Tess
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2008-06-30T04:55:04Z
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/67.235.6.142|67.235.6.142]] to last version by ParaGreen13 (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
<i>For other uses, see [[Tess (disambiguation)]]</i>
{{Infobox Film |
name = Tess |
image = Tess film.jpg |
caption = DVD cover for ''Tess'' |
director = [[Roman Polanski]] |
writer = [[Gerard Brach]]<br />[[John Brownjohn]]<br />Roman Polanski (screenplay)<br />Based on the novel ''[[Tess of the d'Urbervilles]]'' by [[Thomas Hardy]] |
starring = [[Nastassja Kinski]]<br />[[Peter Firth]]<br />[[Leigh Lawson]] |
producer = [[Claude Berri]] |
music = [[Philippe Sarde]] |
cinematography = [[Ghislain Cloquet]]<br />[[Geoffrey Unsworth]] |
editing = [[Alastair McIntyre]]<br />[[Tom Priestly]] |
distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]] |
released = {{flagicon|USA}} [[December 12]], [[1980]]<br />{{flagicon|Australia}} [[March 1]], [[1981]] |
runtime = 190 min. |
country = [[France]] / [[UK]] |
language = [[English language|English]] |
budget = $25,000,000 |
amg_id = 1:49171 |
imdb_id = 0080009 |
}}
'''''Tess''''' is a [[1979 in film|1979]] English language [[romance film|romantic drama film]] directed by [[Roman Polanski]], an adaptation of [[Thomas Hardy]]'s 1891 novel ''[[Tess of the d'Urbervilles]]''. It tells the story of a strong-willed, young (apparently) peasant girl who finds out she has title connections by way of her old aristocratic surname, who is seduced by her wealthy cousin, whose right to the family title may not be as strong as he claims. The screenplay is by [[Gérard Brach]], [[John Brownjohn]], and Roman Polanski.
== Plot summary ==
The story takes place in [[rural]] [[Dorset]]shire, [[England]], during the [[Victorian era|Victorian period]].
Its events are set in motion innocently enough when a [[clergyman]], Parson Tringham, has a conversation with a simple farmer, John Durbeyfield. Tringham is a local historian; in the course of his research, he has discovered that the "Durbeyfields" are actually descended from the d'Urbervilles, a noble family whose lineage extends to the time of [[William I of England|William the Conqueror]]. It is useless knowledge, really, as the family lost its land and prestige when the [[Hereditary peer#Inheritance of titles|male heirs died out]]. The parson merely thinks Durbeyfield might like to know his origins as a passing historical curiosity.
Unfortunately, Durbeyfield immediately becomes [[Fixation|fixated]] upon the idea of regaining his lost [[nobility]], and using it to somehow better his family's fortunes. To this end, he sends his daughter Tess to seek employment with a family named d'Urberville living in a nearby [[manor house]]. Alec d'Urberville is delighted to meet his beautiful "cousin", and he seduces her with strawberries and roses. But Alec is no relation to Tess; he has gotten his illustrious name and [[coat of arms]] by purchasing them. Alec falls in love with Tess, eventually seduces/rapes her, and she leaves, pregnant; back at home, the baby is born sickly and dies.
Some time later, Tess goes to a [[Dairy farming|dairy farm]] and begins work as a [[milkmaid]]. There she meets her true love: an aspiring young [[missionary]] from a respectable family, named Angel Clare. Angel believes Tess to be an unspoiled country girl, and completely innocent. They fall in love, but Tess does not guiltily confess her previous relationship with Alec until their wedding night. Disillusioned, Angel rejects her and Tess finds herself alone once again.
Deserted by her husband, Tess meets Alec d'Urberville again. At first, she angrily rebuffs his advances. But after her father's death, the Durbeyfield family falls upon desperately hard times, facing [[starvation]], [[eviction]] and [[homelessness]]. Tess is forced to resume her [[Affair#Sex and romance|torrid relationship]] with Alec, becoming his [[Mistress (lover)|mistress]] in order to support her mother and siblings.
Shortly afterwards, Angel Clare returns from travelling abroad. A disastrous [[missionary]] tour in [[Brazil]] has ruined his health; humbled, and having had plenty of time to think, he is remorseful at his treatment of Tess. He succeeds in tracking her down -- but leaves heartbroken when he finds her [[Cohabitation|cohabiting]] with Alec. Tess realizes that allowing Alec to manipulate and seduce her a second time has ruined her chances of happiness with Angel. She suffers a [[nervous breakdown|mental breakdown]] and [[murder]]s Alec in a rage.
Running away to find Angel, Tess is reconciled with him; for he can finally accept and embrace her as his wife without passing moral judgment on her actions. They consummate their marriage, spending two nights of happiness together on the run from the law before Tess is captured sleeping at Stonehenge. The ending summary explains her conviction and being hanged for murder.
== Production ==
Polański made the film because the last time he saw his wife [[Sharon Tate]] alive (before she was murdered by [[Charles Manson]]'s gang), she had given him a copy of ''Tess of the d'Urbervilles'' and said it would make a great film. The dedication at the opening of the film reads simply: "to Sharon".
Although the film is set in England, it was filmed in [[Quimper, Finistère|Quimper]], [[Brittany]], [[France]]. This is because Polanski was wanted for [[statutory rape]] charges in the [[United States]], and he could have been [[extradition|extradited]] from the [[United Kingdom]].
In October [[1978]], cinematographer [[Geoffrey Unsworth]] died of a heart attack during the third week of shooting. Most of the scenes he shot were exteriors in the first half of the film and can be distinguished by their use of fog and slight diffusion.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} [[Ghislain Cloquet]] shot the second half and the remainder of the film including most of the interior scenes without diffusion. Rumour has it that among the scenes shot by Geoffrey Unsworth before his death were the foggy [[day for night]] seduction in the woods, the tent and the strawberries where Tess is in the d'Uberville mansion, the milking of the large cows, the girls seeing Angel at sunrise, and Angel carrying the girls over the stream.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
== Music ==
The original musical score was composed by [[Philippe Sarde]]. The melody that Angel Clare, a Victorian period Englishman, plays on the [[recorder]] is in fact a popular [[Poland|Polish]] [[folk music|folk song]], "Laura i Filon".
== Main cast ==
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Actor !! Role
|-
| [[Nastassja Kinski]] || Tess Durbeyfield
|-
| [[Peter Firth]] || Angel Clare
|-
| [[Leigh Lawson]] || Alec Stokes-d'Urberville
|-
| [[John Collin]] || John Durbeyfield
|-
| [[Rosemary Martin]] || Mrs. Durbeyfield
|-
| [[Carolyn Pickles]] || Miriam
|-
| [[Richard Pearson]] || Vicar of Marlott
|-
| [[David Markham]] || Reverend Clare
|-
| [[Pascale de Boysson]] || Mrs. Clare
|-
| [[Suzanna Hamilton]] || Izz Huett
|-
| [[Caroline Embling]] || Retty
|-
| [[Tony Church]] || Parson Tringham
|-
| [[Leslie Dunlop]] || Girl in benbouse
|-
| [[Sylvia Coleridge]] || Mrs. d'Urberville
|-
| [[Fred Bryant]] || Dairyman Crick
|}
== Marketing ==
[[Tagline]]s used to advertise the film include:
* "She was born into a world where they called it seduction, not rape. What she did would shatter that world forever."
* "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."
== Ratings ==
The film is rated PG in the [[United Kingdom]] for brief sexuality and thematic elements.
== Reception ==
=== Awards and nominations ===
*[[Academy Awards]]
**[[Academy Award for Best Art Direction|Best Art Direction-Set Decoration]]
**[[Academy Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
**[[Academy Award for Costume Design|Best Costume Design]]
*Academy Award nominations
**[[Academy Award for Directing|Best Director]]
**[[Academy Award for Original Music Score|Best Music, Original Score]]
**[[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
*[[Golden Globe Award]]s
**[[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]
**New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture
*Golden Globe Award nominations
**[[Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture|Best Director - Motion Picture]]
**[[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama|Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama]]
*[[César Awards]]
**[[César Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]]
**[[César Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
**[[César Award for Best Cinematography|Best Cinematography]]
*César Award nominations
**[[César Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] ([[Nastassja Kinski]])
**[[César Award for Best Production Design|Best Production Design]]
**[[César Award for Best Music Written for a Film|Best Music Written for a Film]]
== External links ==
* {{imdb title|id=0080009|title=Tess}}
* {{amg title|id=1:49171|title=Tess}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=tess|title=Tess}}
{{Roman Polanski}}
{{start box}}
{{s-awards}}
{{succession box
| title=[[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film]]
| years=1981
| before=''[[La Cage aux Folles (film)|La Cage aux Folles]]''
| after=''[[Chariots of Fire]]''}}
{{succession box
| title=[[César Award for Best Film]]
| years=1980
| before=''[[L'Argent des autres]]''
| after=''[[The Last Metro]]''}}
{{end}}
[[Category:1979 films]]
[[Category:British films]]
[[Category:Columbia Pictures films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Epic films]]
[[Category:Films based on romance books]]
[[Category:Films based on Thomas Hardy's books]]
[[Category:Films directed by Roman Polanski]]
[[Category:Films over three hours long]]
[[Category:Films whose art director won the Best Art Direction Academy Award]]
[[Category:Films whose cinematographer won the Best Cinematography Academy Award]]
[[Category:French films]]
[[Category:Romantic drama films]]
[[Category:Romantic period films]]
[[Category:Tragedy films]]
[[Category:Victorian era films]]
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