These days, audiences have been conditioned to not expect much in the way of original ideas in their mainstream entertainment. More often than not, films are now usually remakes or reimaginings of previous films, based on graphic novels, or adaptations of some pre-existing piece of entertainment. While there was still plenty left to explore in the realm of cinema during the Golden Age of Hollywood, there are certain elements that have remained timeless. Since the advent of cinema, creatives have turned to literature to find stories that they could adapt for the silver screen. One literary figure who has remained a mainstay of the Hollywood scene is the great Charles Dickens. Novels such as A Tale of Two Cities were known to be adapted as silent films as early as 1911, but the 1935 David O. Selznick (Gone With The Wind) production from director Jack Conway (Libeled Lady) stands as the first sound version of the story – it also remains the most lauded version. Warner Archive realized what an important piece of history they had at their disposal and rightfully has served up a loving presentation that this film deserves.
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us… In short, it was a period very like the present…” For those who need a refresher, these are the immortal words that set the stage for A Tale of Two Cities. Set in the years prior to the French Revolution, the tale begins with the release of Dr. Alexandre Mannette (Henry B. Walthall), a wrongfully-imprisoned man of eighteen years and the father of Lucie (Elizabeth Allan, David Copperfield). Dr. Mannette is just one of many who have suffered an injustice at the hand of the Marquis de St. Evremonde (Basil Rathbone) and other French aristocrats. Even before the reunited family can return to their home in England, a young child is trampled to death in the streets by the horse and carriage of one such member of the bourgeois scene. The people are not content to burden such injustices for long. On the return trip home, Lucie forms a bond with Charles Darnay (Donald Woods), a French aristocrat himself who is the nephew of Evremonde but actually cares for the French masses.
In this time of royal excess, it did not pay to be at odds with those in power, which is only highlighted when Darnay is framed for treason by his uncle. The only hope for him comes in the form of skilled but personally flawed lawyer Sydney Carton (Ronald Colman, The Prisoner of Zenda). While the idea of spoiling a story that is over 150 years old seems suspect, it will be at this point where specific plot threads will be left to those who watch the film or have read the book. The story at play here is one of two minds. On the one side, you have the brewing frustration of a society that has been pushed to the limits of subjugation. This is a tale as old as time, as those in power grow comfortable stepping on the little guy until they find themselves with a knife to their throat. On the other is where the story finds its power; the emotional bond that develops between Carton and Lucie as she maintains the love for Darnay is quite powerful. To know a love that holds more power than that of one’s self preservation is an incredible development that few will ever experience. This story has remained an essential part of history due to the raw power that comes with the conclusion of the tale.
For a story that is often quite intimate in scope, producer David O. Selznick brings a surprising amount of spectacle to portions of the film. It is said that over 17,000 extras were used for the thrilling mob scene at the epicenter of the tale. While special effects may be impressive today, the wonder of what filmmakers were able to accomplish back in this time period is even more mind blowing, as you cannot ever quite be sure if some of these people may have been getting hurt. Even outside of the grand set pieces, the drama flows through this picture thanks to the strong performances, anchored by a career best Colman. They may not have a typical romantic dynamic, but the chemistry between him and Allan allows the movie to live up to the impact of the novel. This is a timeless story that speaks to the issues of today as much as it ever did in the 1850s or the 1930s. If you want to appreciate this one for the way in which it tackles class issues and abuses of power, there is so much to sink your teeth into, but this film is also primed to be appreciated as a cinematic achievement for what it is presenting on the surface. A Tale of Two Cities is simply quite wonderful.
Video Quality
A Tale of Two Cities makes its long-awaited Blu-Ray debut with a brand new 1080p transfer that is simply stunning on all accounts. The contrast is well defined, even during the brightly lit outdoor big-spectacle shots, and there is not much in the way of print damage to be found. The beautiful black-and-white photography looks marvelous in high definition with natural grain intact. There is a fantastic amount of detail present in the interiors, such as the courtroom and the lavish homes of the upper-class citizens. The presentation also showcases nice texture on the costumes and impressive facial detail on close-ups. Black levels are pleasingly deep with no trace of black crush or compression artifacts. The scenes in the darkened jail cells maintain a nice stability that helps to not distract from the events on screen. Warner Archive has delivered an A+ presentation that will be a welcome addition for any classic film fan.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that keeps the film sounding amazing. There is no substantial age related wear and tear to the track such as hissing, popping or clipping. While not a standout in the film, the score from Herbert Stothart has a great amount of stability when it pops up. Dialogue and background noises are represented well in perfect harmony within the context of this world. Nothing ever overpowers the classic dialogue that is being spoken here by any of our characters, even in the most raucous of scenes. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.
Special Features
- A Tale of Two Cities 1942 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast: An hour-long radio play of the tale starring Ronald Coleman reprising his role from the film alongside Edna Best (The Man Who Knew Too Much) in the lead roles. It is interesting to hear mostly different actors in these roles, and it is very much worth a listen in this condensed telling.
- Hey-Hey Fever: An eight-minute Happy Harmonies animated short from 1935 featuring Bosko singing and dancing alongside various storybook characters. I won’t get into all of the problematic aspects of this character. This is interesting as a piece of history.
- Honeyland: A ten-minute Happy Harmonies animated short from 1935 that features a pleasant group of bees trying to go about their business and make honey while contending with a pesky spider.
- Audioscopiks: A humorous eight-minute MGM live-action short which basically explains 3-D glasses along with some examples of the process in action. The short itself is not in 3-D, but it is interesting to see how they were trying to exploit the technology.
- Re-Issue Trailer: A minute-long trailer for the classic tale that features footage from the film with text overlaid on screen highlighting the importance of the story.
Final Thoughts
A Tale of Two Cities has rightfully been considered one of the essential novels in literature for well over a century. Having this classic story brought to life through a lavish David O. Selznick production only helps more people connect with the story, and the fact that it is so impeccably crafted cements its place in the history of cinema. The combination of technical ambition and quality performances makes this one a must-see. Warner Archive has delivered a Blu-Ray that is truly wonderful in all respects from the splendid A/V presentation to the enjoyable special features. There have been attempts to give this story new life, but this adaptation is one of the all-time greats. Recommended
A Tale of Two Cities can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
