A Tale of Two Cities (1958)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Ralph Thomas

Writers:

T.E.B. Clarke (screenplay)
Charles Dickens (novel)

Release Date:

4 August 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Romance | War

Tagline:

An immortal story... A brilliant cast... An unforgettable film of the French Revolution

Plot:

British barrister Sydney Carton lives an insubstantial and unhappy life. He falls under the spell of Lucie Manette...

Plot Keywords:

Revolution | French Revolution | Guillotine | Political Unrest | Sacrifice

Cast

Dirk Bogarde	...	Sydney Carton
Dorothy Tutin	...	Lucie Manette
Paul Guers	...	Charles Darnay
Marie Versini	...	Marie Gabelle
Ian Bannen	...	Gabelle
Cecil Parker	...	Jarvis Lorry
Stephen Murray	...	Dr. Manette
Athene Seyler	...	Miss Pross
Alfie Bass	...	Jerry Cruncher
Ernest Clark	...	Stryver
Rosalie Crutchley	...	Madame Defarge
Freda Jackson	...	The Vengeance
Duncan Lamont	...	Ernest Defarge
Christopher Lee	...	Marquis St. Evremonde
Leo McKern	...	Attorney General-Old Bailey

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:U | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

Paul Guers is dubbed.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the final scenes of the tumbrels rolling to the guillotine, Sydney Carton and the other characters in the tumbrel appear to switch sides. First, they are on the right, then on the left, then on the right again.

Movie Connections:

Version of "ABC Album: A Tale of Two Cities: Part 1 (#1.4)" (1953)

Deeply moving! Powerful performances! The text of Dickens sensational. Bogarde is tremendous and at his best!

"Tale of Two Cities" is one of those overworked and tired tales that has been over told dozens of times ad nausea! However, this rendition is glorious. Only the Ronald Colman version is slightly better, but Dirk Bogarde fits this role perfectly, as he does most of his other roles in film. Although most of the versions of "Tale of Two Cities" are boring, much like the tired renditions of Beethoven's 5th Symphony, this version is like the Herbert Von Karajan or Carlos Kleiber orchestrations that are spectacular and inspiring, as if played for the very first time. There are beautifully crafted scenes in this film that create an interest in the humanity of the characters. This is truly a wonderful film.

One of the most powerful ending's to a film I have ever seen, similar to the sacrifice that Christ made for us on the cross, this is a film you must see and you will be glad you did. You will ask yourself, how many people could make such a sacrifice for the one they love? I know I couldn't. The courage of these characters' is awe-inspiring and as one of the character's says, Sydney Carton (Bogarde) shows the best that is in us, and is the best of us, in desperate times. A Super Hero in a great film! See this one! If you have a heart, you will have a lump in your throat and your eyes will be moist at the end of this one!