A Tale of Two Cities (1935): Film vs Book
Film · 1935 · Directed by Jack Conway · Starring Ronald Colman, Elizabeth Allan
About the film
A Hollywood version of the great revolution story, built around a drifting lawyer and a sacrifice made out of love.
How close is it to the book?
Close to the bookIt keeps the best-known plot of the novel and its famous ideas of sacrifice, while the many side characters and long subplots are cut to fit a film.
Read or watch first?
The novel lets you enjoy Dickens at full length, with a much larger cast and a stronger sense of the two cities.
What the book gives you
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
A stirring story of courage and sacrifice set between London and Paris, with one of literature's most famous openings. It rewards you with a powerful, unforgettable finish.
Who will like it: Readers who love historical drama, memorable characters and a famous opening line.