A Tale of Two Cities Films, Dickens Novel (1859) 18th C Unrest, French Rev; Guillotine, Nazis White Rose

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- Clip, TV movie 1980, Chris Sarandon as Sydney Carton. Execution by guillotine in Paris.
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- Novel Overview: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, published in 1859, immerses readers in the contrasting worlds of London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel weaves a complex narrative involving characters like Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, and Lucie Manette, each grappling with love, sacrifice, and the profound societal transformations brought about by historical upheaval.

Dickens’s iconic opening line, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” encapsulates the stark dichotomy that permeates the narrative, capturing the turbulence of the era.

The historical setting of the novel adds depth to the story, vividly portraying the social disparities and political unrest of the late 18th century. Dickens skillfully utilizes the backdrop of the French Revolution to explore timeless themes of resurrection, sacrifice, and the potential for positive change, making the novel a compelling exploration of human resilience in the face of societal, political, and personal challenges.

Beyond its historical context, A Tale of Two Cities resonates across different periods due to its universal themes. Dickens draws parallels between the social injustices and inequalities of 18th-century France and the societal issues faced by Victorian England. The novel’s enduring impact is reflected in its numerous adaptations, including a notable 1935 adaptation directed by Jack Conway, further cementing its status as a literary classic...
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/a-tale-of-two-cities/

- IMDb, A Tale of Two Cities, TV Movie 1980
Alice Krige and Chris Sarandon in A Tale of Two Cities (1980). An ex-aristocrat from France and an alcoholic English lawyer find themselves crossing paths and in love with the same woman during the French Revolution...
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081595/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Sarandon

- Clip, The End, 1935 movie starring Ronald Colman as Sydney Carton.
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Lookalikes, one a former French aristocrat & the other an alcoholic English lawyer, fall in love with the same woman amidst the turmoil of the French Revolution. Directed by Jack Conway, Robert Z. Leonard..Cast, Ronald Colman, Elizabeth Allan, Edna May Oliver...
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027075/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Colman

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens

Wiki.. The GUILLOTINE is best known for its use in France, particularly during the French Revolution, where the revolution's supporters celebrated it as the people's avenger and the revolution's opponents vilified it as the pre-eminent symbol of the violence of the Reign of Terror. While the name "guillotine" dates from this period, similar devices had been in use elsewhere in Europe over several centuries..

During the Reign of Terror between June 1793 and July 1794, about 17,000 people were guillotined, including former King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette who were executed at the guillotine in 1793. Towards the end of the Terror in 1794, revolutionary leaders such as Georges Danton, Saint-Just and Maximilien Robespierre were sent to the guillotine. Most of the time, executions in Paris were carried out in the Place de la Revolution (former Place Louis XV and current Place de la Concorde); the guillotine stood in the corner near the Hôtel Crillon where the City of Brest Statue can be found today. The machine was moved several times, to the Place de la Nation and the Place de la Bastille, but returned, particularly for the execution of the King and for Robespierre...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillotine