Sunday, July 18, 2010

A Tale of Two Cities, 1958 (Grade C)

Director: Ralph Thomas
Cast: Dirk Bogarde, Dorothy Tutin, Paul Guers, Marie Versini, Ian Bannen, Cecil Parker, Stephen Murray, Athene Seyler, Alfie Bass

sez says:  We've been watching all the versions of this Dicken's classic that we can find.  This one is  watered down to the 'love story' --there is a "back story" on Madame LaFarge (how her family had been mistreated - murdered by the Evremondes) that is missing from other versions--but this version of the story leaps over other aspects of the tale to hold Carton's love for Lucy as the center piece -- the French Revolution is just a backdrop for that love to be demonstrated. Ho Hum -- Derk Bogart did a good job -- but there is nothing exceptional here.  Grade C