The Ribald Tales Of Canterbury 1985 Classic Updated _best_ Jun 2026

Video interviews with cast and crew discussing the 80s theatrical hardcore era.

For fans of retro cinema, cult film historians, and those interested in the history of adult film, the updated 1985 Ribald Tales of Canterbury is a fascinating, artistic, and entertaining watch.

The quirky, synth-heavy musical score is polished, allowing viewers to appreciate the charming, often unexpected soundtrack. 3. Why It’s Still Relevant (and Still Ribald)

The absolute centerpiece of the anthology. The classic love triangle between Nicholas, Alison, and Absolon was reimagined with dynamic, cartoonish physics. The infamous "misdirected kiss" and the subsequent branding irons were timed like a high-stakes, adult version of classic theatrical farce. The Reeve's Tale the ribald tales of canterbury 1985 classic updated

While Pier Paolo Pasolini’s famous 1972 adaptation of The Canterbury Tales leaned into gritty, muddy, and hyper-realistic medieval dirt, the 1985 version opts for stylized theatricality. The costumes are a hybrid of stylized period garb and 1980s hair and makeup. The lighting strips away the gloom of the Dark Ages in favor of bright, soft-focus cinematography typical of the decade's erotic comedies. 2. Streamlining the Narrative

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The film cleverly used San Francisco locations to double for the English countryside (the trailer’s claim it was shot in Scotland was a publicity stunt). For its interior sets, the production was able to rent authentic medieval costumes from Universal Studios, including what looks to be a Henry VIII costume. This gives the film a lush, surprisingly authentic feel that elevates it beyond the typical "costume porn" affair. Video interviews with cast and crew discussing the

It is frequently packaged with Tasty (1985) , another Bud Lee film shot back-to-back with Ribald Tales , which follows a struggling DJ who "sexes up" her radio station's ratings.

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: Hyapatia Lee acts as the host who bookends the film, appearing both as the narrator and within the historical fantasies themselves. The infamous "misdirected kiss" and the subsequent branding

Directed by Bud Lee (who had a storied career in both mainstream cinematography and adult film), the 1985 version of The Ribald Tales of Canterbury was never meant to be a faithful translation of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales . Instead, it used the pilgrimage framework as a clothesline upon which to hang a series of increasingly absurd, sexually-charged, and surprisingly witty vignettes.

Crucially, the film was originally released in two cuts: an explicit hardcore version and a softcore cable TV edit titled . The modern restoration includes the uncut, hardcore version.

Released in 1985, The Ribald Tales of Canterbury is an adult film that attempts an ambitious fusion of 14th-century masterpiece, The Canterbury Tales , and the booming pornographic film industry of the 1980s.

Where to watch: Available on Blu-ray via Severin Films and streaming on Arrow Player as of September 2025.