A TALE OF TWO CITIES
UK, 1958, 117 minutes, Black and white.
Dirk Bogarde, Dorothy Tutin, Christopher Lee, Athene Seyler, Rosalie Crutchley, Ernest Clark, Stephen Murray, Paul Guers, Donald Pleasance, Ian Bannen, Cecil Parker, Alfle Bass.
Directed by Ralph Thomas.
A Tale of Two Cities has been filmed several times. The classic version was Jack Conway's 1935 version with Ronald Colman as Sidney Carton. There was a long telemovie version in the late '70s with Chris Sarandon in the central role.
This British version is respectable, but does not have the flair of the '30s version. It was directed by Ralph Thomas, a director who worked on a variety of film genres in England in the '50s and '60s, especially with Dirk Bogarde, including Doctor in the House, Campbell's Kingdom.
The film has an excellent cast. There is location photography, a sense of period - and a fidelity to the narrative of Charles Dickens.
1. The popularity of Dickens' novel? The various film versions? Audience fascination with the 18th century, English aristocracy, French aristocracy and the details of the Revolution?
2. Black and white photography, locations? Sense of period? The special effects for the Revolution? Musical score?
3. The world of Dickens - the range of characters, their interaction, dramatic situations, comic touches? How well transferred to the screen?
4. The background of the French Revolution: the storming of the Bastille, the populace taking to the streets, the imprisonment and execution of the aristocracy? The guillotine in the square? The film's attention to these familiar details? The danger for French aristocracy, unjust imprisonment? The oppression of the nobles - especially from the St Evremonde family? The British and their attitude towards the Revolution? The saving of French victims? Dickens' sympathies?
5. The focus on Dr Manet - his work, his imprisonment in the Bastille, his release, his being returned to England, the reunion with his daughter Lucy? The connection with the St. Evremonde family? Lucy as heroine? Her love for Charles Darnay? The irony of his being the nephew of the Marquis? His return to France? Lucy and Dr. Manet's plight, the return to France to plead for him? The vengeance of the Defarges? The imprisonment of Darnay? The substitution by Carton? The happy reunion for Dr. Manet, Lucy and Charles?
6. Jarvis Lorry and the opening of the film? His work in connection with Dr. Manet? Friendship with the family? Relationship with Sidney Carton? His help during the episodes? The character of the Englishman concerned about the French?
7. Sidney Carton and his work as a lawyer? Dirk Bogarde's style? His seeming disdain for life? His drinking? Cynicism? His encounter with Dr. Manet and Lucy?. His devotion to duty? The difficulties in France? His journey to help? His discovery of Basard and confrontation with the Defarges? The Pleading of Lucy? His decision to take Darnay's place? The dramatic tension of his entry into the Bastille, his getting Darnay out? -His going to the guillotine with the prisoners, his consoling the servant? The famous Sidney Carton statement: It is a far, far better thing I do ... 'The laying down of life for others? A final heroism?
8. The Marquis St Evremonde and his oppressive behaviour, wealth, tyranny? His murder?
9. The populace of Paris, the reaction against oppression, the justification of the Revolution? The executions? The Defarges and their involvement? Their experiences with the St. Evremonde family? Madame Defarge and her vengeance? Her attendance at the executions? her vindictiveness against Dr. Manet despite his victimisation? her vendetta against everyone associated with the,family? The clash with Miss Pross? Her death? The vindictiveness of the other women attending the executions?
10. Miss Pross and her place within the household, the journey to France, the genial and fussy Englishwoman, her heroism in the struggle with Mme Defarge?
11. The popular ingredients of Dickens' novel? The re-creation of the 18th century and the Revolution? The popular types? The final heroism?
