Ross622 Jack Conway's "A Tale of Two Cities" is based on the popular Charles Dickens novel of the same name depicting the events of the French Revolution and happens to depict them very well, and thanks to how Conway directed this movie it is also one of the finest period pieces that I've ever seen. The movie stars Ronald Colman in a role he always felt that he was born to portray as Sydney Carton an alcoholic British lawyer who defends a young Frenchman named Charles Darnay (Donald Woods) who happens to be a relative to an aristocrat named Marquis St. Evremonde (Basil Rathbone) who he differs from in every way in terms of political philosophy, and all the poor French citizens who are victims of the reign of King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette, and as punishment they wanted to kill all of the aristocrats as well as all of their relatives all the way down to babies which is a very sickening idea thanks to clouded judgment. Carton is also defending him for the sake of his wife (Elizabeth Allan), daughter,her maid (Edna May Oliver) and the rest of her family of which he credits for sobering him up, and as a result he decides to sacrifice himself for the sake of his friends which is his plan for getting Darnay out of prison. Although Colman felt he was born to play the role of Sydney Carton he strongly refused to play the dual roles of Carton and Darnay which are supposed to be lookalikes in the story. Though I didn't read the novel I do know that the novel starts with the words "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." which I couldn't think of any better words that Dickens wrote to best describe this story. The screenplay along with Conway's sure handed direction makes you relate to both the British and the French citizens but the problem with the French people is that they let their emotions get the best of themselves and they totally acted out of revenge towards aristocrats and racism towards British people. The performances are very good but Colman is so good in this role that he makes the role of Carton his own and was unfortunately snubbed for a best actor Oscar nomination probably due to the fact that his performance was far too good for the Academy, this is a great film that is hardly remembered anymore, and is one of the finest films that the year 1935 had to offer.

TheLittleSongbird That is alongside the likes of David Lean's Great Expectations and Oliver Twist. A Tale of Two Cities is a classic novel, and is just as classic a film. The costumes and sets are accurate and look beautiful, and the film is photographed handsomely. The music score is stirring, the pace and dialogue are crisp and the direction is never plodding or overdone, just right in fact(an achievement considering the massive crowd scenes). The story is compelling and mostly faithful, with the magnificent Battle of Bastille and heart-rending cut-off of the final scene between Madame La Guillotine and Sydney Carton the standout scenes. The cast are wonderful. Donald Woods is the least effective, but that's more to do with the fact that the rest are so good rather than that he's bad. Ronald Colman gives a performance of great nobility here and Elizabeth Allan does her best as Lucie, the character I always cared for least in the novel. Edna May Oliver is a warm and humorous Miss Pross and Blanche Yurka is a frightening and bitter, yet we also feel some element of sympathy, Madame Defarge. Reginald Owen is his usual solid self, same with Lucille La Verne, and while Basil Rathbone has had meatier roles in other films like Adventures of Robin Hood, Anna Karenina and Romeo and Juliet(let's not forget Sherlock Holmes either) he still makes for an excellent aristocrat. All in all, a wonderful film and one of the finest films adapted from Charles Dickens' work. 10/10 Bethany Cox

fakeguyhere A great film. The best film adaptation of Charles Dickens with the possible exception of the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol. A Tale of Two Cities is perhaps the most overlooked classic film of the 30s. Dodsworth would be in that discussion too. Ronald Colma is brilliant as Sydney Carton, a clever but troubled barrister. Basil Rathbone is excellent as the heartless Marquis St. Evermonde. And even Isabel Jewel is good in the tiny part of a dainty, sacred, and condemned seamstress.I'm not sure why this movie is not as well-known as films such as Grand Hotel, The Thin Man, or My Man Godfrey. Maybe it has to do with the lack of big-name cast members. Or maybe the movie simply has to be given another 80 years before it's given its due. All I know is that I have I'm glad it's in my small film library.

drmality-1 Dickens' "Tale of Two Cities" translates extraordinarily well to the big screen. I haven't seen a version of the tale yet that was not well done. The 1935, 1958 and 1980 versions all had something to recommend them and all were faithful to the original story. 1935 gave us the most polished and iconic of all the Sydney Cartons, Ronald Colman. Colman's performance here is extraordinary. Not as abrasive as Dirk Bogarde or Chris Sarandon, this Carton instead is consumed by a wistful depression and thoughts of worthlessness, filtered through the genteel sensibility of an Englishman. Much of Carton's wry gloominess and longing for a better life is transmitted by physical means alone...a sadness in the eyes, a resigned body language. When this physical acting is combined with Colman's wonderful voice, the result is outstanding. Colman insisted on playing ONLY Carton, whereas the same actor almost always plays both Darnay and Carton. I think this works to the film's advantage.The film deftly balances the more intimate human drama with the earth-shaking political upheaval of the French Revolution. You get quiet romance and drama, but also staggeringly huge scenes of the Revolution in full onslaught, including a thrilling march on the Bastille. We see the faults not only of the French aristocrats, but also of the mob of oppressed peasants who overthrow them. In a very strong scene, the aristocrats waiting to die at the hands of the guillotine seem to find the dignity and strength they lacked when in power. "God, forgive those who do not forgive us," begs one noblewoman soon to die. The righteous anger of the peasants, oppressed by the despicable likes of Count De Evremond, is flamed into a blood lust that even claims their own, such as the beautiful seamstress.I've not seen Blanche Yurka in any other part, but she is absolutely striking as Madame Defarge. Tragedy and injustice had turned her into a fanatical sword of vengeance. Her speech to condemn Darnay to the guillotine is an acting tour De force. Every tyranny creates "broken" people like this, who can be as dangerous as the tyrants themselves.The other cast is variable. Elizabeth Allen is gorgeous as Lucy Manette, but seems "precious" beyond belief. As Darnay, Donald Woods is a bland hero. These two are a concession to the "romantic couple" clichés which almost every 30's film demanded. Basil Rathbone is pure evil as Count De Evremond and Walter Catlett has a good turn as the mercenary Barsed. Probably the best of the supporting characters is Edna May Oliver, a real hoot as the starchy proper Englishwoman Miss Pross, who zings plenty of one-liners during the show. I'll bet the theater audiences cheered and roared when she physically stood up to Madame DeFarge.But it's really Ronald Colman who dominates the story, which is as it should be. If you love period films with romance, spectacle and heart, "A Tale of Two Cities" is a no brainer and the 1935 version is certainly worthy of your time.