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Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the most beloved of all British films, A Canterbury Tale marks yet another occasion to celebrate the Criterion Collection's growing DVD legacy of Powell and Pressburger classics. Originally conceived as good-natured propaganda to support the British-American alliance of World War II, the film became something truly special in the hands of the Archers (a.k.a. writer/director/producers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger). Taking its literary cues from Chaucer's titular classic, it begins with a prologue that harkens back to Chaucer's time before match-cutting to present-day August of 1943, with the night-time arrival of U.S. Army Sgt. Bob Johnson (played with folksy charm by John Sweet, an actual American GI) on the shadowy platform of Canterbury station in the magically rural county of Kent (where Powell was born and raised). He is soon joined by two fellow train passengers: Alison Smith (Sheila Sim), a brashly independent recruit in the British Woman's Land Army; and Peter Gibbs (Dennis Price), a sergeant in the royal Army, and before long they're tracking clues to find "the glue man", a mysterious figure who's been pouring "the sticky stuff" on unsuspecting women as the midnight hour approaches. Their investigation leads to Thomas Colpeper (Eric Portman), a village squire whose local slide-shows celebrate life in an idyllic rural England threatened by wartime change. As Graham Fuller writes in an observant mini-essay that accompanies this DVD, is this a whodunit? Historical documentary? War film? Rustic comedy? It's all these and so much more: As photographed in glorious black and white by Erwin Hiller (faithfully preserved by one of Criterion's finest high-definition digital transfers), A Canterbury Tale has an elusive, magical quality that encompasses its trio of Canterbury "pilgrims" and translates into a an elusive, spiritually uplifting sense of elation that has made it an all-time favorite among film lovers around the world. --Jeff Shannon
DVD Description
A Canterbury Tale is a compelling drama set amidst the backdrop of World War Two Britain. Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger ("A Matter of Life and Death"; "The Red Shoes"), it has been acknowledged as one of the duo's finest films. Their reworking of Chaucer's epic fourteenth century tale--largely set in Kent--revolves around an American army sergeant, a British soldier and a land girl who, before making a modern-day pilgrimage to Canterbury, solve the bizarre mystery of a man who pours glue over the hair of village girls at night.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I had the extreme luck of watching this film for the first time at a special showing in Canterbury itself. I found it compelling and wonderful. It is British in the same sense as 'Brief Encounter'. Both of them capture the nuances of midcentury England. This film focuses on the beauty of the dwindling countryside, evoking wonderfully a way of life that was disappearing even then. The director, Michael Powell, came from Canterbury, and it shows. This film is clearly a labour of love. It even understands the magic of Canterbury cathedral, with each of the main characters setting out on a pilgrimage of their own, to have a boon granted or do penance. Even though it is in black and white, it is a film filled with sunshine. I recommend it to anyone who feels nostalgia for the past, even a past they never experienced.
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of my all time favourite movies, it has a wonderful nostalgic feel for England before the 2nd World War, and an eerie timeless quality as you imagine all the lives played out through the ages on the Pilgrims Way which leads into Canterbury. The theme of the Glue Man who pours glue on girls' hair is just a part of it, the real theme is peoples lives then and how they lived through the war. As I was brought up 7 miles from Canterbury it is also an interesting historical document as you get to see what it was like right after the bombing - something you cannot imagine until you see just how much of the city was left as piles of rubble. A classic bit of British life circa 1930s if you like old b&w "brief encounter" type movies you will love this one. The photography is lovely and shows English countryside in its heyday. The plot is about three young people whose lives are changed after an eventful weekend in the East Kent countryside and arrive in Canterbury on the day a local regiment embarks for the Second Front. This is intercut with the pilgrims travelling to Canterbury in the Middle Ages. Trust me, it works! This film is just a lovely modest little treasure everyone should see - I highly recommend "A Matter of Life and Death" by Michael Powell too, which stars David Niven and is, again, set in the Second World War.
63 of 66 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is the most effective account of what it is like to be English within the encroaching tide of American popular culture.
That it was made when it was makes it truly prophetic.
It's blissfully hard to categorise. It is sentimental, it does have comedy but there is an underlying menace - a malevolent incongruity that seems to hallmark director Powell's best work. The whole notion of a midnight prowler deliberately pasting glue into women's hair is a good example of this kind of alternate reality. There is a specific scene where a many hands are vigorously washing the hair which seems disturbingly loaded with sadism.
Yet the subject (and the reason for buying) is history - what in the middle of WWII can be realistically retained. What has to give way? So we see the cocky GI find an affinity with an English carpenter, a cynical cinema pianist collaborating with a cathedral organist and a middle aged magistrate judged and sentenced by one of his own victims.
It's beautifully photographed, particularly the scenes of rural life yet contains a strangely powerful message for this generation, faced with the cultural narrowing of globalisation of the arts.
Not a Multiplex fave...but you should see it for just this reason.
Recommended unreservedly.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
It is a feel good film filled with hope and resolution.
(THE FILM)
This compelling drama by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (A Matter of Life and Death, The Red Shoes) is now acknowledged as one of their finest films. Read more
This compelling drama by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (A Matter of Life and Death, The Red Shoes) is now acknowledged as one of their finest films. Read more
Published 27 days ago by S. F. husseiny
You may want to watch this more than once
I got this to see the Canterbury I remember from holidays in the 1950's - all bomb sites and overgrown rubble. It is actually quite good. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lawrence Maunder
Another World
This seemed very dated and, even for those days, a romanticised view - I saw it first time round! Good though for a wet afternoon's viewing. Read more
Published 4 months ago by G. D. Williams
Canterbury tales
A load of rubbish badly made English film and it si so boring,I took it off after 20 minutes.
do not buy this film its not worth watching even on a wet day
do not buy this film its not worth watching even on a wet day
Published 4 months ago by K. Bruce
THE BAEDEKER BLITZ
This is a Powell and Pressburger classic. Made in 1944, it is set in Kent and partly in Canterbury. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Stephen Cooper
Timewarp
A delightful old film which is very much a film of its time.(Wartime.) At first it seemed to be a simple tale with not much to it, that is until I began to read up a little about... Read more
Published 6 months ago by K. Slater
Town vs Country - the Archers Way
A Canterbury Tale is another film gem from the most inventive of all British filmmakers, the Archers (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger). Read more
Published 6 months ago by Keith M
A Powell and Pressburger gem
During the Second World War, there were two forces competing for the hearts and minds of the British people, in seeking to motivate them to fight for victory against the Nazi... Read more
Published 6 months ago by R. Wright
a modern canterbury Tale
A classic film, infact a form of morality tale, just like chaucer's own. Great views of East Kent and Canterbury in a bygone age. Definately worth owning.
Published 7 months ago by Stav
WAR TIME FILM BASED ON CANTERBURY AND CHILHAM IN KENT
A VERY INTERESTING FILM SHOWING WARTIME SCENES IN CANTERBURY AFTER THE BARDEKA RAID. TTHE SCENES IN CHILHAM ARE STILL RECOGNISABLE TO THIS DAY BUT ONLY THE CATHEDRAL IN CANTERBURY... Read more
Published 7 months ago by PETERM
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