The Canterbury Tales
Seen it?1972 | 111 min | Comedy, History, Drama
Weeknight WatchWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With a lukewarm 6.1 out of 10 from audiences, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and history buffs. If you loved The War of the Roses, start here.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 51 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated NC-17: expect sex.
- It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1972: an older pace and style.
Glimpses of Chaucer penning his famous work are sprinkled through this re-enactment of several of his stories.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsSolid
60% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesBelow par
6.1 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Won 1 Berlin award: Golden Bear.
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 75K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Hugh GriffithSir January
- Laura BettiThe Wife from Bath
- Ninetto DavoliPerkin
- Franco CittiDevil
- Josephine ChaplinMay
- Alan WebbOld Man
- Pier Paolo PasoliniGeoffrey Chaucer
- Vernon DobtcheffThe Franklin
- Jenny RunacreAlison
- Adrian StreetFighter