A TALE OF TWO CITIES (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1935), directed by Jack Conway, following the success of DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935), became the studio's second screen contribution to Charles Dickens literary classic novel. Previously filmed in the silent era, notably by Vitagraph (1911) with Maurice Costello; and Fox (1917) starring William Farnum, this first sound edition, followed by a 1958 British remake with Dirk Bogarde, may have been successes, but nothing can compare to the 1935 edition produced under David O. Selznick. Starring Ronald Colman (minus his famous mustache) in his iconic portrayal of Sydney Carton, his character is actually a supporting one, yet so crucial to the story. No expense was spared for the reenactment of 18th Century France and England (the two cities in question), but most of all, its musical score, cast of thousands and most importantly, properly placed Dickens characters enacted by actors who were born to play their assigned roles.
Starting with its famous opening prologue, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ... it was a period very much like the present," the story, set in the late 18th century, begins with Jarvis Lorry (Claude Gillingwater Sr.), a respected businessman of the Tellson Bank of London, to meet with Lucie Marnette (Elizabeth Allan), with news that her father, Doctor Manette (Henry B. Walthall), believed dead, is alive. He had served unjustly 18 horrible years in the Bastille, thanks to his enemy, The Marquis St. Evremonde (Basil Rathbone), the most hated aristocrat of all France. Lorry and Lucie venture to Paris to get Manette, staying in the upstairs room of the wine shop belonging to his former servant, Ernest DeFarge (Mitchell Lewis), and wife, Therese (Blanche Yurka). Ship bound for England with both her father and Lorry, Lucie makes the acquaintance of Evremonde's nephew, Charles Darnay (Donald Woods). Because Darnay sides with the peasants, departing France to escape his uncle's tyranny, Evremonde arranges to have his nephew arrested and put to trial for treason where he is acquitted, thanks to the clever testimony arranged Sydney Carton (Ronald Colman). Now a close friend to Mr. And Mrs. Darney, Sydney's love for Lucie is kept from within, drowning his sorrows drinking from tavern to tavern. Carton proves his loyalty to Darney after being tricked back to France during the French Revolution and tried as enemy of the republic with possible death sentence on the guillotine.
In the cast of thousands, the major performers consist of Edna May Oliver (Miss Pross); Reginald Owen (C. J. Stryver); Walter Catlett (Barsad); H. B. Warner (Gabelle); Fay Chaldecott (Lucie Darnay) and Tully Marshall (The Woodcutter). For anyone who's ever seen D. W. Griffith's silent classic, ORPHANS OF THE STORM (1921), will never forget old hag portrayal given by Lucille LaVerne, a role she physically repeated here as La Vengeance. Regardless of excellent performances all around, the most honorable mention goes to Blanche Yurka's Madame DeFarge. Of her many highlights, including the courtroom scene to her fight to the finish with Miss Pross, Yurka alone makes A TALE OF TWO CITIES worth its 126 minutes of lavish spectacle. This doesn't take away from Ronald Colman's sensitive performance (who could forget his final last line) and Isabel Jewell's sensitive portrayal of a frightened seamstress going to her death. Though A TALE OF TWO CITIES didn't win Best Picture win (for 1936), there will never be another Dickens-based film like this one again.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES may have been the best of films or the worst of films, but its lasting appeal is quite evident by those who have seen this version multiple times. Available either on home video or DVD, A TALE OF TWO CITIES can be viewed and studied whenever broadcast on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. (****)
Starting with its famous opening prologue, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ... it was a period very much like the present," the story, set in the late 18th century, begins with Jarvis Lorry (Claude Gillingwater Sr.), a respected businessman of the Tellson Bank of London, to meet with Lucie Marnette (Elizabeth Allan), with news that her father, Doctor Manette (Henry B. Walthall), believed dead, is alive. He had served unjustly 18 horrible years in the Bastille, thanks to his enemy, The Marquis St. Evremonde (Basil Rathbone), the most hated aristocrat of all France. Lorry and Lucie venture to Paris to get Manette, staying in the upstairs room of the wine shop belonging to his former servant, Ernest DeFarge (Mitchell Lewis), and wife, Therese (Blanche Yurka). Ship bound for England with both her father and Lorry, Lucie makes the acquaintance of Evremonde's nephew, Charles Darnay (Donald Woods). Because Darnay sides with the peasants, departing France to escape his uncle's tyranny, Evremonde arranges to have his nephew arrested and put to trial for treason where he is acquitted, thanks to the clever testimony arranged Sydney Carton (Ronald Colman). Now a close friend to Mr. And Mrs. Darney, Sydney's love for Lucie is kept from within, drowning his sorrows drinking from tavern to tavern. Carton proves his loyalty to Darney after being tricked back to France during the French Revolution and tried as enemy of the republic with possible death sentence on the guillotine.
In the cast of thousands, the major performers consist of Edna May Oliver (Miss Pross); Reginald Owen (C. J. Stryver); Walter Catlett (Barsad); H. B. Warner (Gabelle); Fay Chaldecott (Lucie Darnay) and Tully Marshall (The Woodcutter). For anyone who's ever seen D. W. Griffith's silent classic, ORPHANS OF THE STORM (1921), will never forget old hag portrayal given by Lucille LaVerne, a role she physically repeated here as La Vengeance. Regardless of excellent performances all around, the most honorable mention goes to Blanche Yurka's Madame DeFarge. Of her many highlights, including the courtroom scene to her fight to the finish with Miss Pross, Yurka alone makes A TALE OF TWO CITIES worth its 126 minutes of lavish spectacle. This doesn't take away from Ronald Colman's sensitive performance (who could forget his final last line) and Isabel Jewell's sensitive portrayal of a frightened seamstress going to her death. Though A TALE OF TWO CITIES didn't win Best Picture win (for 1936), there will never be another Dickens-based film like this one again.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES may have been the best of films or the worst of films, but its lasting appeal is quite evident by those who have seen this version multiple times. Available either on home video or DVD, A TALE OF TWO CITIES can be viewed and studied whenever broadcast on Turner Classic Movies cable channel. (****)