A strong-willed young peasant girl attracts the affection of two men.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
- Won 3 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 17 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| John Collin | ... |
John Durbeyfield
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Tony Church | ... |
Parson Tringham
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| Nastassja Kinski | ... |
Tess
(as Nastassia Kinski)
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Brigid Erin Bates | ... |
Girl in Meadow
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Jeanne Biras | ... |
Girl in Meadow
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| Peter Firth | ... |
Angel Clare
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John Bett | ... |
Felix Clare
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| Tom Chadbon | ... |
Cuthbert Clare
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| Rosemary Martin | ... |
Mrs Durbeyfield
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Geraldine Arzul | ... |
Child
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Stephanie Treille | ... |
Child
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Elodie Warnod | ... |
Child
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Ben Reeks | ... |
Child
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| Leigh Lawson | ... |
Alec d'Urberville
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| Lesley Dunlop | ... |
Girl in Henhouse
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Maryline Even | ... |
Girl in Henhouse
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Jean-Jacques Daubin | ... |
Bailiff
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| Sylvia Coleridge | ... |
Mrs d'Urberville
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Jacob Weizbluth | ... |
Yokel at Barn-Dance
(as Jacob Weisbluth)
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| Jacques Mathou | ... |
Harvester
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Véronique Alain | ... |
Harvester
(as Veronique Alain)
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| Richard Pearson | ... |
Vicar of Marlott
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| Fred Bryant | ... |
Dairyman Crick
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| John Barrett | ... |
Old Dairy Hand
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| Ann Tirard | ... |
Old Dairy Hand
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| Carolyn Pickles | ... |
Marian
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| Suzanna Hamilton | ... |
Izz
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Caroline Embling | ... |
Retty
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Josine Comellas | ... |
Mrs. Crick
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| Arielle Dombasle | ... |
Mercy Chant
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| David Markham | ... |
Reverend Mr Clare
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Pascale de Boysson | ... |
Mrs Clare
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Gordon Richardson | ... |
Parson at Wedding
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| Patsy Smart | ... |
Housekeeper
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| Dicken Ashworth | ... |
Farmer Groby
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Jimmy Gardner | ... |
Pedlar
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Reg Dent | ... |
Carter
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John Gill | ... |
Landlord
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Forbes Collins | ... |
New Tenant
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| Keith Buckley | ... |
Postman
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| John Moore | ... |
Postman
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| Patsy Rowlands | ... |
Landlady
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| Graham Weston | ... |
Constable
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Peter Benson | ... |
Religious Fanatic (uncredited)
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Rico Lopez | ... |
Horseman (uncredited)
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Lina Roxa | ... |
Caretaker (uncredited)
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Jack Stephens | ... |
Man in Tavern (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Roman Polanski | ||
Written by
| Thomas Hardy | ... | (based on the novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles" by) |
| Gérard Brach | ... | (screenplay) (as Gerard Brach) & |
| Roman Polanski | ... | (screenplay) & |
| John Brownjohn | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Claude Berri | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Timothy Burrill | ... | co-producer |
| Pierre Grunstein | ... | executive producer |
| Jean-Pierre Rassam | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Philippe Sarde | ||
Cinematography by
| Ghislain Cloquet | ||
| Geoffrey Unsworth | ||
Editing by
| Alastair McIntyre | ||
| Tom Priestley | ||
Editorial Department
| Jeremy Hume | ... | assistant editor |
| Pierre Louis Lecoeur | ... | assistant editor |
| Jacqueline Mariani | ... | assistant editor |
| Arielle Noyer | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Mary Selway | ||
Production Design by
| Pierre Guffroy | ||
Art Direction by
| Jack Stephens | ||
Costume Design by
| Anthony Powell | ||
Makeup Department
| Alain Bernard | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Didier Lavergne | ... | makeup artist |
| Paul Le Marinel | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Ludovic Paris | ... | hair stylist (as Marc Ludovic Paris) |
Production Management
| Alain Depardieu | ... | unit manager |
| Paul Maigret | ... | production manager |
| Tadek Zietara | ... | unit manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Hercules Bellville | ... | second unit director |
| Thierry Chabert | ... | first assistant director |
| Romain Goupil | ... | second assistant director |
| Hugues de Laugardière | ... | second assistant director (as Hugues De Laugardiere) |
Art Department
| Jean-Claude Bourdin | ... | assistant art director |
| Michel Damiens | ... | assistant art director |
| Marcel Laude | ... | property master |
| Pierre Lefait | ... | set dresser |
| Claude Moesching | ... | assistant art director |
| Albert Rajau | ... | assistant art director |
| Jean-Claude Sévenet | ... | set dresser (as Jean-Claude Sevenet) |
| Chip Miller | ... | illustrator (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Hervé de Luze | ... | sound editor |
| Maurice Gilbert | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Louis Gimel | ... | boom operator |
| Peter Horrocks | ... | sound editor |
| Jean-Pierre Lelong | ... | sound effects |
| Jean Nény | ... | dubbing mixer (as Jean Neny) |
| Alex Pront | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Robert Rietty | ... | post-synchronization (as Robert Rietti) |
| Jean-Pierre Ruh | ... | sound mixer |
| David Watts | ... | stereo sound consultant: Dolby |
| Robin O'Donoghue | ... | assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Doug Ferris | ... | matte artist (uncredited) |
| Frederic Moreau | ... | visual effects supervisor (uncredited) |
| Philippe Tourret | ... | restoration coordinator (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Mario Luraschi | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Eric Brach | ... | assistant camera |
| Jean Harnois | ... | camera operator |
| François Lauliac | ... | assistant camera |
| Jean-Claude Le Bras | ... | chief electrician |
| Bernard Prim | ... | still photographer |
| Roger Robert | ... | key grip: additional |
| André Thiéry | ... | head grip (as Andre Thiery) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Caroline de Vivaise | ... | wardrober (as Caroline De Vivaise) |
| Dougie Hawkes | ... | costumer |
| Joanna Johnston | ... | assistant costume designer |
| Thérèse Ripaud | ... | wardrobe supervisor (as Therese Ripaud) |
| Frederic Vieille | ... | wardrober |
Location Management
| Patrick Bordier | ... | location manager |
| Philippe Desmoulins | ... | location manager |
| Jérôme Jeannet | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Peter Knight | ... | orchestrator |
| Carlo Savina | ... | conductor |
| Franklin Jones Jr. | ... | score recording engineer and score mix engineer (uncredited) |
| London Symphony Orchestra | ... | music performed by (uncredited) |
| Federico Savina | ... | music recordist (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Sylvette Baudrot | ... | continuity |
Transportation Department
| Richard Booz | ... | unit driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Josée Bénabent-Loiseau | ... | publicist (as Josee Benabent) |
| Catherine Fleming | ... | voice teacher |
| Sue Lefton | ... | choreographer |
| François Nadal | ... | horse master |
| Jennifer Patrick | ... | dialogue coach |
| Andrea Potter | ... | researcher |
| Jeannie Stone | ... | production assistant |
| Colette Suder | ... | production accountant |
| Marguerite Théoule | ... | production assistant (as Marguerite Theoule) |
| Robert A. Levine | ... | project director (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Sharon Tate | ... | dedicatee (as Sharon) |
Production Companies
- Renn Productions
- Timothy Burrill Productions
- Société Française de Production (SFP) (in collaboration with)
Distributors
- AMLF (1979) (France) (theatrical)
- Columbia Pictures (1980) (United States) (theatrical)
- Columbia-EMI-Warner (1980) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Concorde Film (1980) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Constantin Film (1979) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Constantin Film (1979) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Fox Columbia Film Distributors (1981) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Gaumont Italia (1980) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Magna-Filmi (1979) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Minerva Film AB (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Mosfilm (1979) (Soviet Union) (theatrical)
- Sociedade Importadora de Filmes (SIF) (1980) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Transeuropa (1980) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Arthaus (2019) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Arthaus (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- BFI Video (2013) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Concorde Home Entertainment (2013) (Germany) (DVD)
- Divisa Home Video (2017) (Spain) (DVD)
- France 3 (1985) (France) (tv) (as FR3) (dubbed version)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- LW Editora (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
- MTC Video (1982) (Greece) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- Shemaroo Entertainment (2007) (India) (video)
- The Criterion Collection (2014) (United States) (Blu-ray) (Blu-ray/DVD combo)
- The Criterion Collection (2014) (United States) (DVD)
- Thorn EMI Video Australia (1985) (Australia) (video)
- Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1985) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (tv)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
- VTI Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) (orchestra)
- Anvil Studios (music recorded at)
- Ciné Lumières de Paris (lighting)
- Elison (sound)
- Euro-Titres (titles)
- Pyral (magnetic tape)
- S.I.M.O. (recording studio)
- Samuelson Alga Cinéma (camera equipment)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Wessex County, England during the Victorian era. Christian values dominate what are social mores. These mores and her interactions with two men play a large part in what happens in the young life of peasant girl, the shy, innocent, proper yet proud Tess Durbeyfield. The first of these men is Alec d'Urberville. After learning from a local historian that they are really descendants of the aristocratic d'Urberville family which has died out due to lack of male heirs, Tess' parents send her to a nearby mansion where they know some d'Urbervilles actually reside. This move is in order for the family to gain some benefit from their heritage. Upon her arrival at the mansion, Tess quickly learns that the family of Tess' "cousin" Alec are not true d'Urbervilles, but rather an opportunistic lot who bought the family name in order to improve their own standing in life. Tess is pulled between what she was sent to accomplish for her family against her general disdain for Alec, who will give her anything she wants in return for sexual favors. The second of these men is Angel Clare, the son of a parson and an apprentice farmer. Angel and Tess fall in love with each other. Tess has to decide if she will divulge to Angel her past relationship with Alec, which if she does may jeopardize their own relationship. But if she doesn't, Tess also has to figure out if the secret will haunt her and thus jeopardize their relationship in other ways. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | She was a poor man's daughter, an aristocrat's mistress and a gentleman's wife. She was Tess, a victim of her own provocative beauty. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $12,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The film's opening dedication at the start of the film states: "For Sharon". Roman Polanski dedicated this movie to his late wife, Sharon Tate, who was killed in 1969 by the Manson Clan. Before Tate's death, she had read the film's source novel by Thomas Hardy and was convinced that her husband would one day make a great film based on the novel. Movie was released to the theaters exactly 10 years after her untimely death. See more » |
| Goofs | At the beginning of the final sequence, set at Stonehenge, someone's head can be seen at bottom-left. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 38th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1981). See more » |
| Quotes |
Tess:
There are no stars tonight. Perhaps we could have made our souls take flight together. See more » |