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DramaRomance

Tess

- She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever.

A strong-willed peasant girl is sent by her father to the estate of some local aristocrats to capitalize on a rumor that their families are from the same line, but is left traumatised from her experiences.

Release Date : 1979-10-06

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Renn ProductionsTimothy Burrill ProductionsSFP

Production Country : FranceUnited Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Nastassja Kinski

Character Name : Tess Durbeyfield

Original Name : Nastassja Kinski

Gender : Female

Peter Firth

Character Name : Angel Clare

Original Name : Peter Firth

Gender : Male

Leigh Lawson

Character Name : Alec d'Urberville

Original Name : Leigh Lawson

Gender : Male

John Collin

Character Name : John Durbeyfield

Original Name : John Collin

Gender : Male

Rosemary Martin

Character Name : Mrs. Durbeyfield

Original Name : Rosemary Martin

Gender : Female

Carolyn Pickles

Character Name : Marian

Original Name : Carolyn Pickles

Gender : Female

Richard Pearson

Character Name : Vicar of Marlott

Original Name : Richard Pearson

Gender : Male

David Markham

Character Name : Reverend Mr. Clare

Original Name : David Markham

Gender : Male

Pascale de Boysson

Character Name : Mrs. Clare

Original Name : Pascale de Boysson

Gender : Female

Suzanna Hamilton

Character Name : Izz Huett

Original Name : Suzanna Hamilton

Gender : Female

Caroline Embling

Character Name : Retty

Original Name : Caroline Embling

Gender : Female

Tony Church

Character Name : Parson Tringham

Original Name : Tony Church

Gender : Male

Lesley Dunlop

Character Name : Girl in Henhouse

Original Name : Lesley Dunlop

Gender : Female

Sylvia Coleridge

Character Name : Mrs. d'Urberville

Original Name : Sylvia Coleridge

Gender : Female

Fred Bryant

Character Name : Dairyman Crick

Original Name : Fred Bryant

Gender : Male

Dicken Ashworth

Character Name : Farmer Groby

Original Name : Dicken Ashworth

Gender : Male

Patsy Rowlands

Character Name : Landlady

Original Name : Patsy Rowlands

Gender : Female

John Barrett

Character Name : Old Dairy Hand

Original Name : John Barrett

Gender : Male

Patsy Smart

Character Name : Housekeeper

Original Name : Patsy Smart

Gender : Female

Brigid Erin Bates

Character Name : Girl in Meadow

Original Name : Brigid Erin Bates

Gender : Female

Jeanne Biras

Character Name : Girl in Meadow

Original Name : Jeanne Biras

Gender : Female

John Bett

Character Name : Felix Clare

Original Name : John Bett

Gender : Male

Tom Chadbon

Character Name : Cuthbert Clare

Original Name : Tom Chadbon

Gender : Male

Maryline Even

Character Name : Girl in Henhouse

Original Name : Maryline Even

Gender : Female

Jean-Jacques Daubin

Character Name : Bailiff

Original Name : Jean-Jacques Daubin

Gender : Male

Jacob Weizbluth

Character Name : Yokel at barn-dance

Original Name : Jacob Weizbluth

Gender : Male

Jacques Mathou

Character Name : Harvester

Original Name : Jacques Mathou

Gender : Male

Véronique Alain

Character Name : Harvester

Original Name : Véronique Alain

Gender : Female

Anne Tirard

Character Name : Old Dairy Hand

Original Name : Anne Tirard

Gender : Female

Josine Comellas

Character Name : Mrs. Crick

Original Name : Josine Comellas

Gender : Female

Arielle Dombasle

Character Name : Mercy Chant

Original Name : Arielle Dombasle

Gender : Female

Gordon Richardson

Character Name : Parson at Wedding

Original Name : Gordon Richardson

Gender : Male

Jimmy Gardner

Character Name : Pedlar

Original Name : Jimmy Gardner

Gender : Male

Reg Dent

Character Name : Carter

Original Name : Reg Dent

Gender : Male

John Gill

Character Name : Landlord

Original Name : John Gill

Gender : Male

Forbes Collins

Character Name : New Tenant

Original Name : Forbes Collins

Gender : Male

Keith Buckley

Character Name : Postman

Original Name : Keith Buckley

Gender : Male

John Moore

Character Name : Postman

Original Name : John Moore

Gender : Male

Graham Weston

Character Name : Constable

Original Name : Graham Weston

Gender : Male

Peter Benson

Character Name : Religious Fanatic (uncredited)

Original Name : Peter Benson

Gender : Male

Reviews

W

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

_**Bringing in the sheaves stuck between a demon and an angel**_ During the Long Depression of the 1870-80s in Blackmore Vale, southern England, a peasant family discovers that they are nobility and thus their oldest daughter, an extraordinarily beautiful woman (Nastassja Kinski), is sent to meet the well-to-do family. She is eventually pitted between the interest of two very different men (Leigh Lawson and Peter Firth). Roman Polanski's "Tess" (1979) is based on Thomas Hardy's 1891 novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles." Polanski was inspired to make the film because his late wife, Sharon Tate, gave him the book suggesting it would make a great film and she was interested in playing the title role. Unfortunately, it turned out to be the last time Roman saw his pregnant wife alive as she was heading back to the USA while he stayed in Europe to complete a picture. She was murdered by the Manson psychos on August 9th, 1969. This movie is dedicated to her during the opening credits. The two male characters are basically two sides of the same bad coin: one is amoral while the other is excessively moral. There is a scene in the book where Alec shows up to talk to the workers at harvest time wearing a cape with an upturned collar and carrying a pitchfork. The symbolism is obvious. Meanwhile Angel's figurative character is plain from his name. What's the point? Just as it's possible to be excessively bad, a person can be too good. The bible makes this observation in Ecclesiastes 7:16-18. They are two extremes and both have the power to destroy the lives of those they influence. To be expected, Angel eventually seeks to make things right whereas Alec arrogantly continues in his nonchalant amorality, which ultimately ushers in doom. The immutability of this is symbolized by Stonehenge. While a lot of people eventually swing to one extreme perspective/lifestyle or another, e.g. moralist, hedonist, atheist, most people are caught somewhere in the middle, uncertain and searching, like Tess. To enjoy this piece you have to brace yourself for a movie that has the confidence to take its time and tell its tale. You'll discover Victorian curiosities, pastoral mundaneness, beauty, lust, love, idiocy, humility, penitence, arrogance and tragedy. The film runs 3 hours, 6 minutes, with the original theatrical version running 2 minutes less and the DVD 2 hours, 52 minutes. It was shot entirely in France. GRADE: A-/B+