A Tale of Two Cities (1935) in Color — Starring Ronald Colman & Elizabeth Allan

A Tale of Two Cities (1935) — Buy This Classic in Color

Buy A Tale of Two Cities (1935) in color — Jack Conway’s magnificent and Academy Award-nominated adaptation of Charles Dickens’ immortal novel, now professionally colorized and restored in stunning HD quality. This sweeping epic of revolution, sacrifice, and redemption stars the incomparable Ronald Colman as Sydney Carton, the brilliant but self-destructive English barrister whose final act of selfless love remains one of cinema’s most unforgettable moments. He is joined by Elizabeth Allan as the gentle Lucie Manette, Edna May Oliver as the fiercely devoted Miss Pross, Reginald Owen as the ambitious Stryver, Basil Rathbone as the cruel Marquis St. Evremonde, Blanche Yurka as the terrifying Madame Defarge, Henry B. Walthall as the tormented Dr. Manette, Donald Woods as the noble Charles Darnay, Walter Catlett as the treacherous Barsad, and Fritz Leiber as the vengeful Gaspard. One of the grandest literary adaptations of Hollywood’s Golden Age, this timeless classic is now available as an instant, DRM-free digital download for immediate enjoyment.

Plot Summary

Set against the violent upheaval of the French Revolution, the story opens in the fog-shrouded streets of London and the blood-stained cobblestones of Paris during what Dickens famously called “the best of times and the worst of times.” Dr. Alexandre Manette (Henry B. Walthall), a respected physician, has spent eighteen agonizing years imprisoned in the Bastille by the ruthless aristocratic Evrémonde family. Rescued at last by his devoted daughter Lucie Manette (Elizabeth Allan) and the loyal family servant Miss Pross (Edna May Oliver), Dr. Manette returns to London to rebuild his shattered life. This classic movie continues to captivate new generations of viewers.

Lucie’s beauty and kindness attract two very different suitors. Charles Darnay (Donald Woods) is a French nobleman who has secretly renounced his family’s title and cruel aristocratic heritage, including the crimes of his uncle, the Marquis St. Evremonde (Basil Rathbone), whose heartless indifference to the suffering of French peasants — including the murder of Gaspard’s (Fritz Leiber) child — has ignited the revolutionary fury sweeping the country. Sydney Carton (Ronald Colman), a dissolute but brilliantly gifted English barrister, also falls deeply in love with Lucie but believes himself unworthy of her affection and resigns himself to a life of wasted talent and quiet despair.

As the Revolution erupts in France, the ruthless Madame Defarge (Blanche Yurka) secretly knits her deadly register of aristocrats marked for the guillotine, driven by a personal vendetta against the Evrémonde family. When Darnay is lured back to Paris and arrested by the revolutionary tribunal, Lucie, Dr. Manette, and the ambitious lawyer Stryver (Reginald Owen) struggle desperately to save him. The cunning spy Barsad (Walter Catlett) plays both sides of the conflict for profit and survival. In the film’s devastating and immortal climax, Sydney Carton finds purpose and redemption by making the ultimate sacrifice, delivering one of cinema’s most famous final speeches: “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”

Cast & Crew

• Director: Jack Conway
• Starring: Ronald Colman as Sydney Carton, Elizabeth Allan as Lucie Manette, Edna May Oliver as Miss Pross, Reginald Owen as Stryver, Basil Rathbone as Marquis St. Evremonde, Blanche Yurka as Madame Defarge, Henry B. Walthall as Dr. Manette, Donald Woods as Charles Darnay, Walter Catlett as Barsad, Fritz Leiber as Gaspard
• Runtime: 126 minutes
• Year: 1935
• Rated: Approved
• Genre: Adventure, Drama, History, Romance

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized and restored version of A Tale of Two Cities transforms the visual experience of Conway’s grand historical epic. The frame-by-frame HD colorization reveals the stark contrast between the grey, rain-slicked streets of London and the fiery chaos of revolutionary Paris. The opulent interiors of the French aristocracy shimmer with rich golds and deep burgundies, while the shadowy Bastille prison and the squalid wine shops of Saint-Antoine pulse with dark, ominous tones that heighten the atmosphere of dread and impending violence.

The colorization enhances Ronald Colman’s extraordinary performance, bringing new emotional depth to Sydney Carton’s journey from drunken self-loathing to transcendent heroism. Basil Rathbone’s imperious Marquis radiates cold aristocratic menace in richly colored finery, while Blanche Yurka’s Madame Defarge becomes even more chilling as she knits in the crimson shadows of revolutionary Paris. The spectacular revolutionary crowd scenes — the storming of the Bastille, the frenzied tribunals, and the grim procession to the guillotine — gain visceral new power through vivid color that captures both the righteous fury and the terrible cost of revolution. Also available in colour for international viewers.

Historical Significance

Released in 1935 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, A Tale of Two Cities stands as one of the definitive screen adaptations of Charles Dickens’ work and a crowning achievement of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture, a testament to its spectacular production values, intelligent screenplay, and exceptional ensemble performances. Director Jack Conway marshalled thousands of extras and elaborate period sets to recreate revolutionary Paris with a scale and authenticity that astonished contemporary audiences.

Ronald Colman’s portrayal of Sydney Carton is widely regarded as one of the finest performances in classic cinema. His subtle transformation from cynical wastrel to selfless hero gave the film an emotional core that transcends mere spectacle, and his delivery of Dickens’ immortal closing lines remains one of the most moving moments ever captured on film. The supporting cast is equally outstanding, with Blanche Yurka’s ferocious Madame Defarge and Basil Rathbone’s icily villainous Marquis earning particular praise from critics and audiences alike.

Technical Details

• Original Format: Black and White (1935)
• Colorized: Professional frame-by-frame HD colorization and restoration
• Resolution: HD 720p
• File Format: MP4 / MKV
• Running Time: 126 minutes
• Language: English
• Delivery: Instant download link on-screen and sent to your email upon purchase
• Price: €15.00
• License: Personal, non-commercial use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: What makes Ronald Colman’s performance as Sydney Carton so iconic?
Ronald Colman brings extraordinary depth and subtlety to Sydney Carton, transforming a dissolute, self-pitying drunkard into cinema’s most noble and selfless hero. His quiet dignity, impeccable diction, and deeply felt emotional restraint make Carton’s final sacrifice genuinely devastating, and his delivery of the famous closing speech is considered one of the greatest moments in classic film history.

Q: How does this adaptation compare to the Charles Dickens novel?
Jack Conway’s 1935 adaptation is widely regarded as the most faithful and dramatically powerful screen version of Dickens’ 1859 novel. The film preserves the novel’s sweeping scope, its vivid gallery of characters, and its central themes of sacrifice, redemption, and resurrection while condensing the sprawling narrative into a taut and emotionally gripping 126-minute epic.

Q: Why is Blanche Yurka’s Madame Defarge so memorable?
Blanche Yurka delivers a ferocious and unforgettable performance as Madame Defarge, the vengeful revolutionary whose relentless knitting conceals a secret register of enemies marked for death. Her chilling intensity and single-minded determination to destroy the Evrémonde bloodline make her one of the most compelling villains in classic cinema, and her confrontation with Edna May Oliver’s Miss Pross is one of the film’s most thrilling sequences.

Digital Download Questions

Q: Is this the original film with added color?
Yes, this is the original 1935 black and white film professionally colorized frame-by-frame for authentic, vibrant visuals while preserving the original audio and performances.

Q: What devices can I watch this on?
Any device that supports MP4 playback, including Smart TVs, Windows and macOS computers, tablets, and iOS or Android mobile devices.

Q: Is the download DRM-free?
Yes, your digital download is completely DRM-free for personal use. No special software or accounts are required to enjoy the film.

Q: How and when will I receive my download?
You will receive a secure download link on the confirmation page immediately after purchase. A copy of the link will also be sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• David Copperfield (1935)
• The Prisoner of Zenda (1922)
• Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)
• Champagne for Caesar (1950)
• The Count of Monte Cristo (1934)