A Knight's Tale (2001)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Brian Helgeland

Writer (WGA):

Brian Helgeland (written by)

Release Date:

11 May 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

From peasant to knight; one man can change his stars

Plot:

After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.

Plot Keywords:

Knight | Tournament | Chaucer | Jousting | Peasant

Awards:

4 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Heath Ledger	...	William
Rufus Sewell	...	Count Adhemar
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Jocelyn
Paul Bettany	...	Chaucer
Laura Fraser	...	Kate
Mark Addy	...	Roland
Alan Tudyk	...	Wat
Bérénice Bejo	...	Christiana (as Berenice Bejo)
Scott Handy	...	Germaine
James Purefoy	...	Colville
Leagh Conwell	...	Young William
Christopher Cazenove	...	John Thatcher
Steven O'Donnell	...	Simon the Summoner (as Steve O'Donnell)
Jonathan Slinger	...	Peter the Pardoner
Nick Brimble	...	Sir Ector
Karel Dobry	...	Flanders King of Arms
Philip Lenkowsky	...	Rouen King of Arms
Roger Ashton-Griffiths	...	Old Bishop
Petr Meissel	...	Sword Official
Matthew Mills	...	Colville's Herald (as Mathew Mills)
Daniel Rous	...	Local Earl Lagny
Vladimir Kulhavy	...	Fence
Miroslav Mokos	...	French Squire
Noel le Bon	...	French Squire (as Noel Le Bon)
Scott Bellefeville	...	French Squire (as Scott Bellefeuille)
David Schneider	...	Relic Seller
Rudolf Kubík	...	Paris Master of Arms (as Rudolf Kubik)
David Fisher	...	London King of Arms
David Sterne	...	Retired Knight
Alice Connor	...	Lone Girl
Alice Veselá	...	Spy (as Alice Vesela)
Berwick Kaler	...	Man in Stocks
Howie Lotker	...	Lagny Master at Arms
Jan Kuzelka	...	Smithee
Václav Krejcí	...	Smithee (as Vaclav Krejci)
Jan Nemejovsky	...	Smithee
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jakob Schwarz	...	Blackbird Knight (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian Helgeland

Writing credits (WGA)
Brian Helgeland		(written by)

Produced by
Todd Black	....	producer
Brian Helgeland	....	producer
Tim Van Rellim	....	producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Richard Greatrex		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kevin Stitt

Casting by
Francine Maisler

Production Design by
Tony Burrough

Art Direction by
John Hill
Grant Armstrong		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Dominic Smithers
Jiri Zucek

Costume Design by
Caroline Harris

Makeup Department
Ivana Chlostova	....	makeup artist
Fae Hammond	....	makeup supervisor
Julianna Mendes-Ebden	....	makeup artist
Pebbles	....	key hair stylist
Pebbles	....	key makeup artist
Jemma Scott-Knox-Gore	....	contact lens technician
Milan Vlcek	....	makeup artist
Eva Vytlelová	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph Boyle	....	production manager: second unit
Petr Moravec	....	production supervisor
Ondrej Slama	....	unit production manager
Daria Spackova	....	unit production manager: second unit
Petr Splichal	....	unit manager
Gerry Toomey	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Booker	....	second assistant director
David Carrigan	....	first assistant director: second unit
Petr Drozda	....	second second assistant director
Allan Graf	....	second unit director
Oldrich Mach	....	first assistant director: second unit
Petr Nemecek	....	second assistant director: second unit
Jeremy Oakley	....	second second assistant director
Jez Oakley	....	assistant director
Jirí Ostry	....	first assistant director
Frantisek Rezek	....	second assistant director
Guy Travers	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Corina Burrough	....	production buyer
Noel Cowell	....	property master
Tomas Hais	....	set dresser
Pavel Hemmy	....	property master
Klara Holubova	....	assistant property master
Mark Kebby	....	set designer
Tomas Lehovec	....	stand-by props
Dan Michl	....	props
Stefan Mily	....	set dresser
Sam Stokes	....	on-set art director
Dan Sweetman	....	storyboard artist
Pavel Tatar	....	draftsman
Jan Vohlídal	....	set designer (as Jan Vohlidal)
Václav Vohlídal	....	set designer (as Vaclav Vohlidal)

Sound Department
Bill W. Benton	....	re-recording mixer
Keith Bilderbeck	....	sound effects editor
Lane Burch	....	foley mixer
Tomas Cervenka	....	boom operator
Linda Di Franco	....	foley editor
Laura Graham	....	adr editor
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	re-recording mixer
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Devon Heffley Curry	....	adr editor (as Devon Curry)
Mark Holding	....	production sound mixer
Drake Jenevein	....	assistant sound editor
Brian W. Jennings	....	assistant sound editor
Jon Johnson	....	supervising sound editor
Brad Kanfer	....	apprentice sound editor
Val Kuklowsky	....	adr editor
Val Kuklowsky	....	sound effects editor
Sean Landeros	....	sound recordist
Charles Maynes	....	sound effects designer
Charles Maynes	....	sound effects editor
Miguel Rivera	....	foley editor
Jan Skala	....	cable person
Bruce Stubblefield	....	adr supervisor
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Tracy Bolt	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
William Jacobs	....	foley supervisor (uncredited)
Howard London	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Terry Glass	....	special effects coordinator
Dana H. Suddath	....	special effects coordinator
Jirí Vater	....	special effects technician
Paul Whybrow	....	special effects supervisor: second unit
Mark Meddings	....	special effects foreman (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Marilyn Anderson	....	technical assistant manager
Nicholas Atkinson	....	visual effects editor
Mark Bakowski	....	digital compositor
Lloyd Lee Barnett	....	digital compositor
Philip Borg	....	digital artist
Dawn Bowery	....	digital compositor
Tim Burke	....	visual effects supervisor
Angus Cameron	....	digital effects supervisor: Millfilm, Shepperton
Virginie Degorgue	....	model maker
Rob Delicata	....	producer: model unit
Dave Early	....	digital matte painter (as David Early)
Paul Edwards	....	visual effects producer: Mill Film
Lillan Gahlin	....	digital compositor: Mill Film
José Granell	....	model unit supervisor
Charley Henley	....	digital artist
Adam Howarth	....	model construction manager
Antony Hunt	....	visual effects executive producer: Mill Film
Michael Illingworth	....	digital compositor
Derek Ledbetter	....	visual effects
Paul Oakley	....	technical assistant
Simon Payne	....	digital artist
Chris Shaw	....	motion control CGI interface
Nigel Stone	....	director of photography: model unit
Kitty Veevers	....	digital compositor
Damien Cheetham	....	post production engineer: Mill Film (uncredited)
Joey Harris	....	technical assistant (uncredited)
Craig Rowe	....	technical assistant: MillFilm (uncredited)

Stunts
Patrice Cossoneau	....	stunts
Antonin Dave	....	stunts
Thomas DuPont	....	stunts
Cedric Gary	....	stunts
Allan Graf	....	stunt coordinator
Michal Grün	....	stunts (as Michael Grun)
Jiri Horky	....	stunt rigger
Martin Hub	....	stunt coordinator: Czech Republic
Dusan Hyska	....	stunt rigger
Roman Jankovic	....	stunt double
Roman Jankovic	....	stunts
Filip Kadlec	....	stunts
Jindrich Klaus	....	stunt rigger
Ales Kosnar	....	stunts (as Ales Krosnar)
Miroslav Lhotka	....	stunt performer
Michael Sandala	....	stunts
Dennis Scott	....	stunts (as Dennis R. Scott)
Mike Watson	....	stunts
Paul Weston	....	sword fight choreographer
Webster Whinery	....	stunts
Pavel Cajzl	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Dimo Liptkovsky	....	stunts (uncredited)
Gareth Milne	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Jan Petrina	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Weston	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Pete White	....	horse stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Nick Wilkinson	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jim Alloway	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Jim Allaway)
Andy Arnautov	....	chief lighting technician (as Ondrej Arnautov)
Radek Beran	....	video assistant
Jeremy Braben	....	aerial director of photography
Václav Cermak	....	electrician
Karel Charvat	....	grip
Ken Coles	....	camera operator: second unit
Pavel Dostal	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Vladimir Duben	....	Steadicam assistant
Egon Endrényi	....	still photographer (as Egon Endrenyi)
Simon Finney	....	first assistant camera
Klaus Fuxjäger	....	camera operator: second unit (as Klaus Fuxjager)
Jiri Gazda	....	key grip: Czech Republic
Jiri Gazda	....	second grip
Kenny Groom	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Richard Havlicek	....	key grip: second unit
Dai Hopkins	....	key grip
Jiri Horych	....	electrician
Lukas Jaromersky	....	rigging electrician
Igor Jelen	....	electrician
Jaroslav Jiricek	....	assistant chief lighting technician: second unit
Vaclav Kares	....	camera loader: second unit
Borivoj Klecka	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Borek Klecka)
Filip Majer	....	camera loader
David Mamula	....	video assistant: second unit
Antonin Marik	....	first assistant camera
Rod Marley	....	second assistant camera
Sebastian Meuschel	....	Steadicam operator
Zdenek Mrkvicka	....	assistant camera
Mike Proudfoot	....	camera operator
Ervin Sanders	....	director of photography: second unit (as Erven Sanders)
Jamie Sewell	....	additional director of photography
Keith Sewell	....	Steadicam operator: second unit
Gary Spratling	....	additional camera operator: second unit
Nick Stewart	....	camera trainee: second unit
Neil Toussaint	....	focus puller: second unit
Jiri Trousil	....	key grip: second unit
Petr Vladyka	....	video assist operator: second unit
Oliver Ward	....	camera technician: Wescam camera
Kamil Zvonicek	....	chief lighting technician: second unit

Casting Department
Jessica Horáthová	....	casting: Czech Republic (as Jessica Horvathova)
Peter Kalin	....	associate casting: in-house
Josef Loucim	....	extras casting
Gilly Poole	....	casting: U.K.
Nancy Safran	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Angela Anzimani	....	workshop tailor
Tim Aslam	....	assistant wardrobe supervisor
Alma Barbieri	....	workshop tailor
Simon Brindle	....	special costumes
Katherine Burchill	....	assistant costume designer
Corina Burrough	....	equine dresser
Georgina Gunner	....	wardrobe mistress
Tereza Horakova	....	interpreter: wardrobe department
Alice Kheilova	....	costume interpreter
Marco Magno	....	wardrobe assistant
Marco Scotti	....	wardrobe supervisor
Iveta Trmalova	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Steven A. Calabro	....	assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer (as Denny McNeill)
Peter McNulty	....	first assistant editor
Andrea Pugner	....	assistant editor
Eric Rigney	....	avid technician

Music Department
Robb Boyd	....	assistant music editor
Michael Farrow	....	score mixer
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator
Dean Parker	....	music assistant
Adam Milo Smalley	....	music editor
David Torn	....	musician: guitar soloist

Transportation Department
Silvie Janculová	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Stanley Brossette	....	unit publicist
Tami Cassell	....	adr loop group
Karolina Cerna	....	accounting assistant
Hana Duplinska	....	assistant: Mr. Helgeland
Boban Dvorak	....	assistant to director: second unit
Daniel S. Frisch	....	production accountant
Romana Hajkova	....	assistant horse master (as Romana Havkova)
Caroline Harris	....	armor designer
Stuart Hopps	....	choreographer
Veronika Horka	....	production coordinator
Peter Hric	....	horse master (as Andy Hric)
Lance Johnson	....	office intern
Lenka Kadlecova	....	production secretary
Samantha Knox-Johnston	....	travel coordinator
Jiri Krejcir	....	location manager
Tina Marie Montoya	....	assistant: Mr. Van Rellim
Pavel Myslik	....	assistant horse master
Anneliese O'Callaghan	....	production coordinator
Jan Rehanzl	....	set production assistant
Kathy Rowe	....	assistant: Mr. Black
Burton Sharp	....	adr group coordinator
Katerina Silna	....	assistant production coordinator
Laura Summer	....	adr voice group
Jiri Tichacek	....	assistant accountant
David Torn	....	solo guitar & textures
Vittorio Torrieri	....	workshop tailor
Vera Trousilová	....	payroll accountant: Czech Republic
John Uribe	....	first assistant accountant
Peter White	....	horse master
Beverly Winston	....	script supervisor
Pamela Clay	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Yasmine El-Ghamrawy	....	technical assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Black and Blu Entertainment
• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Escape Artists
• Finestkind

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (2001) (Russia) (theatrical) (????)
• Columbia TriStar Egmont Film Distributors (2001) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2001) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Italia (2001) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)
• DVD Service (200?) (Russia) (DVD)
• Egmont Entertainment (????) (Finland) (DVD) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (200?) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Nelonen (2004) (Finland) (TV)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (special edition)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (extended cut)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Talpa (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Special Effects

• Flash Barrandov (special thanks) (as Flash Barrandov Special Effects)
• Mill Films (I) (special visual effects)
• Visual Effects Company, The (as "The Mill Motion Control") (motion control)

Other Companies

• AFM Lighting  lighting rental facility
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  special thanks
• Arva Filmproduction  set construction (special thanks)
• Body, The  special thanks
• Columbia Records  soundtrack published by
• ETIC Films  production services: Czech Republic
• FGV Schmidle GmbH  camera equipment (special thanks)
• Global Music Service  music copyist
• Helicopter Film Services  aerial filming services provided by
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack published by
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound services

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for action violence, some nudity and brief sex-related dialogue.

Runtime:

132 min | 144 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | USA:Unrated (extended version) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37532) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:14 | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Barrandov Studios, Krizeneckeho namesti, Prague, Czech Republic

Company:

Black and Blu Entertainment

Trivia:

When first introducing Sir Ulrich at the joust we hear Chaucer (Bettany) make a point of including the lower classes attending the tournament by saying "And everyone else here not sitting on a cushion". This is a reference to The Beatles' Royal Commend performance in 1963 when John Lennon introduced the last song by saying "The people in the cheaper seats clap your hands. And the rest of you, if you'd just rattle your jewelry".

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When taunting the French in the tavern, Wat calls one "Quasimodo." While one might assume this to be a reference to the main character of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, published some 500 years after the story takes place, the character's name came from the first words of the introit of Quasimodo Sunday (the first Sunday after Easter): "Quasi modo geniti infantes" (in the way of newborn infants). It's likely Wat was referring to this when he made his insult.

Quotes:

[first lines]
William: Should we help him?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in (T)Raumschiff Surprise - Periode 1 (2004)

Soundtrack:

We Will Rock You

The one truly satisfying film of 2001

In the year of the lackluster blockbuster (ie Pearl Harbor) and horribly disappointing hype-fests (ie Planet of the Apes) Brian Helgeland's "A Knight's Tale" shines bright. What makes the film so amazing is that the story isn't particularly fresh, the lead characters aren't particularly original, and the "special effects" aren't particularly special, yet Helgeland delivers a romping action comedy that delivers on all fronts. This is fusion-theater at it's best. The audience is believeably transported to the 14th century despite myriad references to the modern world. We're assaulted by the action and drama, yet cradled by the humor and emotion. Most importantly, at no point in the film are we brought back to reality; the characters are that charming and believeable. Even the villain has certain endearing qualities. Not enough that we don't still want to see him kicked swiftly in the groin, but we aren't totally put off by him, either. Think Travolta in Swordfish, or Pacino in Scarface. The men we love to hate.

It's difficult to lay a finger on what most gives this film its weight. I'm tempted to say it's the cast, because it's a collection of relative unknowns who manage to take their characters and completely make them their own. Bettany's Chaucer is wickedly impressive, Tudyk's Wat is a scream, Addy's Roland is almost squeezable, and Sewell's Adhemar is completely vile. The only "star" in the film is the little-known Heath Ledger, who brings a time-worn character to the screen with some kind of fresh perspective that has us cheering from the moment we're introduced to him. There are no Travoltas or Pacinos, and amazingly enough this film is all the better for it.

Throughout the screenplay Brian Helgeland, who not only directed but wrote and produced, gives us humor, sentiment and adrenaline in just the right measure. The lead characters really aren't new, but they are somehow fresh. And the supporting characters, while assembled according to formula, aren't formulaic in any way. Their emotion, approach and sensibilities are quite unique. Even the most predictable minor character (Edward the Black Prince) is oddly touching and powerful, despite the fact we know exactly what we're going to get with him.

The music is vibrant, and its usage is terribly original. The cinematography is at times lacking (the lighting is off quite badly at points, as the "Stocks" outtake presented on the DVD will make clear), but even my jaundiced and jaded eye honestly didn't notice until the third viewing of the film. Honestly, I was too riveted to pick up on it. I was IN the 14th century. What did I know from lighting?

Costuming is first-rate, the dialogue is precious, and though some of the humor is forced, by the time we get to those parts we're already too entranced by the rolicking good nature of the film to even care.

In short, this is a low-budget, minimal star-power action adventure comedy romance that borrows all the best elements of The Three Musketeers (BOTH major versions), The Karate Kid (of which I am much reminded) and An Officer and a Gentleman. It is quite a feat. The highest mark of respect I can give a film is to actually purchase it (it goes against my grain to own a movie when there's a Blockbuster on every corner), but I had "A Knight's Tale" in my collection the day it was released...and this after having paid to see it three times in the theater!

Yes, it's been a disappointing year for Hollywood. But "A Knight's Tale" proves that all is not lost. Rent it, buy it or steal it, but SEE it!