a highly sympathetic character by the time he is ready to assume another man's place. A memorable film.

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big al-41 from cambridge
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A Tale of Two Cities is one of my top 5 books. All the emotions are there and you are left feeling uplifted but frustrated. The film has captured all this. Whilst it has not all the elements of the book (we would be talking about a 5 hour film) it has distilled the important essence and portrayed it beautifully. Ronald Coleman was a fine actor, his characters colourful and full of life. There have been a few remakes for the big screen and TV but none come even close to the brilliance of this film. Therefore it goes into my top 10 of films. What more can I say.

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Lvenactress from United States
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I read the book "A Tale of Two Cities", by Charles Dickens, in ninth grade, and to my extreme surprise, it became my second favorite novel of all time. That's why I was thrilled to get my hands on this acclaimed film version, starring Ronald Colman as about my favorite literary character I've met, among a terrific cast.

I am slightly biased, since I was comparing the film very strongly to the novel. Fortunately, the movie did not disappoint - it was excellent! They had to cut much material that was in the novel or else the movie would go on foooooooreeeeeeeeeveeeeeeeerrrrrrr....but they kept the important scenes and kept the essence of Dickens's classic. They also found the right balance between the scenes with our heroes, Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, Dr. Manette, and Sydney Carton (among others) in London, and the material featuring the Defarges and other peasants in Paris. And they made it compelling, not boring and droning.

The cast, like I said, is very ideal, but I will mention those that stand out the most. Elizabeth Allan surprised me by giving Lucie - who is the world's most annoying and flimsy character in the novel - genuine character and substance, even though Lucie doesn't get to actually do much. Blanche Yurka was absolutely perfect as Mme. Defarge; she was cold and frightening, yet you could sympathize with her without thinking she was too mushy. Edna May Oliver was a treat as Miss Pross, capturing the image of the seemingly strict yet warm maid in the Manette household.

But what I was really judging the movie upon was my imaginary boyfriend, Sydney Carton. Ronald Colman was impeccable as the unlikely hero. He got the different "sides" of Carton right - drunk, insolent, and smart-alecky in one scene and tenderly romantic in the next. The film version also added more humor to Carton, which fits his character well. (The scene in which he pretends to flirt with Miss Pross was not in the novel, but it is one of my favorites.) Sydney Carton's selfless act of sacrifice (and his comforting of the frightened seamstress) are extremely moving. Wonderfully done.

My only real qualifier is that, to my surprise, Charles Darnay (Donald Woods) and Sydney Carton didn't look that much alike. Darnay had sharper features, whereas Carton...ah, Ronald Colman has these lovely brown eyes, giving him a slightly puppy-dog look sometimes. Oh well - the movie made it fairly clear that they were supposed to look alike. Besides, how easy is it casting dopplegangers?

Overall, if you have read "A Tale of Two Cities," there's a darn good chance you're going to like this film. And if you haven't read the book, you may like it anyway. Either way, I highly recommend it.

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edwagreen from United States
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Charles Dickens would have stood up and applauded had he seen this fabulous 1935 version of his classic tale.

There are no words adequate enough to praise the fine performances in this film dealing with the French Revolution.

Ronald Colman is memorable as Sidney Carton, an alcoholic lawyer, who gave up his life to save the husband (Donald Woods) of the woman he loved. The woman, played by Elizabeth Allan, was strong in emotion and very appealing.

The supporting performances are first-rate. Had they had supporting Oscar categories in 1935, Edna May Oliver, as Miss Pross, governess to Allan and Blanche Yurka, as fiery revolutionary Madame De Farge, would have certainly been nominated. Who can forget the fight scene between both of these women? Who can forget De Farge's demand that Darnay, the nephew of the notorious Marquis Evremonde, a vicious Basil Rathbone, be put to death for being a member of this elitist family? Yurka tore into this scene a revenge rarely seen in motion pictures. Unfortunately, Hollywood could offer her few parts for a talent as great as this. Oliver, as Miss Pross, shed the right tears, and with sarcastic wit, delivered some of the most memorable lines in this film. Her facial gestures along with those of Yurka were something else. You'd also feel for the mobs of the starving French while the aristocrats lived so well.

Isabel Jewell, as the condemned seamstress, gave heart in her brief performance. Her emotional outburst, as she nears her fate, will never be forgotten.

The dialogue was crisp, the directing by Jack Conway, was first rate.

Years later, this classic was remade in 1958. It was an extremely poor remake. Foolishly, they weakened the part of Madame De Farge. **** for the original and even more. Revolutions were never as good as this one!

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Karahde Khan from Pofesional Ville
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Magistral adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic novel set in the French Revolution. The story is very interesting in itself, but the way it is told elevates it to the cathegory of a masterpiece. The acting of the entire cast is great, from Ronald Colman (maybe the best of adventure heroes of the 1930s, while a little forgotten today) to Reginald Owen (seeing this film makes me want to check Mr. Owen's work as Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1938 movie 'A Christmas Carol'. I wish I could find a copy...), without forgetting Basil Rathbone (who has a brief but intense appearance as the tyrant Marquis) nor, of course, Blanche Yurka, an actress I hadn't even heard of before, and turns out to be the greatest in a cast of greats. Her speech in the court is one of the most moving scenes in film history.

I wouldn't like to finish without mentioning the masterful Bastille scene (directed by Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur). That's what I call epic moviemaking. Unforgettable.

I've also seen other two versions of this story, the 1958 British movie with Dirk Bogarde and the 1980 TV remake with Chris Sarandon and Peter Cushing. They're OK, but this one is the best one by far, a silver screen classic I'm glad to own on videotape. A definite 10 out of 10.

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bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York
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The cities are London and Paris during the George III era, but A Tale of Two Cities is also the story of two men who loved the same woman, but she could only love one of them.

The first man is Charles Darnay who is an aristocrat, heir to the title of Marquis St.Evremonde. As written by Charles Dickens and played by Donald Woods, Darnay is a man schooled in the Enlightenment teachings of Voltaire and sees a lot of the injustices perpetrated by people like his uncle Basil Rathbone. When Elizabeth Allan brings over her father Henry B. Walthall who has been imprisoned in the Bastille, she meets Woods on the boat and they're crushing out on each other big time.

The second man is Sydney Carton and Ronald Colman in the biography that his daughter Juliet wrote about him said that Carton was one of his favorite parts. A man of undeniable legal talents, but who in mid life has given way to cynicism and drunken dissipation, Colman makes this classical literary character very human indeed and one who in moments of despair, someone we can identify with.

They both love Allan, but she only loves Woods. In the end seeing his life amounts to a whole lot of nothing, with no family or friends, Colman makes a big sacrifice for Allan's happiness.

Of course this all done in the background of Georgian London and the French Revolution. Thomas Carlyle's history and this novel by Dickens is how we in the English speaking world have viewed the French Revolution. It's a classic case of over reaction on a grand scale.

David O. Selznick made some brilliant casting choices as Charles Dickens's classic characters come to life on the big screen. My favorites besides Colman are Blanche Yurka as Madame DeFarge and Edna May Oliver as Miss Pross.

Blanche Yurka is maybe the best study in literature about how hate and malice can twist a human being. She's so crazy to wipe out all the aristocrats it extends to women and small children. The point Dickens made about Charles Darnay is that he in fact did repudiate the life and views of Basil Rathbone, but that makes no difference to Yurka. It's Yurka's best known role.

Edna May Oliver as Miss Pross gets one of her two or three best known roles. She was an American from New England and classically trained, trained so well to play all these English literary characters like the Aunt in David Copperfield, Lady Catherine DeBurgh in Pride and Prejudice and of course Miss Pross. When these two tangle, the most famous chick fight in literature comes alive on the screen.

Colman gets the thespian honors here though. My favorite scene with him is in the Bastille and going to the Guillotine when he comforts Isabell Jewell whose only crime is that she was a loyal servant and seamstress to an aristocrat. It's Ronald Colman at his best.

When you see this version of A Tale of Two Cities you will realize that there aren't any far far better things Ronald Colman ever did.

Actor Ronald Colman agreed to play the role of Sydney Carton with the sole condition that he not also be required to play the role of Charles Darnay, as was usually expected in adaptations of the Dickens novel. The plot of 'A Tale of Two Cities' turns on the physical resemblance between the two characters. Colman had long wanted to play Sidney Carton, and was even willing to shave off his beloved mustache to play the part.
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This marked the last time that Ronald Colman agreed to shave his trademark mustache for a film.
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"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on March 18, 1946 with Ronald Colman reprising his film role.
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Blanche Yurka's first film in 18 years and also her first sound film.
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This was David O. Selznick's last film for MGM. He was able to fund his own studio afterwards largely on the strength of this film's box office receipts.
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Director Jack Conway took ill halfway through production so Robert Z. Leonard stepped in to cover for him.
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Producer David O. Selznick also masterminded another Dickens adaptation that same year, George Cukor's The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observation of David Copperfield the Younger (1935). Both films starred Basil Rathbone, Edna May Oliver and Elizabeth Allan and both were nominated for Best Film Academy Awards.
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The fourth film version of the novel, previously made in 1911, 1917 and 1922.
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The storming of the Bastille was actually directed by Val Lewton and Jacques Tourneur, a partnership that would later go on to make such horror classics as _Cat People_ and I Walked with a Zombie (1943).
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Columnist Dan Thomas reported in March, 1935, that Leslie Howard, Herbert Marshall, Warner Baxter, Robert Montgomery and Clark Gable were all undergoing screen tests for the role of Sydney Carton.
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"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on January 12, 1942 with Ronald Colman reprising his film role.
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Sydney Carton attends Christmas Eve services ca. 1780 during which "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" is sung to music by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), and John Francis Wade's Latin hymn, "Adeste fideles," is sung in Frederick Oakley's (1802-1880) translation as "O Come, All Ye Faithful."
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Close up of a paper reporting arrest of Charles Darnay shows a Reuters report. The action takes place in 1785...Paul Reuter was born in 1816 and did not set up his eponymous news agency until 1850.
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self sacrifice|french revolution|guillotine|

AKAs Titles:
Argentina - Historia de dos ciudades
Austria - Flucht aus Paris
Austria (reissue title) - Flucht aus Paris
Belgium (French title) - Le marquis de Saint-Evremond
Brazil - A Queda da Bastilha
Brazil (reissue title) - Tomada da Bastilha
Germany - Flucht aus Paris
Denmark - To byer
Spain - Historia de dos ciudades
Finland - Giljotiinin varjossa
France - Le marquis de Saint-Evremond
Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title) - Ypo tin skian tis laimitomou
Hungary - Kè t város mesè je
Italy - Le due città 
Norway - To byer
Poland - W cieniu gilotyny
Portugal - Duas Cidades
Sweden - I skuggan av giljotinen
USA (complete title) - Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities'
Venezuela - Historia en dos ciudades
West Germany - Flucht aus Paris

Release Dates:


Certifications:
Argentina:Atp / Australia:PG / Canada:G (video rating) / USA:Not Rated / USA:Passed (National Board of Review) / USA:Approved (certificate #1471) / West Germany:16 (f)