"Tess of the D'Urbervilles" (2008) TV mini-series 2008-

Seasons:

1

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The story of Tess Durbeyfield, a low-born country girl whose family find they have noble connections.

Plot Keywords:

19th Century | Costume Drama | England | Class Differences | English Countryside

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Gemma Arterton	...	Tess Durbeyfield (4 episodes, 2008)
Eddie Redmayne	...	Angel Clare (4 episodes, 2008)
Ruth Jones	...	Joan Durbeyfield (4 episodes, 2008)
Hans Matheson	...	Alec D'Urberville (4 episodes, 2008)
Ian Puleston-Davies	...	John Durbeyfield (4 episodes, 2008)
Christopher Fairbank	...	Groby (4 episodes, 2008)
Jo Woodcock	...	Liza-Lu Durbeyfield (4 episodes, 2008)
Steven Robertson	...	Cuthbert Clare (4 episodes, 2008)
Hugh Skinner	...	Felix Clare (4 episodes, 2008)
Jodie Whittaker	...	Izzy Huett (3 episodes, 2008)
Kenneth Cranham	...	Mr Clare (3 episodes, 2008)
Donald Sumpter	...	Parson Tringham (3 episodes, 2008)
Rebekah Staton	...	Marion (3 episodes, 2008)
Jessica Turner	...	Mrs Clare (3 episodes, 2008)
Jeany Spark	...	Mercy Chant (3 episodes, 2008)
Joel Rowbottom	...	Abraham Durbeyfield (3 episodes, 2008)
Christine Bottomley	...	Kate (3 episodes, 2008)
Emma Stansfield	...	Mary (3 episodes, 2008)
Emily Beecham	...	Retty Priddle (2 episodes, 2008)
Trevor Cooper	...	Mr Crick (2 episodes, 2008)
Sally Bankes	...	Mrs Crick (2 episodes, 2008)

Series Directed by
David Blair		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Writing credits
Thomas Hardy		(4 episodes, 2008)
David Nicholls		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Produced by
Rebecca Eaton	....	executive producer: WGBH (4 episodes, 2008)
Kate Harwood	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 2008)
Robbie Sandison	....	line producer (4 episodes, 2008)
David Snodin	....	producer (4 episodes, 2008)

Series Original Music by
Rob Lane		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Cinematography by
Wojciech Szepel		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Film Editing by
Pia Di Ciaula		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Casting by
Kate Rhodes James		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Production Design by
Candida Otton		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Art Direction by
Andrea Coathupe		(4 episodes, 2008)

Series Costume Design by
James Keast		(1 episode, 2008)

Series Makeup Department
Bee Archer	....	makeup artist (4 episodes, 2008)
Pamela Haddock	....	makeup designer / hair designer (4 episodes, 2008)
Hannah Proverbs	....	assistant makeup artist (4 episodes, 2008)

Series Production Management
Sue Bunyan	....	production manager (4 episodes, 2008)
Sam Lucas	....	post-production supervisor (4 episodes, 2008)
Darin McLeod	....	unit manager (4 episodes, 2008)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Victoria Banks	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 2008)
Finn McGrath	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 2008)
Chantelle Stoffel	....	third assistant director (4 episodes, 2008)
Lindsay Furness	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes, 2008)

Series Art Department
Will Cann	....	stand-by props (4 episodes, 2008)
Danny Clements	....	dressing props (4 episodes, 2008)
Elizabeth Marcussen	....	assistant buyer (4 episodes, 2008)
Catriona McKail	....	standby art director / stand-by art director (4 episodes, 2008)
Andrew Barnden	....	storyboard artist (2 episodes, 2008)

Series Sound Department
Wayne Brooks	....	sound effects editor (4 episodes, 2008)
Ben Cross	....	foley editor (4 episodes, 2008)
Chris Roberts	....	dialogue editor (4 episodes, 2008)
Leyton Rooney	....	foley editor (4 episodes, 2008)
Alan Sallabank	....	dubbing mixer (4 episodes, 2008)
Simon Trundle	....	foley mixer (4 episodes, 2008)
Ian Waggott	....	foley artist (4 episodes, 2008)
Bruce Wills	....	sound recordist (4 episodes, 2008)
Steve Wright	....	boom operator (4 episodes, 2008)
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer (3 episodes, 2008)
Rick Gould	....	adr recordist (3 episodes, 2008)
Elliott Childs	....	assistant sound editor (unknown episodes, 2008)
Adam Davidson	....	adr recordist (unknown episodes, 2008)
Paul Kerr	....	second boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Chris Mortimer	....	visual effects supervisor (1 episode, 2008)
Iain Read	....	digital effects artist (unknown episodes, 2008)
Simon Rowe	....	digital compositor (unknown episodes, 2008)
Yolanda Rubio	....	digital effects artist (unknown episodes, 2008)

Series Stunts
Gareth Milne	....	stunt coordinator (2 episodes, 2008)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Peter Batten	....	additional camera operator (4 episodes, 2008)
Brian Beaumont	....	gaffer / lighting gaffer (4 episodes, 2008)
Nick Beeks-Sanders	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 2008)
Nick Briggs	....	stills photographer (4 episodes, 2008)
Eddie Done	....	electrician (4 episodes, 2008)
Jamie Phillips	....	clapper loader (4 episodes, 2008)
Luke Stone	....	assistant grip (4 episodes, 2008)
Robin Stone	....	grip (4 episodes, 2008)
Carolyn Hughes	....	camera trainee (unknown episodes, 2008)
Peter Davies	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Steve Hopkins	....	additional electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Jane Anderson	....	casting associate (4 episodes, 2008)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathryn Blight	....	costume assistant (4 episodes, 2008)
Gini Lewis	....	daily costume assistant (4 episodes, 2008)
Hannah Summers	....	costume daily (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Simon Brook	....	on-line editor (4 episodes, 2008)
Kane Williams	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Steve Parr	....	music recording & mixing (4 episodes, 2008)

Series Transportation Department
Nigel Venables	....	facilities driver (4 episodes, 2008)
Bowfie Baird	....	driver: main unit (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Tom Chapman	....	floor runner (4 episodes, 2008)
Laragh Cresswell	....	assistant coordinator (4 episodes, 2008)
Ash Cross	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 2008)
Carmel Maloney	....	production consultant (4 episodes, 2008)
Elaine Matthews	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 2008)
Darin McLeod	....	assistant location manager / location scout (4 episodes, 2008)
Simon Nixon	....	location manager (4 episodes, 2008)
Jake Sainsbury	....	location assistant (4 episodes, 2008)
Pam Weaver	....	animal handler (4 episodes, 2008)

Production Companies

• BBC Drama Productions
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• WGBH

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2008) (UK) (TV) (BBC 1)
• 2 Entertain Video (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• BBC Warner (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Duna Televízió (2012) (Hungary) (TV)
• Eén (2009) (Belgium) (TV)
• Just Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• LaLa TV (2010) (Japan) (TV)
• Nederlandse Christelijke Radio Vereniging (NCRV) (2009) (Netherlands) (TV)
• New KSM (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Story TV (2012) (Hungary) (TV) (re-release) (Story 5)

Other Companies

• Fuji Photo Film  motion picture film supplied by
• HireWorks  Avid equipment rental
• Take 2 Film Services  camera equipment provided by

Also Known As:

Runtime:

240 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Netherlands:AL | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

BBC Drama Productions

Trivia:

BBC Television's first-ever adaptation of Hardy's novel.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: There are two musical anachronisms. First, Angel plays an autoharp which was not invented until the 1880s in Germany, and would not have been an English folk instrument at the time of TESS. Secondly, the congregation is heard singing "How Great Thou Art," which was written in Swedish in 1885, but was not commonly known in English until Stuart Hine's translation (circa 1950).

Movie Connections:

Version of Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1913)

Perfect Hardy atmosphere

I have just finished watching the final part of this wonderful series and I have to say I was very impressed. I studied Thomas Hardy's works for my A-level exams back in 1980 (ouch) and I enjoyed them all, but Tess was my favourite. So beautiful and so sad. Beautiful in the characters, wonderfully realised for the time. Tess especially, a child to whom things happen, things beyond her understanding or control, and who is swept along by the tide of events bewildered but still strong and true herself and her morals - yes, even at the end. (I don't want to say anything that may constitute a spoiler for those who haven't read/seen it, although it seems unlikely now.) I thought Gemma Arterton was perfect for the role and if this were a film she should have been nominated for an Oscar. I've been a fan of hers since her performance in St Trinian's ( a very different role!) and look forward to seeing her in Quantum of Solace, she should go far. I wasn't so sure about the two male leads, not that either character is very likable in my eyes, but I think they did an adequate job. This 4-part series Clings closely to the original text and also brings in Hardy's speciality, the use of weather and atmosphere to set the mood of the scene; very evocative. I hope it will be screened again, and I'll buy the DVD when I can.