A Tale of Two Cities (1980 TV series)
| A Tale of Two Cities | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Historical drama |
| Based on | A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens |
| Written by | Peter Harding |
| Directed by | Michael E. Briant |
| Starring | Paul Shelley Sally Osborne Nigel Stock |
| Composer | Paul Reade |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Barry Letts |
| Cinematography | Elmer Cossey |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company | BBC |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One |
| Release | 5 October[1] – 23 November 1980[1] |
A Tale of Two Cities is a British television series which first aired on BBC 1 in 1980. It is an adaptation of the novel A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.[2] Paul Shelley plays the duel roles of Sydney Carton and Charles Darnay, the first actor to do so since William Farnum in the 1917 silent adaptation.[3] Two weeks later, an American production was released featuring Chris Sarandon in the same duel roles.[4]
It is the only BBC adaptation known to exist entirely.[citation needed]
Plot summary
Cast
- Paul Shelley as Sydney Carton/Charles Darnay
- Ralph Michael as Doctor Manette
- Sally Osborne as Lucie Manette
- Vivien Merchant as Miss Pross
- Nigel Stock as Jarvis Lorry
- Judy Parfitt as Madame Defarge
- Stephen Yardley as Defarge
- Eric Mason as Jacques Three
- David Collings as John Barsad
- Peter Cleall as Jerry Cruncher
- Michael Halsey as Jacques One
- Brian Grellis as Jacques Two
- David Webb as Gabelle
- Harold Innocent as Stryver
- John Abineri as Roadmender
- Morris Perry as Marquis St. Evremonde
- Michael Gothard as Gaspard
- Frank Tregear as Roger Cly
- John Rolfe as Bank Clerk
- Harry Fielder as Gaoler
- David Rose as Guard Room Officer
- Dennis Savage as Young Cruncher
- Peter Farmer as Barrier Official2
- John Ringham as Attorney-General
References
- ^ a b Pointer 1996, p. 181.
- ^ Baskin 1996, p. 175.
- ^ Farina 2022, pp. 134–135.
- ^ Farina 2022, pp. 135.
Bibliography
- Baskin, Ellen (1996). Serials on British Television, 1950-1994. Scolar Press. ISBN 9781859280157.
- Farina, William (2022). Screening Charles Dickens. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9781476647869.
- Pointer, Michael (1996). Charles Dickens on the Screen. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810829602.