A Tale of Two Cities (1935)

Director:

Jack Conway

Writers:

Charles Dickens (novel)
W.P. Lipscomb (writer) ...

Release Date:

25 December 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The most dramatic love story in the history of literature!

Plot:

An elaborate adaptation of Dickens' classic tale of the French Revolution. Dissipated lawyer Sydney...

Plot Keywords:

Guillotine | French Revolution | Lawyer | 1790s | Father Daughter Relationship

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Ronald Colman	...	Sydney Carton
Elizabeth Allan	...	Lucie Manette
Edna May Oliver	...	Miss Pross
Reginald Owen	...	Stryver
Basil Rathbone	...	Marquis St. Evremonde
Blanche Yurka	...	Madame De Farge
Henry B. Walthall	...	Dr. Manette
Donald Woods	...	Charles Darnay
Walter Catlett	...	Barsad
Fritz Leiber	...	Gaspard
H.B. Warner	...	Gabelle
Mitchell Lewis	...	Ernest De Farge
Claude Gillingwater	...	Jarvis Lorry
Billy Bevan	...	Jerry Cruncher
Isabel Jewell	...	Seamstress

Also Known As:

Charles Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities' (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

128 min | USA:121 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

West Germany:16 (f) | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

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.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: 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."

Quotes:

Miss Pross: Mr. Carton, the infant has expressed a desire to say good night to you.
Sydney Carton: The infant's desire shall be gratified immediately, Prossy.
[he goes]
Jarvis Lorry Jr.: I suppose it's none of my business, but I wouldn't allow that fellow to handle a child of mine.
Miss Pross: As to that, you haven't got one... and from the looks of you, you're not likely to have one.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Prelude No. 7

Not many films can live up to the book, this one did.

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.