review for A Tale of Two Cities on AllMovie

While not as emotionally satisfying as the 1935 film, this version of A Tale of Two Cities is a very welcome alternative, and in some ways is truer to the spirit of Dickens. The chief asset is Dirk Bogarde's subtly played Sydney Carton, which contrasts very effectively with Ronald Colman's equally effective but much more florid interpretation in the 1935 version. Bogarde does not attempt to make Carton into the noble, heroic figure that Colman does; he's clearly a wastrel, although Bogarde's subtextual performance makes it clear that, while it may be unknown to the audience, there is a good reason why his Carton has wasted his talents and his life, and that his inclination to drink is clearly a cover for the scars he has obtained somewhere along the way. All of this makes his attraction to Lucie -- and his willingness to give up his life for her happiness -- all the more touching and effective. As Lucie, Dorothy Tutin is properly innocent and appealing, and quite striking. Athene Seyler makes a most Margaret Rutherford-like Prossy, and Cecil Parker is quite good as Lorry. Perhaps the best performance among the supporting cast comes from Rosalie Crutchley, whose Madame Defarge is much younger and more attractive (though still heartless and terrifying) than we have come to expect. Tale dawdles in a few places, its French Revolution montage is not as effective as it could be, and it isn't until the end that it really delivers the impact it is trying for throughout the film, but it is nevertheless a respectable adaptation with a sterling lead performance.