W11, #2: Considering Carton on a Big Screen

Below are 2 scenes from the 1935 film version of "A Tale of Two Cities".  In both clips, the character of Sydney Carton (played by actor Ronald Coleman) takes center stage.

Challenge:

Part 1: Which scene -- in your opinion -- best showcases the 'personality' of Carton based on how you read the book. Explain why in 5+ sentences.

Part 2: You may -- if you'd like -- add an 'opinion' about the accuracy of this film version to the way you think the film should have been made, but please do Part 1 (5+ sentences) first.

Film clip 1 -- Carton and Darnay in a tavern, after Darnay's trial in England:

Film clip 2 -- Carton and Lorry; Carton and Barsad in the streets of Paris; Carton and Darnay in the cell:

Comments

[Student #1]

I think that the second scene depicts Carton's personality better than the first scene.Carton is only a drunk and cares about nothing at the beginning when we are first introduced to him. But as the story progresses Carton realizes his purpose in life, that he does care about himself and the others around him. In this scene Cartons shows his compassion for Lucie and Darnay by giving his life for them. This scene also shows Carton's true personality, how much he has changed and realized that his life is very important.

[Student #2]

In my opinion they both represent Carton well. The first clip shows how Carton acted at the beginning of he play: drunk and slightly immature. It portrayed Darnay to look even more mature and of higher class. Cartons posture and the way he drank made him look as if he was one who did no care much about anything.
The second clip showed the more mature and respectable side of Sydney Carton. WHen he was talking to Mr. Lorry he still was drinking but he was deep in thought which happened a lot more in the second half of the novel. When he was whispering with Barsad he was black-mailing him saying that he would tell that Barsad was a spy. By black-mailing him, Carton looked very smart and mischevious which is exactly what happens in the jail cell. He is witty and clever when he drugs Darnay. Of course, in the cell he is risking his life so Lucie can be happy with Darnay and he feels like that was the honorable and noble thing to do. Carotn changes in a large way throiughont the novel, but he changes for the better!

[Student #3]

The first clip shows how Carton is a drunk and a slouch. The conversation reveals how he feels sorry for himself and how no one cares about him. He looks in the mirror jelous of Darnays life and how he thinks Darnays life is so easy for him and how Darnay even got the girl, the one Carton loves as well. The second clip really shows how carton changed as a man. He goes to the prison where Darnay is talking to his and Darnay was least expecting him outout of anyone. He wasn’t feeling sorry for himself anymore and he was giving up his life to make the one he loves, Lucie, happy by keeping her husband alive.

[Student #4]

The personality of Carton is best expressed in the first video because of his lack of concern as to how he presents himself. Darnay is using proper manners while Carton on the other hand, is slouching and downs the wine, like water. When he asks Darnay if he believes that Carton “particularly likes him”, it puts the audience in a confused state, even Darnay himself. He tries to prove to Darnay that he really is strong by saying that he doesn’t care for any man, but turns it around and wants sympathy by saying that no man cares for him. At the end of the scene, we find out that Carton is really jealous of Darnay and he “hates the fellow.” The video clip imitates the book very well and is probably how I would show the scene if I were the director.

[Student #5]

I think that the second video best shows my opinion on the novel's true hero, Carton. The first clip depicts him as the drunk loser who no one respects in the beginning, always complaining and moping about how his life could be what Darnay's is. Although that is how Sydney Carton acted at first we later come to see him as a compassionate man who has experienced a change of heart. Because of Lucie his life has forever been changed which gives him the courage to replace himself in Darnay's position at the prison. This action is what I believe to had made Sydney Carton the hero of the novel.

[Student #6]

The first video with Carton and Darnay best portrays Carton’s earlier character. He was just a drunk person not caring about the world or the people in it. He was also pushy about hearing Lucie’s name from Darnay’s mouth or just hearing it period. He acts parallel with the music in the background as every time it gets softer or louder a different emotion and expression is shown on Carton’s face. He also took advantage of Darnay paying the bill and ordered another “Bottle.” He also is portrayed as jealous and while looking in the mirror he talks about switching places with Darnay. This clip was pretty accurate as it encompassed a lot of Carton’s emotions and showed different, not necessarily good faces of him.

[Student #7]

I believe that the first video clip fits who I imagined Carton as. It brings up how Carton drinks with no purpose, but still has things he cares about. These such things are Lucie. He gives cheers to Darnay for being able to have such a wonderful woman, while also expressing what he feels towards her without it being obvious. The reason I really don't think the other clip fits is because of how Carton pours the drink out, not even touching it.

[Student #8]

I consider the first scene as the best example of Carton and Darnay's contrasting personalities. The way Carton is drunk yet still speaks with a small sense of dignity and intelligence reminds me most of how the book compares them. I also like how they are both dressed in an upright manor but Carton garment underneath his shirt seems to be relaxed, showing how "lazy" carton might be during a trial yet can be dignified when needed to. The most obvious contrasting the director did in this scene was to have Darnay always or mostly sitting up right and carton slouching and moving uneasily which broadcasted their differences. My favorite part of this scene is when carton talks to himself in the mirror and proclaims that he is jealous of how Lucie looked at Darnay and not at him, I couldn't think of a better way to act or direct that certain part.

[Student #9]

Clip number one shows Carton as a drunkard in a broad manner likely for the purpose of humor. Clip number two is a more accurate showcase of Carton's troubled and reluctant resolve. These troubled and opposing feelings inside Carton's head are displayed beautifully through the use of high-contrast shadowing, as well as the restrained acting technique of Coleman. Overall a very well thought out portrait of Sydney Carton; I'd like to find out who directed this movie.

[Student #10]

The second video definitely showcases Carton’s character or ‘personality’ better because his sense of courage and self-pride is correctly presented compared to the first video where he had too much pride in being drunk and depressed. Although he did have a depressed and regretful attitude in the beginning, Carton’s part was played a lot better in the second video because that’s how I imagined him while reading. When he exchanged roles with Darnay, I think his character is portrayed in a much more proper manner, because he is portrayed as a hero with the brave acts of love towards Lucie and the sacrifice of his own life. The drunk scene was well played, but Carton is given a sense of purpose to the story line once he shown in the second clip. The second clip is the best because it shows the finale of Carton and how he transforms from an uncaring drunk to a chivalrous hero and helps to add his importance to the story. It assists in defining his place in the plot of the story.

[Student #11]

I feel like the second scene best conveys Cartons compassionate personality and strongwill to do whatever he thinks is right. The second scene shows Carton as the man he is which is the man he longed to be in the first scene. In the scene with Lorry, you can see the compassion on his face as he talks about Lucie and you can see that he would do anything to make her happy. In the scene with Barsad he shows his will to do whatever it takes to free Darnay even if that includes his death. And in the final scene with Darnay you can see on his face that he has accepted his fate.

[Student #12]

The first scene most accuratly depicts Carton as well as A Tale of Two Cities. The scene shows the "jealousy" that Carton feels towards Darnay and admits, while looking in a mirror, that Darnay " shows [him] what he might have been." Carton is drunk as he often is in this scene and through the movie we are able to discover Carton's later intentions as well as foreshadow future events in a mere 5 min clip. After Darnay leaves, Carton walks over to a mirror on the wall where he suggests that he should "change places with [Darnay]." I think that in the first scene Carton is displayed as envious of Darnay, lacking in self confidence, and deeply confused. All of which are characteristics of the Carton that I percieved through reading A Tale of Two Cities.

[Student #13]

The first video does a great job at showing how I think of Carton. It shows Carton as the drunk he truly is, but also as a compassionate human being. He is a man who feels that nobody cares for him, but he speaks of what is most dear to your heart. Lucie is what means the most to him and he is drinking with the person that won her heart. It shows the jealous, yearning side of him. This clip is how I thought Carton really was, a man that wants more in life, but just doesn’t take the time to get it.

[Student #14]

The first scene is very accurate and realistic about Cartons charecter. Carton was displayed as a not too happy type guy who was drunk and was always negative about things. When Carton and Darnay are talking and Carton is just acting loud and rude that was probably one of the most important parts needed to explain Cartons charecter. Carton also tells Darnay that he cares for no man and that soon chnages. We find out that Carton actually does change into something else.

[Student #15]

I believe the second scene characterizes Carton best. It conveys his latent goodwill and drive to help others. The movie clip seems more like a "dream journey" in which he is stumbling through. It is only fitting that he completes the cycle with the ultimate sacrifice. The second scene really fulfills the plot with more purpose. This leads to the end, where dying for Darnay's happiness is noble, but it has more potent impact than that. His cynicism has come full circle, and he actually starts caring about the world instead of looking down on himself and others. No longer does he spite the world as in the first video, but finally fulfills himself, ironically, in death.