MASTERPIECE THEATRE: A TALE OF TWO CITIES {EPISODE 3} (TV)
Summary
The first of two programs on this tape. One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre." This program presents part three of a four-part adaptation of Charles Dickens's "A Tale of Two Cities," the historical novel and love story set in the years leading up to, and culminating in, the violence of the French Revolution. This part begins as Defarge's "patriots" and the "true, French army" storm the Bastille, eventually controlling the prison and killing the jail's governor. Defarge goes to 105 North Tower -- Dr. Manette's old cell -- where he uncovers a hidden manuscript written by the jailed man, condemning the Evremondes for his wrongful imprisonment. Meanwhile, Sydney Carton, hearing the news, thinks it "the best of times, the worst of times" in France. Elsewhere, a letter is delivered to the heir of the deceased Marquis St. Evremonde -- Charles Darnay -- from Gabelle, the family retainer who's been unjustly imprisoned for treason. Darnay makes plans to secretly travel to Paris to investigate the situation, as Lucie still is unaware of her husband's connection to the Evremondes. Upon trying to enter Paris, though, Darnay is detained by the revolutionaries and denounced as an aristocrat and an emigrant. Darnay is imprisoned, in secret, with his fellow aristocrats. Not hearing from her husband, Lucie makes her own inquiries and finds out what happened. Dr. Manette assures her that he can use his pull to get Darnay freed. Once at the prison, Dr. Manette is able to keep Darnay protected on a night when many others are executed via guillotine. Lucie meets with the Defarges, begging mercy for Darnay, going so far as to show that they have a young daughter, Little Lucie. Later, Jarvis Lorry and Carton see John Barsad in Paris, surprising them both. Jerry Cruncher confesses having dug up Barsad's coffin in London and finding it filled with rocks. Carton then meets up with Barsad, informing him that he knows he is a double-agent working for both the French and British. Carton tells Barsad that he won't denounce him -- for a price. Eventually, Darnay is summoned in front of the tribunal, successfully defended against all charges by Dr. Manette. Madame Defarge is greatly displeased by Dr. Manette's influence. However, that very night, as Darnay rests comfortably back home, the revolutionaries return him to prison to await another trial. Darnay is now charged by the Defarges, as well as one unnamed accuser. At the second trial, "new" evidence is brought against Darnay courtesy of Defarge and, surprisingly, Dr. Manette. The papers that Defarge discovered in Dr. Manette's cell accused the Evremonde brothers of having kidnapped and raped a peasant girl, then killing the rest of her family. However, one member of the family survived, a younger sister that was taken to a safe place, where the Evremondes could never find her. Dr. Manette was imprisoned for trying to report the Evremondes' crimes. The document ends with Dr. Manette condemning the entire Evremonde family and all their descendants and, thus, his son-in-law Darnay. The crowd then calls for Darnay's execution.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: December 3, 1989 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:52:52
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:26124
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1971-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Stephen Hawes … Executive Producer
- Eve Vercel … Executive Producer
- Robert Nador … Executive Producer
- Roy Roberts … Producer
- Philippe Monnier … Director
- Arthur Hopcraft … Writer
- Charles Dicken … Based on the novel by
- Serge Franklin … Music by
- James Wilby … Cast, Sydney Carton
- Xavier Deluc … Cast, Charles Darnay
- Serena Gordon … Cast, Lucie Manette
- John Mills … Cast, Jarvis Lorry
- Jean-Pierre Aumont … Cast, Dr. Manette
- Anna Massey … Cast, Miss Pross
- Alfred Lynch … Cast, Jerry Cruncher
- Kathie Kriegel … Cast, Madame Defarge
- Gerard Klein … Cast, Monsieur Defarge
- Nicolas Serreau … Cast, Jacques
- Zoe Zag … Cast, Vengeance
- Andre Chaumeau … Cast, Old Gaoler
- Jonathan Adams … Cast, Stryver
- Le Sache, Claude … Cast, First Aristocrat
- Andre Maranne … Cast, Second Aristocrat
- George Hagan … Cast, Ancient Clerk
- Francois Lalande … Cast, Gabelle
- Samantha Regnier … Cast, Little Lucie
- Michel Modo … Cast, Guard Officer
- Claude Aufaure … Cast, Gentleman Prisoner
- Joel Freminet … Cast, Head Patriot
- Francis Brel … Cast, Escort Patriot
- Karl Johnson … Cast, Barsad
- Gilles Gaston-Dreyfus … Cast, Road Mender
- Jean-Pierre Stewart … Cast, Public Prosecutor
- Andre Oumansky … Cast, Presiding Judge
- Jean-Luc Gonsales … Cast, Jury Foreman
- Didier Jeaunaud … Cast, Drunken Patriot
- Philippe Dormoy … Cast, First Patriot