''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a 1980 American historical drama film made for TV, directed by

Jim Goddard Jim Goddard (2 February 1936 – 17 June 2013) was an English film and TV director who was born in Battersea, London. He directed episodes of many UK TV series such as ''Public Eye'', ''Callan'', ''Special Branch'', ''The Sweeney'', ''The Ruth R ...

and starring

Chris Sarandon Christopher Sarandon (; born July 24, 1942) is an American actor. He is well known for playing a variety of iconic characters, including Jerry Dandrige in ''Fright Night'' (1985), Prince Humperdinck in ''The Princess Bride'' (1987), Detective Mik ...

, who plays dual roles as two characters who are in love with the same woman. It is based on the 1859

Charles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian e ...

novel of the same name set in the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in coup of 18 Brumaire, November 1799. Many of its ...

Premise

A London lawyer ( Sydney Carton) decides how much he will sacrifice for the woman he loves in Paris during the Reign of Terror.

Cast

Charles Darnay Charles Darnay, Charles D'Aulnais or Charles St. Evrémonde is a fictional character in the 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities'' by Charles Dickens. Overview Darnay is a wealthy gentleman who spends time in both France and England during the time o ...

/ Sydney Carton *

Alice Krige Alice Maud Krige (; born 28 June 1954) is a South African actress and producer. Her first feature film role was in '' Chariots of Fire'' (1981) as the Gilbert and Sullivan singer Sybil Gordon. She played the dual role of Eva Galli/Alma Mobley i ...

- Lucie Manette *

Peter Cushing Peter Wilton Cushing (26 May 1913 – 11 August 1994) was an English actor. His acting career spanned over six decades and included appearances in more than 100 films, as well as many television, stage, and radio roles. He achieved recognition ...

Dr. Alexandre Manette Doctor Alexandre Manette is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. He is Lucie's father, a brilliant physician, and spent eighteen years "in secret" as a prisoner in the Bastille prior to the French Revolution. He is ...

Kenneth More Kenneth Gilbert More, CBE (20 September 1914 – 12 July 1982) was an English film and stage actor. Initially achieving fame in the comedy '' Genevieve'' (1953), he appeared in many roles as a carefree, happy-go-lucky gent. Films from this per ...

- Jarvis Lorry *

Barry Morse Herbert Morse (10 June 19182 February 2008), known professionally as Barry Morse, was a British-Canadian actor of stage, screen, and radio, best known for his roles in the ABC television series '' The Fugitive'' and the British sci-fi drama '' ...

- Marquis St. Evrémonde *

Flora Robson Dame Flora McKenzie Robson (28 March 19027 July 1984) was an English actress and star of the theatrical stage and cinema, particularly renowned for her performances in plays demanding dramatic and emotional intensity. Her range extended from q ...

- Miss Pross * Billie Whitelaw - Madame Therese Defarge *

Nigel Hawthorne Sir Nigel Barnard Hawthorne (5 April 1929 – 26 December 2001) was an English actor. He is most known for his stage acting and his portrayal of Sir Humphrey Appleby, the permanent secretary in the 1980s sitcom '' Yes Minister'' and the Cabi ...

- CJ Stryver * Norman Jones -

Ernest Defarge Ernest Defarge is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel, ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Defarge is the owner of a wine shop in the slum of Saint Antoine in Paris. He and his wife Madame Therese Defarge are passionate advocates f ...

George Innes George Innes (born 8 March 1938) is a British actor. Stage career Innes was born in Stepney, East London, and began his career on the stage with the National Theatre of Great Britain under Laurence Olivier. Before that, he trained at Toynbee ...

Jerry Cruncher Jeremiah "Jerry" Cruncher is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Jeremiah "Jerry" Cruncher is employed as a ''porter'' for Tellson's Bank of London. He earns extra money as a Resurrectionists ...

* David Suchet - John Barsad * Bernard Hug - Gaspard * Valérie de Tilbourg -

Seamstress A dressmaker, also known as a seamstress, is a person who makes custom clothing for women, such as dresses, blouses, and evening gowns. Dressmakers were historically known as mantua-makers, and are also known as a modiste or fabrician. Not ...

(credited as Valerie de Tilburg) * Robert Urquhart - Attorney General *

Anna Manahan Anna Maria Manahan (18 October 1924 – 8 March 2009) was an Irish stage, film and television actress. Manahan received two Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play nominations for her performances in the 1968 production of '' Lovers'' an ...

- 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 Allyn Malcolm Ferguson Jr. (October 18, 1924 – June 23, 2010) was an American composer, whose works include the themes for 1970s television programs ''Barney Miller'' and '' Charlie's Angels'' (1976-1981), which he co-wrote with Jack Elliott ...

* Edited by

Bill Blunden Bill Blunden (3 December 1934 – 3 January 2018) was a British television and film editor. Selected filmography * ''Shalako'' (1968) * '' A Touch of Love'' (1969) * ''The Mind of Mr. Soames'' (1970) * '' The Night Visitor'' (1971) * '' Baffled ...

* Director of photography:

Tony Imi Tony Imi BSC (27 March 1937 – 8 March 2010) was a British motion picture and television cinematographer.Obituary '' London Guardian'', 27 April 2010. He was born in London, England. Filmography *''Up the Junction'' (1965) * '' Cathy Come Ho ...

, B.S.C. * Produced by

Norman Rosemont Norman Rosemont (December 12, 1924 in Brooklyn, New York – April 22, 2018 in Scottsdale, Arizona) was an Emmy-winning American producer of films, television, and theatre. He worked as a press agent before moving into theatre. He worked as a ge ...

* Written for television by John Gay * Based on the novel: ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long imprisonment in ...

'' by

; 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 The National Education Association (NEA) is the largest labor union in the United States. It represents public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college stud ...

* 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.

's sizeable supporting role as Jarvis Lorry was his last role on screen.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Tale of Two Cities, A 1980 television films 1980 films 1980s historical films American historical films Films based on A Tale of Two Cities Films set in London Films set in Paris Films directed by Jim Goddard Films with screenplays by John Gay (screenwriter) Hallmark Hall of Fame episodes Fiction set in the 1790s Television shows based on works by Charles Dickens 1980s English-language films 1980s American films