The Ribald Tales Of Canterbury 1985 Classic Updated May 2026

The Ribald Tales of Canterbury (1985) is an adult comedy-costume film and one of the last big-budget 35mm X-rated productions to receive a theatrical release

Literary Framework:

Loosely follows Chaucer's structure, where pilgrims traveling to Canterbury pass the time by telling bawdy, erotic stories. the ribald tales of canterbury 1985 classic updated

2. The Reeve’s Tale (The Revenge Epic)

The Verdict: Preserve the Spirit, Not the Stagnation

“A Miller’s Tale for the VHS Age”

– How screenwriter (and cult director) used Chaucer’s frame narrative as an excuse for slapstick nudity, fart jokes, and linguistic anachronisms (“Zounds! That’s thy third flagon, Bess!”). The Ribald Tales of Canterbury (1985) is an

Mirroring the frame narrative of Chaucer’s original, the film follows a group of noblemen and women journeying through the 15th-century English countryside toward Canterbury. To pass the time, they engage in a wagering game: each traveler puts 20 pence into a pot, with the entire sum going to the person who can tell the most provocative and "ribald" erotic story. That’s thy third flagon, Bess

(Hyapatia Lee) proposes a wager: each traveler places 20 pence in a pouch, and the one who tells the best erotic story wins the entire pot.

Key Stories

: Featured tales include the story of a cheating miller, a lady seeking to reclaim stolen land from a Lord through "feminine wiles," and a memorable finale involving a mother and daughter’s escapades. Cast & Performances