James

A Canterbury Tale is the only film I've seen that successfully aspires to the quality of a dream. The love for, and depiction of, a way of life that was vanishing at the time the film was made is simply unsurpassed by any British film before or since. The tragedy is that we have descended from these heights to a situation where Lock, Stock etc. can be hailed as a great film. Even if someone made a film like A.C.T today it would be lucky to be shown. Every critic, director and distributor should be shown this film and told only one word, "Learn".

Nettles

Another favourite of mine.

I am lucky enough to live in the area where this film was made - Michael Powell was from Kent and his obvious love of the area shines through.

It's fascinating to see the effects of the war on the city of Canterbury itself compared to what it is like now - the rebuilding of the city after the war was hardly an improvement and only in the past 15 years have any genuine improvements been made.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability

Steve Crook

To quote from the film:
:)

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Steve Crook

I quite agree James. But it is odd that it wasn't all that well received at the time (1944/5). People didn't understand the message. But since then it's become one of their most popular films (along with The Red Shoes, A Matter of Life and Death, I Know Where I'm Going, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp).

When we showed it in Canterbury at 10am on a Tuesday morning in October 2000, over 300 people turned up to see it. Not at all bad for a 46 year old film. Maybe it was helped because Sheila Sim (Lady Attenborough) and John Sweet were also there. See http://www.Powell-Pressburger.org/Trips/Ca...erbury/20001010

Next year will be the 60th anniversary of its release. We hope to do something special to commemorate that.

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Nettles

I hope so!

I saw it at the Empire Cinema in Sandwich a few years ago as part of the Kent Film Festival - the cinema was packed out.

I would dearly love to see it on a big screen again.

Edited to say - I have just had a look at your pics taken at the last event - I used to work with John Clark at the Post Office in Canterbury (actually I still do - he's retired). Small world.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability

Steve Crook

There was an article in the Kentish Gazette (Sept 4th) about this year's ACT location tour on 31/8/03. More than 50 people turned up for it!

I'm still gradually gathering the photos and reports together for the web site.

John Clark had a nice time, telling people all about the filming of the scene in the woodyard (he's the boy sitting on the wall) and filming in Canterbury itself (he & his Mum were in the crowd scenes).

Steve Crook

PaPAS

David K.

When I was asked for my favourite film on signing up to BritMovie, I had little hesitation in putting down 'A Canterbury Tale'. I tend to favour comedies, and I've certainly got a lot of time for 'Oh, Mr. Porter', 'The Green Man' and (more recently) 'Without A Clue', amongst others - but 'A Centerbury Tale' is just on a different level, not only a very sophisticated film, which deftly winds so many different themes together (of which the basic plot is probably the least significant!)but also a truly BEAUTIFUL film - not least the final scenes when the caracters each find themselves in Canterbury Cathedral, for instance, when the American Bob Johnson stands in the magificance of the gothic cathedral and quietly says to himself "And my Dad's Pa built the first Baptist Church in Johnson County. Oregon Red Cedar. Cedar shingles. 1887. Well that was a good job too." Mind you, much of the 'cathedral' was actually a set - and itself another 'good job'.

Steve Crook

As this year it will be 60 years since the world premiere (at Friars Cinema, now the Marlowe Theatre) there will be a few celebrations of the film in Canterbury this year.

Our annual location walk & pilgrimage will probably be in Fordwich this year. See the Town Hall and various other locations. Sunday August 29th. PaPAS web site

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Nettles

It's in my diary!

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability

Jim

JUST READ THE ITEMS ON "A CANTERBURY TALE".

I'VE JUST BOUGHT IT FROM 'SENDIT' FOR LESS THAN A FIVER!

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A BARGAIN!!!!

THIS 'WEBBY' IS TRULY TERRIFIC!

Good morning boys.

filmfan456

I agree entirely with James re making the film- makers watch and learn from A C T and would even go so far as to give them the 'treatment' poor old Malcolm McDowell received in Clockwork Orange.
Well it would benefit all lovers of wonderful British films.

Steve Crook

Yes, any screenwriter can learn a lot from Emeric Pressburger's scripts. They are beautifully crafted.

In 1947 Emeric met the head of the script department at Paramount who told him that they used I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) as an example of the perfect screenplay which was shown to any writers stuck for inspiration or who needed a lesson in screen writing.

That may well have been the case in 1947 but I think they stopped that habit long ago.

Emeric once said that most writers are lucky if 50% of their original story finishes up on the screen - much less if they aren't involved in the scriptwriting. one of the reasons he loved working with Powell was that much more of the final film was the story as he originally wrote it.

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

Clinton Morgan

There's a lovely movie reference in 'A Canterbury Tale' when Eric Portman says, "...only to play,' I Kiss Your Little Hand Madam'." This of course refers to the scene in the plane in 'One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing' in which Eric was a cast member. Watch carefully, you notice Eric about to break into a knowing smile when he says that line in 'A Canterbury Tale'.
To watch 'The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp' after '49th Parallel' is to experience quite a delightful shock. To watch 'A Canterbury Tale' after 'Blimp' is "my goodness, what will they come up with next?" despite the fact (if you're a P&P fan, I can never call them The Archers as it conjours up images of Radio 4 at 7pm) you full no well the answer is 'A Matter of Life and Death'.

Jim

Whilst we are on the subject of Kent, Canterbury, etc., will someone explain the difference between a Kentish Man and a Man from Kent. I was told some years ago, but I have now forgotten!

Ta.

Good morning boys.

Fellwanderer

Depends which side of the Medway one is born on. A "Kentish Man" is born to the west, a "Man of Kent" to the east. I was bo rn in a nursing home [long since closed] very close to the Medway but have no idea which side!

FELL