I racconti di Canterbury (1972)

Director:

Pier Paolo Pasolini

Writers:

Geoffrey Chaucer (novel)
Pier Paolo Pasolini (writer)

Release Date:

30 May 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot Keywords:

Burned Alive | Quotation | Garden | Goat | Flagellation

Awards:

1 win

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Hugh Griffith	...	Sir January
Laura Betti	...	The Wife from Bath
Ninetto Davoli	...	Perkin
Franco Citti	...	The Devil
Josephine Chaplin	...	May
Alan Webb	...	Old Man
Pier Paolo Pasolini	...	Geoffrey Chaucer
J.P. Van Dyne	...	The Cook
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	The Franklin
Adrian Street	...	Fighter
O.T.	...	Chief Witch-Hunter
Derek Deadman	...	The Pardoner (as Derek Deadmin)
Nicholas Smith	...	Friar
George Bethell Datch	...	Host of the Tabard (as George B. Datch)
Dan Thomas	...	Nicholas

Also Known As:

Les contes de Canterbury (France)
The Canterbury Tales (USA)

Runtime:

Argentina:112 min | USA:109 min (cut) | Italy:112 min | West Germany:140 min (Berlin Film Festival) (premiere) | France:118 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian | English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM14 (re-rating) (1988) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | Finland:K-15 (cinema release) (1973) | Finland:K-18 (DVD rating) (2004) | UK:15 (video rating) (uncut) (2001) | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Norway:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) (cut) | USA:X (original rating) | West Germany:16 | USA:NC-17 (re-rating) (1991) | Ireland:18 | Spain:18

Filming Locations:

Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

Les Productions Artistes Associés

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wie de Waarheid Zegt Moet Dood (1981)

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.