[on his film
A Tale of Two Cities (1917)] I met a neighbor of ours, a school teacher. I told him of my assignment to make the Dickens picture. He was very much impressed. 'What a marvelous opportunity,' he said. 'I think it a privilege to bring the works of Dickens before sixty people, and here you have the chance to bring them before sixty million.' I thought of this latter phrase, I think, all during the making of the picture. I decided it would be more discreet to bring the works of Charles Dickens before - possibly - many million people, than the work of Frank Lloyd. For that reason I followed as closely as possible the story of the book. Every historical detail was absolutely correct; all the settings were the result of careful, patient research; and the characterizations and theme of the story were transferred to the screen in such a manner as to accurately follow the author's ideas.
