A Canterbury Tale
1944
While World War II rages, an American G.I. and three Britons find themselves en route to the hallowed cathedral on the same Pilgrims' way taken by travelers some 600 years before and reported in Chaucer's epic poem. Read more
| Starring | Eric Portman, Sheila Sim, Dennis Price, Esmond Knight |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
| Genres | Drama |
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A Canterbury Tale
While World War II rages, an American G.I. and three Britons find themselves en route to the hallowed cathedral on the same Pilgrims' way taken by travelers some 600 years before and reported in Chaucer's epic poem.
| Starring | Eric Portman, Sheila Sim, Dennis Price, Esmond Knight, Charles Hawtrey, George Merritt, Edward Rigby, Hay Petrie |
|---|---|
| Director | Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger |
| Studio | ITV DVD |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 59 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Subtitles | DVD: None |
| Released | DVD: 11 Oct 1999 Production year: 1944 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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This re-think of Chaucer from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger is the most peculiar piece of wartime propaganda ever devised. Two army sergeants (one British, one American) and a girl arrive at a Kentish village within praying distance of Canterbury, where the women fraternise with servicemen and one local pours glue into their hair as punishment. Our three modern pilgrims set out to find the perpetrator. While it's hard to convey the film's eerie shifts of mood, it impresses as a study of a community resistant to change. In the year of D-Day, Powell and Pressburger seem torn between welcoming American support and warning of a loss of traditional English values. This far-sighted film, which was dismissed at the time, is lyrical in its celebration of a disappearing England.
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Curious would-be propaganda piece with Old England bathed in a roseate wartime glow, but the plot seems to have little to do with Chaucer. Indeed, quite what Powell and Pressburger thought they were up to is hard to fathom, but the detail is interesting.
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Most helpful member's review
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17 out of 17 people found this review helpful
Prime Cut Powell and Pressburger
Powell and Pressburger as part of the British Film industry were encouraged to support the war effort in WW2 via their films. All of them are worth watching. None of them are the standard Flagwaver that Churchill was looking for apparently.
So in this film they wrote a story of rural England almost undisturbed by the War which was raging around them. Well almost. It follows the story of an American, a Landgirl and a British Soldier investigating the 'Glueman'. There are so many things which I love about this film that it's hard to know what to say.
It just shows a love of the rural environment which is evident in many of their films. But also there's the mystery of life that comes from people living together. Then there's the idea that people can live together and work together for a goal.
Maybe the best thing for me is the sense of Spirituality that pervades this film. I can't recommend it highly enough really.
I went to Canterbury about 7 years ago, and I recognised the same Canterbury in the film. So maybe in some ways the rural life did survive just as the film suggests.
My only word of warning is that you might not like it if you are looking for an Ealing Comedy Style film, or a proper war picture. Try Passport to Pimlico and Mrs Miniver for that.
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- Chunkysimon from Falkirk
- Posted 09 Sep 2004 11:31
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Most recent members' review
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Probably one of the weirdest films you will ever see
A mysterious character terrorises the English country side,late at night, by pouring sticky stuff into the hair of young ladies.Three friends set out to solve the mystery of 'The Glueman'.
Beautifully filmed in black and white, this film is set during the second world war.The film draws on images of Britain throughout the ages suggesting the links between the past and present .
Another classic from Powell and Pressburger -
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While World War II rages, an American G.I. and three Britons find themselves en route to the hallowed cathedral on the same Pilgrims' way taken by travelers some 600 years before and reported in ... -