''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 ...

, 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 November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...

Premise

A London lawyer (

Sydney Carton Sydney Carton is a central character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. He is a shrewd young Englishman educated at Shrewsbury School, and sometime junior to his fellow barrister Stryver. Carton is portrayed as a brilliant ...

) decides how much he will sacrifice for the woman he loves in Paris during the

Reign of Terror The Reign of Terror (french: link=no, la Terreur) was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the First French Republic, First Republic, a series of massacres and numerous public Capital punishment, executions took pl ...

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 ...

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 in ...

Lucie Manette Lucie Manette is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Lucie is the daughter of Dr. Alexandre Manette. She is wise beyond her years, unfailingly kind, and loving. Her love and protection of her father is wh ...

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 *

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 peri ...

Jarvis Lorry Jarvis Lorry is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel, '' A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview Jarvis Lorry is one of the oldest employees of Tellson's Bank, and he frequently deals with the bank's offices in London and Paris. He is a confi ...

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 The Marquis St. Evrémonde is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel '' A Tale of Two Cities''. Overview The Marquis or Monseigneur St. Evrémonde appears (in life) for only three chapters in Book the Second, symbolizing the pitiles ...

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 Miss Pross is a character in Charles Dickens' 1859 novel ''A Tale of Two Cities''. Miss Pross is the no-nonsense governess and friend of Lucie Manette. She is also the sister of Solomon Pross (later revealed to be the spy known as John Barsad). ...

Billie Whitelaw Billie Honor Whitelaw (6 June 1932 – 21 December 2014) was an English actress. She worked in close collaboration with Irish playwright Samuel Beckett for 25 years and was regarded as one of the foremost interpreters of his works. She was a ...

- 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 Cabin ...

- CJ Stryver * Norman Jones - Ernest Defarge *

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 Toynb ...

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 resurrection man ...

David Suchet Sir David Courtney Suchet''England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007'' ( ; born 2 May 1946) is an English actor known for his work on British stage and television. He portrayed Edward Teller in the television serial ''Oppenh ...

- 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'' ...

- Vengeance * Gerald James - Gabelle *

Bernard Archard Bernard Joseph Archard (20 August 1916 – 1 May 2008) was an English actor who made many film and television appearances. Early life and career Archard was born in Fulham, London, where his father Alfred James Aloysius who was born in Maryleb ...

- 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. The British Society of Cinematographers (abbreviated B.S.C. or BSC) was formed in 1949 by Bert Easey (23 August 1901 – 28 February 1973), the then head of the Denham and Pinewood studio camera departments, to represent British cinematographers ...

* 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 g ...

* Written for television by

John Gay John Gay (30 June 1685 – 4 December 1732) was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for '' The Beggar's Opera'' (1728), a ballad opera. The characters, including Captain Macheath and Polly ...

* 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 the ...

'' 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