<PAGE>   1
===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
 
                                 ----------

                                   FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    Under
                           The Securities Act Of 1933

                                  ----------

                            PARCPLACE-DIGITALK, INC.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                                   77-0143293
    (State of Incorporation)               (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
                    
                             999 East Arques Avenue
                           Sunnyvale, California 94086
                     (Address of principal executive offices)

                                  ----------

                     1995 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN
                          (Full title of the plans)

                                  ----------

                               WILLIAM P. LYONS
                   President and Chief Executive Officer
                            ParcPlace-Digitalk, Inc.
                              999 E. Arques Avenue
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94086
                                 (408) 481-9090
             (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                  ----------

                                   Copy to:

                              ROBERT B. JACK, ESQ.
                        Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                           Palo Alto, California 94304

                                  ----------

                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=====================================================================================================

TITLE OF EACH CLASS           NUMBER OF      PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF
 OF SECURITIES TO           SHARES TO BE      OFFERING PRICE         AGGREGATE          REGISTRATION
  BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED        PER SHARE(1)       OFFERING PRICE             FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>                <C>                 <C>                   <C>
Common Stock                   104,091           $4.875               $507,444              $174.98
=====================================================================================================  
</TABLE>

(1)  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457 solely for the purpose of calculating the
registration fee on the basis of the closing price reported on the NASDAQ
National Market on August 6, 1996 as permitted by Rule 457(c).

===============================================================================
<PAGE>   2

                                   PART II

                INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         There are hereby incorporated by reference the following documents and
information heretofore filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission:

         (a)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
              ended March 31, 1996.

         (b)  The description of the Company's Common Stock set forth in the 
              Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-73008) and 
              incorporated by reference in the Company's Registration Statement 
              on Form 8-A filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of
              the Exchange Act and declared effective February 1, 1994.

        All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part
hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation law ("Delaware Law"), the
Company has adopted provisions in its Certificate of Incorporation that
eliminate the personal liability of its directors and officers to the Company
and its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of the directors'
fiduciary duties in certain circumstances. The Company's Bylaws require the
Company to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and other agents to the
fullest extent permitted by laws.

         The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of
its current directors and executive officers that provide for indemnification
to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law, including in circumstances in
which indemnification and the advancement of expenses are discretionary under
Delaware Law. The Company believes that the limitation of liability provisions
in its Certificate of Incorporation and the indemnification agreements will
enhance the Company's ability to continue to attract and retain qualified
individuals to serve as directors and officers.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

         The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Exhibit
Index elsewhere herein.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

         (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

              (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
                   being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration 
                   statement to include any material

                                   II-1
<PAGE>   3
               information with respect to the plan of distribution not
               previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
               material change to such information in the registration
               statement.

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
               Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), each such
               post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
               statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
               offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
               the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of post-effective amendment
               any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
               termination of the offering.

          (4)  That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
               Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report
               pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
               (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
               annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that
               is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall
               be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
               securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
               at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
               thereof.

     (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of Registrant pursuant to the California General Corporations Code, the Restated
Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of Registrant, Indemnification
Agreements entered into between Registrant and its officers and directors, or
otherwise. Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered hereunder, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-2

<PAGE>   4
                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Sunnyvale, State of California.

DATE: August 7, 1996                  PARCPLACE-DIGITALK, INC.


                                      By: /s/ WILLIAM P. LYONS
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          William P. Lyons
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer


                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Each individual whose signature appears below hereby appoints William
P. Lyons and Carolyn V. Aver, and each of them acting individually, his or her
attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and
all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming signatures as they may be signed by said attorneys to any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             NAME                           TITLE                   DATE
             ----                           -----                   ----
<S>                             <C>                             <C>
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER:


/s/ WILLIAM P. LYONS            President and Chief Executive   August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------   Officer and Director
William P. Lyons



PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
AND PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING
OFFICER:


/s/ CAROLYN V. AVER             Vice President and Chief        August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------   Financial Officer
Carolyn V. Aver



ADDITIONAL DIRECTORS:


/s/ JAMES C. ANDERSON           Director                        August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------
James C. Anderson


/s/ JOHN B. CARRINGTON          Director                        August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------
John B. Carrington


/s/ JOS C. HENKENS              Director                        August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------
Jos C. Henkens

</TABLE>



                                      II-3
<PAGE>   5
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number                  Exhibit
- -------               -----------

5.1             Opinion of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich &
                Rosati, a Professional Corporation.

23.1            Consent of Independent Auditors.

23.2            Consent of Counsel (Contained in Exhibit 5.1 above).

24.1            Power of Attorney (see page II-3).
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12725}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PARCPLACE DIGITALK INC", "cik": "0000916354", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "770143293", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-09807", "film-number": "96606393"}, "business-address": {"street1": "999 EAST ARQUES AVE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94086", "phone": "4084819090"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "999 EAST ARQUES AVENUE", "city": "SUNNYVALE", "state": "CA", "zip": "94086"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "PARCPLACE SYSTEMS INC", "date-changed": "19931217"}}
1
===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
 
                                 ----------

                                   FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    Under
                           The Securities Act Of 1933

                                  ----------

                            PARCPLACE-DIGITALK, INC.
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                                   77-0143293
    (State of Incorporation)               (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
                    
                             999 East Arques Avenue
                           Sunnyvale, California 94086
                     (Address of principal executive offices)

                                  ----------

                     1995 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN
                          (Full title of the plans)

                                  ----------

                               WILLIAM P. LYONS
                   President and Chief Executive Officer
                            ParcPlace-Digitalk, Inc.
                              999 E. Arques Avenue
                               Sunnyvale, CA 94086
                                 (408) 481-9090
             (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                  ----------

                                   Copy to:

                              ROBERT B. JACK, ESQ.
                        Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati
                            Professional Corporation
                               650 Page Mill Road
                           Palo Alto, California 94304

                                  ----------

                       CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=====================================================================================================

TITLE OF EACH CLASS           NUMBER OF      PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM        AMOUNT OF
 OF SECURITIES TO           SHARES TO BE      OFFERING PRICE         AGGREGATE          REGISTRATION
  BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED        PER SHARE(1)       OFFERING PRICE             FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock                   104,091           $4.875               $507,444              $174.98
=====================================================================================================
(1)  Estimated pursuant to Rule 457 solely for the purpose of calculating the
registration fee on the basis of the closing price reported on the NASDAQ
National Market on August 6, 1996 as permitted by Rule 457(c).

===============================================================================
2

                                   PART II

                INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

         There are hereby incorporated by reference the following documents and
information heretofore filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission:

         (a)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year 
              ended March 31, 1996.

         (b)  The description of the Company's Common Stock set forth in the 
              Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-73008) and 
              incorporated by reference in the Company's Registration Statement 
              on Form 8-A filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of
              the Exchange Act and declared effective February 1, 1994.

        All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be part
hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

         Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         Not applicable.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

         Pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation law ("Delaware Law"), the
Company has adopted provisions in its Certificate of Incorporation that
eliminate the personal liability of its directors and officers to the Company
and its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of the directors'
fiduciary duties in certain circumstances. The Company's Bylaws require the
Company to indemnify its directors, officers, employees and other agents to the
fullest extent permitted by laws.

         The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of
its current directors and executive officers that provide for indemnification
to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware Law, including in circumstances in
which indemnification and the advancement of expenses are discretionary under
Delaware Law. The Company believes that the limitation of liability provisions
in its Certificate of Incorporation and the indemnification agreements will
enhance the Company's ability to continue to attract and retain qualified
individuals to serve as directors and officers.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

         The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Exhibit
Index elsewhere herein.

Item 9.  Undertakings.

         (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

              (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
                   being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration 
                   statement to include any material

                                   II-1
3
               information with respect to the plan of distribution not
               previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
               material change to such information in the registration
               statement.

          (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
               Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), each such
               post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
               statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
               offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
               the initial bona fide offering thereof.

          (3)  To remove from registration by means of post-effective amendment
               any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
               termination of the offering.

          (4)  That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
               Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report
               pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
               (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
               annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that
               is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall
               be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
               securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
               at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
               thereof.

     (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of Registrant pursuant to the California General Corporations Code, the Restated
Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws of Registrant, Indemnification
Agreements entered into between Registrant and its officers and directors, or
otherwise. Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is
asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered hereunder, Registrant will, unless in the opinion of
its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-2
4
                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of
Sunnyvale, State of California.

DATE: August 7, 1996                  PARCPLACE-DIGITALK, INC.

                                      By: /s/ WILLIAM P. LYONS
                                          -----------------------------------
                                          William P. Lyons
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        Each individual whose signature appears below hereby appoints William
P. Lyons and Carolyn V. Aver, and each of them acting individually, his or her
attorneys-in-fact with full power of substitution, for him or her in any and
all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming signatures as they may be signed by said attorneys to any and all
amendments to this Registration Statement.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
NAME                           TITLE                   DATE
             ----                           -----                   ----
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER:

/s/ WILLIAM P. LYONS            President and Chief Executive   August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------   Officer and Director
William P. Lyons

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER
AND PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING
OFFICER:

/s/ CAROLYN V. AVER             Vice President and Chief        August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------   Financial Officer
Carolyn V. Aver

ADDITIONAL DIRECTORS:

/s/ JAMES C. ANDERSON           Director                        August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------
James C. Anderson

/s/ JOHN B. CARRINGTON          Director                        August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------
John B. Carrington

/s/ JOS C. HENKENS              Director                        August 7, 1996
- -----------------------------
Jos C. Henkens
II-3
5
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number                  Exhibit
- -------               -----------

5.1             Opinion of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich &
                Rosati, a Professional Corporation.

23.1            Consent of Independent Auditors.

23.2            Consent of Counsel (Contained in Exhibit 5.1 above).

24.1            Power of Attorney (see page II-3).