So many of the positive comments here say what I would want to about this forgotten masterpiece of a film. The only things I can add: (1) the elimination of the "twins" theme from the book was brilliant. I've always found such themes dated and tiring. Removing it for the cinema makes for a much more effective film. (2) The movie does a much better job than the book in balancing the different "sides" of the revolution, showing the evils of extremism, whether it's the aristocracy or militants. Not all of the aristocracy is evil, and not all of the revolutionaries are evil. The movie is B & W, but there is nothing B & W about the French Revolution, and the movie does a great job of showing this. (3) The details in the background -- how cider is warmed, how meat is turned, how streets are lighted -- are fascinating and quite historically accurate. It's worth watching the film again and again just to learn about these customs of the time. (4) It's Ronald Colman's finest performance, no question, and I must disagree with the poster who said that Ronald Colman was her imaginary boyfriend. He's always been MY imaginary boyfriend.
Review of A Tale of Two Cities
