True to its literary inspiration, the film follows a group of noblemen, knights, maidens, and a priest traveling through the English countryside toward Canterbury. To pass the time during their nightly rests, they engage in a spirited game, competing to tell the most erotic story for a prize of gold coins.
The Ribald Tales of Canterbury stands out for its ambition. It was a big-budget costume epic, one of the last X-rated films shot on glorious 35mm for a theatrical release. Unlike the gritty productions of its era, it was lauded as a "well-made, lavishly produced" film. With its playful tone, catchy theme song, and engaging "story within a story" structure, it was nominated for three AVN Awards (the "Oscars of adult entertainment"), winning one, solidifying its place as a classic.
The "Classic Updated" edition offers three major improvements:
No discussion of this "updated" classic would be complete without mentioning its companion piece. "The Ribald Tales of Canterbury" was shot back-to-back with another Hyapatia Lee film, the contemporary-set comedy (1985). Vinegar Syndrome released the two films as a double feature, and they complement each other perfectly.
For years, The Ribald Tales of Canterbury existed primarily on degraded VHS tapes, traded among cult cinema enthusiasts and animation historians who appreciated its bold, uncompromising style. Anatomy of the Classic Segments
A password will be e-mailed to you