The Canterbury Tales (1972)

Pasolini's artistic, sometimes violent, always vividly cinematic retelling of some of Chaucer's most erotic tales.

Director:

Pier Paolo Pasolini

Writers:

Pier Paolo Pasolini (screenplay), Geoffrey Chaucer (book) (as G. Chaucer)

Stars:

Hugh Griffith, Laura Betti, Ninetto Davoli

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Griffith	...	Sir January (segment the Merchant's Tale)
Laura Betti	...	The Wife from Bath
Ninetto Davoli	...	Perkin
Franco Citti	...	The Devil
Josephine Chaplin	...	May (segment the Merchant's Tale)
Alan Webb	...	Old Man (segment the Pardoner's Tale)
Pier Paolo Pasolini	...	Geoffrey Chaucer (Wraparound Segment)
J.P. Van Dyne	...	The Cook (Wraparound Segment)
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	The Franklin (Wraparound Segment)
Adrian Street	...	Fighter (Wraparound Segment)
Orla Pederson	...	Pilgrim (Wraparound Segment) (as OT)
Derek Deadman	...	The Pardoner (Wraparound Segment) (as Derek Deadmin)
Nicholas Smith	...	Friar (Wraparound Segment)
George Bethell Datch	...	Host of the Tabard (Wraparound Segment) (as George B. Datch)
Dan Thomas	...	Nicholas (segment the Miller's Tale)

Storyline

Pasolini's artistic, sometimes violent, always vividly cinematic retelling of some of Chaucer's most erotic tales.

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Plot Keywords:

male full frontal nudity | erotica | male pubic hair | male rear nudity | strong sexual content | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | History

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Certificate:

NC-17

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

30 May 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Canterbury Tales

Filming Locations:

Layer Marney Tower, Tiptree, Essex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Les Productions Artistes Associés,Produzioni Europee Associate (PEA)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min 140 min (premiere)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

As with Pasolini's subsequent film in the trilogy, The Arabian Nights, United Artists released the film domestically through its rarely tapped Aidart subsidiary, in order to distance the company from any controversy.

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Goofs

Some of the women have tan-lines from bikinis.

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Quotes

The Wife from Bath: There's nowhere in the Gospels that says we ought to stay virgins. Anyway, tell me, what were the genital organs made for at the creation? Not to lie dormant I suppose. And nobody's going to tell me they were just put there to piss through. Mark you, I use it for that as well. And every man must serve his wife in wedlock...

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Alternate Versions

The original UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC with edits to anal sex shots, a man being whipped, and Rufus urinating on the crowd during the 'Pardoner's Tale' segment for an 'X' certificate. The cuts were fully restored in 2001 and the certificate downgraded to a '15'.

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Connections

Featured in Playboy: The Story of X (1998)

User Reviews

Ever-fresh Pasolini comedy of ethics

This, even though it lacks a bit the wit and spirit of IL DECAMERON, which was funnier, it still manages to satisfy as you reach the end. Pasolini's perverted humor as well as some of his usual actors are here. There's full nudity, both male and female. Maybe here the erotic element is more intense so its less humorous, I am not sure. I suppose it will satisfy those who like Pasolini's humour like, say, IL DECAMERON.

The copy I saw had awful dubbing - Italian language- maybe it's bad sychronisation, or something else...

As far as I am concerned it is worth it alone for this special, absurd, perverted, surrealistic last scene, taking place in hell. It rulez! Some others scenes are awesome too! And of course there'e Pasolini evident dislike of church/religious dogmas.

If you're not easily offended and like old films, specially European ones, give it a try, IL DECAMERON as well.