A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities is a 1958 British film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Dirk Bogarde and Dorothy Tutin. It is a period drama based on parts of Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities (1859). Plot Sydney Carton, an alcoholic English lawyer, discovers that Charles Darnay, a man he once defended, is a French aristocrat trying to escape the French Revolution. While he envies the man over the love of a woman, Lucie Manette, his conscience is pricked and he resolves to help him escape the guillotine. Cast Dirk Bogarde as Sydney Carton Dorothy Tutin as Lucie Manette Paul Guers as Charles Darnay (Voice dubbed by Tim Turner – uncredited) Marie Versini as Marie Gabelle Ian Bannen as Gabelle Alfie Bass as Jerry Cruncher Cecil Parker as Jarvis Lorry Stephen Murray as Dr. Manette Athene Seyler as Miss Pross Ernest Clark as Stryver Rosalie Crutchley as Madame Defarge Freda Jackson as the Vengeance Duncan Lamont as Ernest Defarge Leo McKern as Attorney General-Old Bailey Donald Pleasence as John Barsad Christopher Lee as Marquis St. Evremonde Production Ralph Thomas insisted on the film being shot in black and white as he felt the book "was written in black and white, and it's got to be made in black and white." He was influenced by a French film Casque d'Or set in a similar period which was in black and white.