Darney, an immigrant from France, is compelled to return to his homeland to rescue yet another unjustly imprisoned acquaintance. Since Darney is from a hated aristocratic family and the Terror is in full bloom, Darney is imprisoned under threat of execution. Lucie beseeches Carton to try to save Darney, and the two travel to France despite its perils. Carton is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, not for the sake of Darney, but to fulfill a promise made to beautiful Lucie.
How others will see it. Most every adult has seen an adaptation of "A Tale of Two Cities," of which there are many. The best known is the 1935 Ronald Colman version, a good movie but slightly inferior to the present film. A classic black and white film isn't for everyone, but those capable of enjoying a movie made a half century ago should cherish this well-made Bogarde vehicle. The novel is expertly condensed into a two-hour screenplay, the cast is stocked with esteemed British character actors, and Dorothy Tutin is a heartbreaker if there ever was one. Even the rabble crowd scenes are impressive.
How I felt about it. I understand the popularity of "A Tale of Two Cities" in England. I suspect it is less popular in France. In Dicken's novel, English politics are as placid as a Montana fishing lake in August, while France is the Bermuda triangle during hurricane season. First, sadistic aristocrats such as Marquis St. Evremonde (here played by a fairly young Christopher Lee) rape and murder their servants, when not running over street rabble with their carriage. The tables are turned on such injustice, and soon the rabble (in the guise of revolution) are sending slews of meek aristocrats to the guillotine. This list even includes cutie Marie Versini, apparently executed simply for being on the property of the late Marquis when it was seized by revolutionaries.
The French are depicted as blood-thirsty and wild-eyed. They are also easily fooled, as evidenced by the escape of Darney and his extended family. Most revealing is the proud statement of Miss Pross, devoted servant of angelic Lucie Manette, while she fights for both their lives against the most hateful of all the French, Madame Defarge (Rosalie Crutchley). Pross (Athene Seyler) tells her murderous foe, "You can't get the better of me. I'm a Briton." Patriotic logic is the most dubious of all.
Of course, there are noble Frenchmen, such as compassionate Dr. Manette (Stephen Murray), his hottie heroine daughter Lucie, and Darney, who renounces the title and estate of Marquis St. Evremonde. What these three have in common is that they leave France for England before the Terror breaks out. Thus, they prefer England.
"A Tale of Two Cities" is reminiscent of "The Scarlet Pimpernel", in that English aristocrats put one over the French revolutionaries. But there are other themes at work. Carton is the model of self-sacrifice for love, a role normally reserved for mothers. He's even willing to give up his own life for Darney, whom he dislikes, simply because he was asked by Lucie to help. Carton goes much further than Lucie can even imagine, but then, Carton's life is of little value to him. Having his head removed is more effective (and more noble) than pickling your liver until it fails.