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Catalog/Drama/Tess
Tess poster
A
Excellent
MASTER SCORE 72.1 / 100
1979·Drama / Romance·3h 6m

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 rumour that their families are from the same line. This fateful visit commences an epic narrative of sex, class, betrayal, and revenge.

Above the Line
Roman Polanski·DirectorRoman Polanski·ScreenplayGérard Brach·ScreenplayGeoffrey Unsworth·Director of PhotographyPhilippe Sarde·Original Music ComposerAlastair McIntyre·Editor
Cast
Nastassja Kinski·Tess DurbeyfieldPeter Firth·Angel ClareLeigh Lawson·Alec d'UrbervilleJohn Collin·John DurbeyfieldRosemary Martin·Mrs. DurbeyfieldCarolyn Pickles·MarianRichard Pearson·Vicar of MarlottDavid Markham·Reverend Mr. ClarePascale de Boysson·Mrs. ClareSuzanna Hamilton·Izz Huett
Full Crew
(30 credits)
Directing· 4
Roman Polanski·DirectorThierry Chabert·First Assistant DirectorHugues de Laugardière·Second Assistant DirectorRomain Goupil·Second Assistant Director
Writing· 4
Roman Polanski·ScreenplayGérard Brach·ScreenplayJohn Brownjohn·ScreenplayThomas Hardy·Novel
Camera· 2
Geoffrey Unsworth·Director of PhotographyGhislain Cloquet·Director of Photography
Editing· 2
Alastair McIntyre·EditorTom Priestley·Editor
Sound & Music· 7
Philippe Sarde·Original Music ComposerCarlo Savina·ConductorPeter Knight·OrchestratorJean-Pierre Ruh·Production Sound MixerHervé de Luze·Sound EditorMaurice Gilbert·Sound Re-Recording MixerAlex Pront·Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Art & Design· 3
Anthony Powell·Costume DesignPierre Guffroy·Production DesignJack Stephens·Art Direction
Production· 6
Claude Berri·ProducerPierre Grunstein·Executive ProducerTimothy Burrill·Co-ProducerMary Selway·CastingJean-Pierre Rassam·Associate ProducerPaul Maigret·Production Manager
Other Departments· 2
Jennifer Patrick·Dialogue CoachSue Lefton·Choreographer
By the Numbers
72.1
OF 100
Master Score
7.3
OF 10
IMDb
81%
CRITICS
Rotten Tomatoes
$20M
ROI 68%
Worldwide Gross
3
6 NOMS
Oscar Wins
Where to Watch

THE AVAILABILITY MAP

The canonical record of where this film lives across the streaming map.

Provider Index In Progress

Streaming, rental, and purchase availability for this title is being ingested from the TMDB watch-providers feed and will appear here once the next catalog refresh runs. Until then, the canonical source links below remain the fastest route.

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Poster DNA

THE VISUAL DECONSTRUCTION

A bespoke vision agent's reading of the design language behind Tess's key art.

Dominant Palette
3 colors
#8A8E8E
#C5A484
#4D4D4D
Mood
Melancholy, Contemplative
Composition
Split
Era
1970s
Visual Style
Photographic

“The poster features a young woman with a brown headscarf looking directly forward through the bottom right pane of a four-paned window. Her right hand is visibl”

dramaromance
Key Elements
WindowHeadscarf
Atmosphere
Muted, Warm
Color Mood
Warm
Setting
Rural
Design Score
8/10
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THREE WAYS DEEPER

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AUT
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