"Tales of the City" (1993)TV mini-series

Director:

Alastair Reid

Writers (WGA):

Armistead Maupin (novel)
Richard Kramer (teleplay)

Release Date:

10 January 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance

Plot:

The stories of several colorful characters living in San Francisco. Based on the book by Armistead Maupin (A Man I Dreamt Up).

Plot Keywords:

Friendship Between Men | Gay Straight Relations | Female Nudity | Gay Relationship | Best Friend

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Olympia Dukakis	...	Anna Madrigal
Donald Moffat	...	Edgar Halcyon
Chloe Webb	...	Mona Ramsey
Laura Linney	...	Mary Ann Singleton
Marcus D'Amico	...	Michael Tolliver
Bill Campbell	...	Jon Fielden (as William Campbell)
Thomas Gibson	...	Beauchamp Day
Paul Gross	...	Brian Hawkins
Barbara Garrick	...	DeDe Halcyon Day
Nina Foch	...	Frannie Halcyon
Edie Adams	...	Ruby Miller
Robert Downey Sr.	...	Edgar's Doctor
Meagen Fay	...	Binky Gruen
Lou Liberatore	...	Chuck
Country Joe McDonald	...	Joaquin

Also Known As:

Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City

Runtime:

360 min (6 parts)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:18 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

28 Barbary Lane Set, Occidental Studios - 201 N. Occidental Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

American Playhouse

Trivia:

Over 15 years several companies (including Warner Brothers and HBO) bought options to film this story, based on Armistead Maupin's novel. Finally this 6 part miniseries was produced by Britain's Channel 4, San Francisco's local PBS station KQED and PBS' "American Playhouse" (1982).

Goofs:

When Mr Halcyon is in the doctor's office, his lateral chest x-rays are upside down.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mary Ann's Mother: Hellooo?
Mary Ann Singleton: Mom, It's me.
Mary Ann's Mother: What's the matter did you miss your plane?
Mary Ann Singleton: No. I didn't
Mary Ann's Mother: You know darling we were just talking about you...
Mary Ann Singleton: Would you call Mr. Lassiter and say I won't be in on Monday?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Kabluey (2007)

A rare treat

Just happened to stumble across this film, followed by "More Tales of the City", on Bravo last week. I'd been under the impression that it was another ridiculous piece of rubbish about people shagging and snorting their brains out. Instead it was a fantastically fun time with a house filled with interesting and neat people (except Norman). Yes some do sleep around and some use drugs a bit, but that's just a part of the story.

The real story here is a familiar one of relationships. While I'd agree that casting went a little over-board in recruiting "pretty people", it's an extraordinarily well done job of telling that story and each actor does a super job with his/her role, especially mother-hen Olympia Dukakis.

Shame on PBS for caving into the pressures of conservatives, postponing the sequels. I'll certainly add Showtime to my cable for next year's installment.