A Tale of Two Cities (1935)
Puff's Score
91/100 (We aren't professional critics — just movie lovers!)
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Wider Scores
IMDb: 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
Metacritic: 87%
Looks like we are swimming with the tide on this one
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Who's in it?
Ronald Colman, Elizabeth Allan, Edna May Oliver, Basil Rathbone
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Genre
Period Drama
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What's it about?
During the French Revolution, a disillusioned lawyer and a young aristocrat — near lookalikes — find their lives entwined by love, loyalty, and sacrifice across London and Paris.
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Puff's Take
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." We love Charles Dickens here!
Sure, the book may be over 150 years old and a bit arduous to read today, but there’s no denying the substance of his stories — and A Tale of Two Cities sits right at the top. In our humblest of opinions, the 1935 version is the best film adaptation out there.
On paper, this is a period drama set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, with all the horrors — obvious and subtle — that came with it, particularly for the innocent. But as with the best stories, the heart of ATOTC lies with the characters we follow. Some aspects feel understandably dated, but Ronald Colman’s performance is nothing short of a masterclass — and is key to delivering one of the most agonisingly real depictions of love you’ll ever see.
If you’re looking to dip into films from this era, we’d implore you to start here. A Tale of Two Cities creeps up on you, and the full impact of its greatness doesn’t truly hit until the credits roll — after what can only be described, without spoilers, as an unforgettable climax.
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Did You Know? – 5 Fresh Facts About A Tale of Two Cities
1. Ronald Colman was reluctant to take the role.
Despite eventually delivering one of his most praised performances, Colman initially hesitated, fearing he couldn’t do justice to Sydney Carton’s emotional complexity.
2. The film reused massive sets from The Good Earth.
To capture the grand scale of the Revolution, MGM repurposed and expanded sets originally built for another of their prestige productions, keeping the movie’s sweeping look under budget.
3. The guillotine scenes were heavily censored.
Even by 1930s standards, the film’s execution scenes were considered intense. Some countries demanded edits before approving theatrical release.
4. The director was an unexpected choice.
Jack Conway, mostly known for lighter dramas and comedies, was handpicked to bring a more human, less grim tone to Dickens’ dark story — and he struck a careful balance.
5. It became one of the biggest hits of 1935.
MGM’s A Tale of Two Cities wasn't just critically respected — it was a box office success, helping solidify Ronald Colman’s status as one of Hollywood’s leading men.
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Where to Watch?
You can find A Tale of Two Cities (1935) streaming options here on JustWatch.