A Tale of Two Cities (1980 film)

A Tale of Two Cities
Genre	Drama History Romance War
Based on	A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Screenplay by	John Gay
Directed by	Jim Goddard
Starring	Chris Sarandon Alice Krige
Composer	Allyn Ferguson
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producer	Norman Rosemont
Cinematography	Tony Imi
Editor	Bill Blunden
Running time	162 minutes
Production companies	Hallmark Hall of Fame Marble Arch Productions Norman Rosemont Productions ITC Entertainment Group
Budget	$5 million [1]
Original release
Network	CBS
Release	December 2, 1980 (1980-12-02)

A Tale of Two Cities is a 1980 American historical drama film made for TV, ^[2] directed by Jim Goddard and starring Chris Sarandon, who plays dual roles as two characters who are in love with the same woman. ^[3] It is based on the 1859 Charles Dickens novel of the same name set in the French Revolution.

Plot

A London lawyer decides how much he will sacrifice for the woman he loves in Paris during the Reign of Terror. ^[4]

Cast

• Chris Sarandon – Charles Darnay / Sydney Carton
• Alice Krige – Lucie Manette
• Peter Cushing – Dr. Alexandre Manette
• Kenneth More – Jarvis Lorry
• Barry Morse – Marquis St. Evrémonde
• Flora Robson – Miss Pross
• Billie Whitelaw – Madame Therese Defarge
• Nigel Hawthorne – CJ Stryver
• Norman Jones – Ernest Defarge
• George Innes – Jerry Cruncher
• David Suchet – John Barsad
• Bernard Hug – Gaspard
• Valérie de Tilbourg – Seamstress (credited as Valerie de Tilburg)
• Robert Urquhart – Attorney general
• Anna Manahan – Vengeance
• Gerald James – Gabelle
• Bernard Archard – Court president
• Martha Parsey – Little Lucie
• Robin Scobey – Victor
• John Kidd – chemist
• Dennis Gimes – French soldier

Crew

Opening credits

• Music composed and conducted by Allyn Ferguson
• Edited by Bill Blunden
• Director of photography: Tony Imi, B.S.C.
• Produced by Norman Rosemont
• Written for television by John Gay
• Based on the novel: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
• Copyright 1980 Marble Arch Productions Inc.
• Directed by Jim Goddard

Closing end credits

• Production Designer: John Stoll
• Associate Producer: William Hill
• Costume Designer: Olga Lehmann
• Production Manager – England: Ray Frift – France: Dorothy Marchini
• Assistant Director – England: Bert Batt – France: Carlo Lusticati
• Art Director – England: Bill Bennison – France: Jean Boulet
• Camera Operator: Tony White
• Gaffer: John Fenner (uncredited)
• Sound Recording: Cyril Swern
• Dubbing Mixer: Trevor White
• Sound Editor: John Ireland
• Assistant Editor: Noel Rogers
• Continuity: Doreen Soan
• Make-up: Robin Grantham, Lindy Shaw
• Hairdressers: Jeanette Freeman, Dorothy Ioannou, Stephanie Hall
• Wardrobe Supervisor: Paul Vachon
• Wardrobe mistress: Helen Gill
• Casting director: Irene Lamb
• Set decorator: Simon Wakefield
• Property master: Jack Townes
• Construction manager: Bill MacLaren
• Supervising electrician: John Fenner
• Production assistant: Liz Green
• Production accountant: Peter Harvey
• Stills photographer: Joe Pearce
• Unit publicist: Geoff Freeman
• Special effects supervisor: John Richardson
• Action arranger: Gerry Crampton
• Costumes by Bermans & Nathans Limited
• Processed by Rank Film Laboratories Limited
• Public relations: Dennis Davidson Associates
• Music copyright © ITC Filmscores Limited 1980
• Filmed on location in Paris, and London, and at Shepperton Studio Centre, England
• A Norman Rosenmont Production in association with Marble Arch Productions
• This program was recommended by the National Education Association
• ITC Entertainment Group, Granada International

Production

Producer Norman Rosemont specialised in adaptations of classic novels. Most of the $5 million budget came from Hallmark Greeting Cards. ^[1] Kenneth More's sizeable supporting role as Jarvis Lorry was his last role on screen.

References

1. Why Norman Rosemont Likes to Film the Classics: Norman Rosemont's TV Films By DAVID LEWIN. New York Times 23 Nov 1980: D35.
2. "A Tale of Two Cities". Shout Factory. 1980. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
3. Farina, William (2022). Screening Charles Dickens. McFarland & Company. p. 135. ISBN   9781476647869.
4. "A Tale of Two Cities - 1980 Movie Summary". Next Guide. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2014.

External links

• A Tale of Two Cities at IMDb
• A Tale of Two Cities at the TCM Movie Database