Canterbury -1985- -classic- Exclusive — The Ribald Tales Of
Released in 1985, The Ribald Tales of Canterbury is considered a high-budget standout from the "Golden Age" of adult cinema, directed by Bud Lee and written by its lead star, Hyapatia Lee. Critics and viewers generally regard it as an above-average genre piece, praised for its production value but noted for being a loose, highly sexualized interpretation of Geoffrey Chaucer’s classic literature. Critical Highlights
Location Trickery: Although trailers at the time claimed the film was shot on location in Scotland, it was actually filmed in Northern California (Petaluma and San Francisco). The Ribald Tales Of Canterbury -1985- -Classic-
2. The Humor is Actually Funny Most adult films treat plot as a necessary annoyance. Ribald Tales treats the plot as the main event. One segment, a direct parody of The Miller’s Tale (the story of the carpenter, his young wife, and the clerk Absolon), plays out as pure farce. The infamous scene involving a “kiss” through a window—which in Chaucer involves a bare backside—is translated to screen with a slapstick timing that Buster Keaton would appreciate. The actors commit to the physical comedy before the physical intimacy, making the explicitness feel like the punchline to a very old joke. Released in 1985, The Ribald Tales of Canterbury
What sets "The Ribald Tales of Canterbury" apart from the standard fare of its era is its surprisingly high production value for the genre. One segment, a direct parody of The Miller’s
The 1985 Classic: A New Adaptation
The Ribald Tales of Canterbury (1985) is a classic of the "Golden Age" of adult cinema, known for its high production values and ambitious attempt to adapt Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th-century literary masterpiece into an erotic comedy . Directed by and written by star Hyapatia Lee
However, if you are looking for a classic artifact—a film that uses Chaucer’s centuries-old framework to explore the timeless human obsession with sex as a joke, a weapon, and a game—this is essential viewing.
