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

User Rating:

8.6/10   

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:

Drugs | Gay Bar | Matriarch | Anti Conformity | Cannabis

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:

UK | USA

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:

McLean Stevenson's final role.

Goofs:

Continuity: During all scenes relating to the Palace of the Legion of Honor, Mary Ann's boots alternate between being black and red versions of the same shoes.

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)

Each page transforms brilliantly to screen

One is always concerned when a great work of written fiction is dressed up for the screen, but you can have no worries about the integrity of this production. We all paint pictures of characters when reading a book, and these images remain locked in our minds.

More often than not, when these characters appear in the flesh on the TV, we are a little disappointed. Not in this case! Maupin's wonderfully colourful feast about San Francisco in the seventies transfers vividly to the screen. The emotion and pace of the written original is dutifully kept in this production, with sterling performances all round. Dukakis exudes mystery, D'Amico portrays the endearing 'Mouse' with style, and Linney is sublime.

Expect to be experiencing all the human emotions in this delightful mini series. Perfect.