Tess (1980): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Tess is a 1980 romantic drama directed by Roman Polanski, starring Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth and Leigh Lawson. It is based on Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and Tim Dolin. It runs 3 hours 6 minutes and earned $20.1 million worldwide. It won 3 Oscars, including Art Direction and Cinematography, and 4 awards in all. Critics gave it 82 on Metacritic. Stream it on Criterion Channel, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 3h 6m (186 min)
- Director
- Roman Polanski
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Tess About?
The premise of Tess without spoilers, adapted from Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and Tim Dolin. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A spirited young heiress, Tess, is sent to a grand manor house hoping to uncover a familial link. As she attempts to integrate into the world of the aristocracy, she encounters complex relationships and hidden truths. The experience challenges her perspective and exposes her to the stark realities concealed behind the opulent lifestyle, ultimately leading to a loss of innocence.
Tess Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- rape
- based on novel
- pregnant from rape
- character name as title
- murdering one's lover
- forename as title
- betrayal of trust
- tess of the d'urbervilles character
- husband hates his wife
- husband leaves his wife
- loss of innocence
- wessex england
+38 more Show fewer
- pregnancy
- apprentice farmer
- cousin cousin relationship
- seduction
- love triangle
- husband wife relationship
- manor house
- strawberries
- rose the flower
- secret
- ancestry
- father daughter relationship
- mother daughter relationship
- shame
- misery
- falling in love
- mistress
- stabbing
- village
- may day
- 1880s
- tombstone
- barn dance
- what happened to epilogue
- lineage
- antiquarian
- dancing
- reference to oliver cromwell
- drunkard
- strawberry
- tent
- blind woman
- rooster
- unwanted advances
- learning to whistle
- eccentric old woman
- treacle
- rejected kiss
Where to Watch Tess
Stream it on Criterion Channel, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 1
Criterion Channel 
Streaming availability in the US, powered by 
Tess Cast
Nastassja Kinski leads the cast, with Peter Firth and Leigh Lawson. Directed by Roman Polanski.
-
Director Roman Polanski
Tess Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Tess 82 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 82 Metascore
User score 7.9
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 70% User score
See on TMDB
Tess Plot Summary
What happens in Tess from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Set in Thomas Hardy’s Wessex during the 1880s, the tale opens with a quiet, sunlit countryside that quietly masks human peril. A local historian, Parson Tringham, uncovers a startling lineage: the Durbeyfields are believed to be descended from the noble d’Urbervilles, a dynasty dating back to William the Conqueror. This discovery isn’t just curiosity for the parson; it plants a practical, if conflicted, ambition in John Durbeyfield, a plainspoken farmer who longs to lift his family out of hardship. He and his wife decide to push their daughter Tess Nastassja Kinski toward the idea that kinship could unlock a better future, and Tess is sent to approach a nearby wealthier family with the hope of finding honest work and perhaps a seat at a manor.
Full summary
The whole story of Tess, scene by scene
Tess Box Office
Tess grossed $20.1 million worldwide. $20.1 million came from the US and Canada and $7,917 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$20.1M
- US & Canada
- $20.1M
- International
- $7.9K
Tess Awards & Nominations
Tess won 3 Oscars, including Art Direction and Cinematography, and 4 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Oscars 1981, with 3 wins from 6 nominations.
4 wins12 nominations3 ceremonies
-
BAFTA 1982 1 win · 3 nominations- Won Best Cinematography
- Nominated Best Costume Design – Anthony Powell
- Nominated Best Production Design
-
Oscars 1981 3 wins · 6 nominations- Won Art Direction
- Won Cinematography
- Won Costume Design – Anthony Powell
- Nominated Best Picture
- Nominated Directing – Roman Polanski
-
Golden Globes 1981 3 nominations- Nominated Best Director – Roman Polanski
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress) – Nastassja Kinski
- Nominated New Star of the Year – Actress – Nastassja Kinski
Tess Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Tess.
How Well Do You Know Tess?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who portrays the title character, Tess, in the 1980 film?
Tess Also Known As
45 alternative titles, including “Cap und Capper - Zwei Freunde auf acht Pfoten” and “El Zorro y el sabueso”.
- Also known as
-
- Cap und Capper - Zwei Freunde auf acht Pfoten
- El Zorro y el sabueso
- Micke och Molle
- Rox & Rouky
- Red E Toby 1 Nemiciamici
- Cap und Capper
- 狐狸与猎狗1
- To gode venner Todd og Copper
- Tod y Toby
- Лис и охотничий пес
- Лис и охотничий пёс
- O Cão e a Raposa
+33 more Show fewer
- Лисицата и хрътката
- Lisica i pas
- Mads og Mikkel
- Cáo Và Chó Săn
- Лис і мисливський пес
- Tilki ve Avcı Köpeği
- Red E Tobi - Nemiciamici (1981)
- Tod és Copperrel
- Frank en Frey
- Red e Toby nemiciamici
- Papuça e Dentuça
- Rox et Rouky
- Micke och Molle - vänner när det gäller
- Topi ja Tessu
- 狐狸与猎狗
- Лис и пёс
- To gode venner
- השועל והכלבלב
- A róka és a kutya
- Lis i Pies
- Liška a pes
- Η Αλεπού και το Λαγωνικό
- きつねと猟犬
- Vulpea și câinele
- 토드와 코퍼
- Лис і пес
- Лисица и пас
- روباه و سگ شکاری
- 狐狸與獵狗
- 狐狸與獵犬
- เพื่อนแท้ในป่าใหญ่
- Lišiak a pes, მელა და მონადირე ძაღლი
- الثعلب والكلب
Seen Tess?
Movies Like Tess
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Lizzie and Tryst.
Tess FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of Tess, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Tess?
Tess runs 3 hours 6 minutes (186 minutes).
When was Tess released?
Tess was released on December 12, 1980.
Who directed Tess?
Tess was directed by Roman Polanski.
More films by Roman Polanski Who is in the cast of Tess?
Tess stars Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth and Leigh Lawson.
Where can I watch Tess?
In the US, Tess is streaming on Criterion Channel and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Tess make at the box office?
Tess grossed $20.1 million worldwide ($20.1 million domestic, $7,917 international).
How is Tess rated?
Tess has 82 on Metacritic and 70% on TMDB.
Is Tess based on a book?
Yes. Tess is adapted from Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy and Tim Dolin.
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