This version of Charles Dickens' classic "A Tale of Two Cities" betters the 1935 film in some ways, and equals it in others. Alas, the best laid plans, and the worst laid plans, add up to something approaching what we already had. Like the (still) more famous MGM version, "Rank" (the British studio) hits the main plot points, and falls a little short when in considering the sweeping themes. The earlier version, which starred Ronald Colman, aspired to become a "Yuletide" tale (including Christmas songs), while this one "blessedly" plays it more straightforward. The most grievous error is very plain to see
The way to distinguish this production would have been to shoot it in color, which they had the money to do, and did not.
Looking beautiful in black and white or color, dissipated English barrister Dirk Bogarde (as Sydney Carton) defends suspected French spy Paul Guers (as Charles Darnay) while falling in love with his client's fetching fiancée, Dorothy Tutin (as Lucie Manette). The casting of the three leads is very much like Mr. Colman's MGM version. Mr. Bogarde is excellent, playing "Sydney Carton" in a lower key makes him more believable in this film's context, and draws you closer. So, even if you know the ending (and you should know the ending), Bogarde is able to make it startling, by unveiling his character deliberately.
Director Ralph Thomas, Bogarde, and several of the distinguished supporting characters herein, have a good feel for the material. Another mistake is not having Bogarde play both "Sydney Carton" and "Charles Darnay" (the latter is played, herein, by Mr. Guers and a dubbed voice). Dickens' story depends on the two men looking very nearly identical. This lends believability to their symbolic brotherly love, and makes their love for the same woman (Ms. Tutin) more dynamic. The "twin" theme is a very strong, recurrent (even hereditary, for "Darnay") theme in the novel. Bogarde could have easily played both roles.
******* A Tale of Two Cities (2/28/58) Ralph Thomas ~ Dirk Bogarde, Dorothy Tutin, Paul Guers, Rosalie Crutchley
The way to distinguish this production would have been to shoot it in color, which they had the money to do, and did not.
Looking beautiful in black and white or color, dissipated English barrister Dirk Bogarde (as Sydney Carton) defends suspected French spy Paul Guers (as Charles Darnay) while falling in love with his client's fetching fiancée, Dorothy Tutin (as Lucie Manette). The casting of the three leads is very much like Mr. Colman's MGM version. Mr. Bogarde is excellent, playing "Sydney Carton" in a lower key makes him more believable in this film's context, and draws you closer. So, even if you know the ending (and you should know the ending), Bogarde is able to make it startling, by unveiling his character deliberately.
Director Ralph Thomas, Bogarde, and several of the distinguished supporting characters herein, have a good feel for the material. Another mistake is not having Bogarde play both "Sydney Carton" and "Charles Darnay" (the latter is played, herein, by Mr. Guers and a dubbed voice). Dickens' story depends on the two men looking very nearly identical. This lends believability to their symbolic brotherly love, and makes their love for the same woman (Ms. Tutin) more dynamic. The "twin" theme is a very strong, recurrent (even hereditary, for "Darnay") theme in the novel. Bogarde could have easily played both roles.
******* A Tale of Two Cities (2/28/58) Ralph Thomas ~ Dirk Bogarde, Dorothy Tutin, Paul Guers, Rosalie Crutchley