I Watch Films: A Tale Of Two Cities (1958)

 

A Tale Of Two Cities (1958)

A mail coach is flagged down and banker Mr Lorry is given a surprise message. Doctor Manette, a client of the bank, thought dead, turns out to be alive. He was imprisoned in the Bastille, and has lost his mind. Lorry passes on the message to Lucie Manette, the daughter and they bring him back to England. Inevitably several other characters involved in the story are in the coach.

Amongst them Charles Darnay, an émigré Frenchman, who has renounced his noble title. Spies accuse him of treason; his lawyer Sidney Carton (Dirk Bogarde) defends him, in part noting that in identifying Darnay they might mistake him for someone very similar looking, such as Carton. Carton is an alcoholic and depressive; he half-heartedly courts Lucie Manette, losing out to Darnay.

In France the revolution happens. The Defarges who took in Dr Manette are leading revolutionaries. Mr Lorry heads to Paris to deal with urgent business there. Darnay is also called as a servant of his family is accused of crimes. When Darnay arrives his noble title is revealed and he is accused of the very crimes of his father that caused him to renounce his heritage. Various attempts to get him released are tried, until at last Carton’s resemblance and love of Lucie gives a tragic answer.

This is quite complex, though less so than the book (itself one of the less meandering novels of Charles Dickens). There’s some real violence in the revolution, especially in Mme Defarge – though unfortunately the rest of the cast are quite low-key making her stand out almost as cartoon villain. A fair adaption, a good introduction to the novel.

Watch This: Solid adaption of the novel hitting the high points
Don’t Watch This: The novel is stronger in character and detail; the history, not it’s best point, is still better than the film