2008 Woodie Awards
Cinema Cafe
1935 classic 'A Tale of Two Cities'
Paul De Amicis
Issue date: 5/27/08 Section: A&E
The ancient Greeks held that their literary heroes should have a soul large enough to suffer for humanity. On that barometer, there is no hero in all of western literature greater than Sydney Carton in Charles Dickens' classic novel "A Tale of Two Cities."
In 1935, Hollywood faithfully adapted Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities" into a movie masterpiece with brilliant writing, acting and direction.
The plot of "A Tale of Two Cities" centers around the interwoven problems of characters in London and Paris at the time of the French Revolution. At the heart of the film is the novel's hero, a London public defender named Sydney Carton, portrayed superbly by Ronald Colman in the film.
Sydney Carton is possibly the most complex and compelling character in all of western literature. He is a genius, but he is also an alcoholic. He vigorously defends the innocent and unjustly accused, but he is also a womanizer. He sees the best in everyone, but he sees the worst in himself. He has high hopes for the human race but considers himself a profligate beyond redemption.
Only one thing could create such a dichotomy in a man: love. Sydney's one and only problem is that there is no love in his life. He is a womanizer, but that is not love and Sydney would be the first to say so. Sydney is hopelessly in love with a woman, but she is happily married, and so Sydney sees no hope of ever loving or being loved in return. It is the absence of love and the hopelessness of ever finding love that is Sydney's demon and downfall.
One thing a great movie gives us is a healthy and much needed catharsis. In what can only be described as one of the greatest endings in all of cinema, Sydney brilliantly analyzes the interwoven problems of the story, and in a revelation, discerns a brilliant way to solve every problem in the story and redeem his profligate life with one magnificently heroic act. The solution requires the valor, courage and bravery of a super hero, but Sydney rises to the challenge and performs the act superbly. And in doing so, the Greek dictum is neatly fulfilled, for by the end of "A Tale of Two Cities," there is no doubt that Sydney Carton has a soul large enough to suffer for humanity.
The 1935 version of "A Tale of Two Cities" starring Ronald Colman is my classic film recommendation this week. Don't miss it.
Paul De Amicis is a columnist for La Voz. Contact him at pauldeamicis@lavozdeanza.com.
In 1935, Hollywood faithfully adapted Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities" into a movie masterpiece with brilliant writing, acting and direction.
The plot of "A Tale of Two Cities" centers around the interwoven problems of characters in London and Paris at the time of the French Revolution. At the heart of the film is the novel's hero, a London public defender named Sydney Carton, portrayed superbly by Ronald Colman in the film.
Sydney Carton is possibly the most complex and compelling character in all of western literature. He is a genius, but he is also an alcoholic. He vigorously defends the innocent and unjustly accused, but he is also a womanizer. He sees the best in everyone, but he sees the worst in himself. He has high hopes for the human race but considers himself a profligate beyond redemption.
Only one thing could create such a dichotomy in a man: love. Sydney's one and only problem is that there is no love in his life. He is a womanizer, but that is not love and Sydney would be the first to say so. Sydney is hopelessly in love with a woman, but she is happily married, and so Sydney sees no hope of ever loving or being loved in return. It is the absence of love and the hopelessness of ever finding love that is Sydney's demon and downfall.
One thing a great movie gives us is a healthy and much needed catharsis. In what can only be described as one of the greatest endings in all of cinema, Sydney brilliantly analyzes the interwoven problems of the story, and in a revelation, discerns a brilliant way to solve every problem in the story and redeem his profligate life with one magnificently heroic act. The solution requires the valor, courage and bravery of a super hero, but Sydney rises to the challenge and performs the act superbly. And in doing so, the Greek dictum is neatly fulfilled, for by the end of "A Tale of Two Cities," there is no doubt that Sydney Carton has a soul large enough to suffer for humanity.
The 1935 version of "A Tale of Two Cities" starring Ronald Colman is my classic film recommendation this week. Don't miss it.
Paul De Amicis is a columnist for La Voz. Contact him at pauldeamicis@lavozdeanza.com.
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