A Tale of Two Cities (1980 film) explained

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.

Notes and 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. Web site: A Tale of Two Cities. Shout Factory. English. 1980. 18 September 2016.
3. Book: Farina, William. Screening Charles Dickens. 2022. McFarland & Company. 135. 9781476647869.
4. Web site: A Tale of Two Cities - 1980 Movie Summary . Next Guide . 16 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141216220952/http://nextguide.tv/7113/?t=shows . 2014-12-16 . dead .