While World War II rages, an American G.I. and three Britons find themselves en route to the hallowed cathedral on the same Pilgrims' way taken by travelers some 600 years before... more...and reported in Chaucer's epic poem.
This compelling drama by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger ('A Matter Of Life And ... more
Death', 'The Red Shoes') is now acknowledged as one of their finest films.Their reworking of one of the tales from Chaucer's 14th century epic, largely set in wartime...
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: First rate entertainment Disadvantages: Not a single one!
Canterbury really come to life, especially through the medium of this DVD.
The characters are in turns venal, crass, rude, diplomatic, churlish, bombastic, chivalrous, angry and friendly as they each tell their own tales on the long trek that made up the pilgrimage. And they are all vividly and sharply drawn. From life, or so it seems. We both seemed to recognise the characters in people that we know or knew at one time or another.
The vocal talents are provided by the crème de la crème of British acting of stage, cinema screen and television. Sean Bean, Richard Griffiths, Robert Lindsay, Tim McInnery, Bill Nighy, Bob Peck, Liz Smith and Imelda Staunton all feature on this superlative DVD.
The tales shown on the DVD are: The Squire's tale, the Cannon's Servant's tale, the Miller's tale, The Reeve's tale, The Nun's Priest's tale ...
Advantages: A true classic of the English language Disadvantages: In Middle English without translation, it can be difficult to read
In Chaucer's work, 'The CanterburyTales', perhaps the greatest of English literary works from the period of the language known as Middle English, there is one particular piece that have always stood out for me.
'A Clerk ther was of Oxenford also,'
This is perhaps my favourite character, as when I first read it, it seemed to epitomise what I hoped for in my own life.
'That unto logik hadde longe y-go.
....
For him was lever have at his beddes heed
Twenty bokes, clad in blak or reed,
Of Aristotle and his philosophye,
Than robes riche, of fithele, or gay sautrye,
But al be that he was a philosophre,
Yet hadde he but litel gold in cofre,
But al that he mighte of his freendes hente,
On bokes and on lerninge he it spente,
and bisily gan for the soules preye
Of hem that yaf him wherwith to scoleye.
....
...gladly wolde ...
Advantages: "Between a jest and a joke? Disadvantages: ? many a truth can be told."
The CanterburyTales (1972)
►►►main menu◄◄◄
1. Play film
2. Select chapter
3. Also available: other films by the same director that are available on DVD.
4. Director?s biography
5. Weblink: www.bfi.org.uk
►►►language◄◄◄
Italian with English subtitles. Did I mention that before? The Italian language is CHARMING!
►►►running time◄◄◄
107 minutes.
►►►chapter division◄◄◄
1. credits
2. prologue
3. the merchant?s tale
4. the friar?s tale
5. the cook?s tale
6. the miller?s tale
7. the wife of bath
8. the reeve?s tale
9. the pardoner?s tale
10. the summoner?s tale
11. epilogue
►►►story AND notes◄◄◄
It is easier to follow ...
While World War II rages, an American G.I. and three Britons find themselves en route to the hallowed cathedral on the same Pilgrims' way taken by travelers some 600 years before and reported in Chaucer's epic poem.
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