A Canterbury Tale (1944)

Directors:

Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Writers:

Michael Powell (written by) &
Emeric Pressburger (written by)

Release Date:

21 January 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | War

Tagline:

Four modern pilgrims in a story of today - yet away from war.

Plot:

A 'Land Girl', an American GI, and a British soldier find themselves together in a small Kent town on the road to Canterbury...

Plot Keywords:

Glue | England | Soldier | Magistrate | Village

Cast

Eric Portman	...	Thomas Colpeper, JP
Sheila Sim	...	Alison Smith
Dennis Price	...	Peter Gibbs
Sergeant John Sweet	...	Bob Johnson (as Sergt. John Sweet, U.S. Army)
Esmond Knight	...	Narrator (non-US versions) / Seven-Sisters Soldier / Village Idiot
Charles Hawtrey	...	Thomas Duckett
Hay Petrie	...	Woodcock
George Merritt	...	Ned Horton
Edward Rigby	...	Jim Horton
Freda Jackson	...	Prudence Honeywood
Betty Jardine	...	Fee Baker
Eliot Makeham	...	Organist
Harvey Golden	...	Sergt. Roczinsky
Leonard Smith	...	Leslie
James Tamsitt	...	Terry
David Todd	...	David
Beresford Egan	...	P.C. Ovenden
Anthony Holles	...	Sergt. Bassett (as Antony Holles)
Maude Lambert	...	Miss Grainger
Wallace Bosco	...	Man A.R.P. Worker (as Wally Bosco)
Charles Paton	...	Ernie Brooks
Jane Millican	...	Susanna Foster
John Slater	...	Sergt. Len
Michael Golden	...	Sergt. Smale
Graham Moffatt	...	Sergt. 'Stuffy'
Esma Cannon	...	Agnes
Mary Line	...	Leslie's Mother
Winifred Swaffer	...	Mrs. Horton
Michael Howard	...	Archie
Judith Furse	...	Dorothy Bird
Barbara Waring	...	Polly Finn
Jean Shepeard	...	Gwladys Swinton
Margaret Scudamore	...	Mrs. Colpeper
Joss Ambler	...	Police Inspector
Jessie James	...	Waitress
Kathleen Lucas	...	Passer-by
H.F. Maltby	...	Mr. Portal
Eric Maturin	...	Geoffrey's Father
Parry Jones Jr.	...	Arthur (as Parry Jones Jnr.)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kim Hunter	...	Johnson's Girl (US release)
Raymond Massey	...	Narrator (US version) (voice)
Baby Alder	...	Baby (uncredited)
David Babcock	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
W. Ballie	...	Pilgrim: The Friar (uncredited)
Mr. Bird	...	Pilgrim: The Shipman (uncredited)
Billy Bray	...	Pilgrim: Sergeant at Law (uncredited)
Derek V. Browne	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Les Brown	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Denis Bugden	...	Boy in river battle firing canon (uncredited)
Donald Bugden	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Mr. Carter	...	Peasant (uncredited)
John Clark	...	Boy on wall at blacksmiths (uncredited)
Bill Clover	...	Bystander at wheelwright's (uncredited)
George Curran	...	Bandmaster in Army parade entering Cathedral (uncredited)
Miss Dixon	...	Pilgrim: Second Nun (uncredited)
Mr. Dove	...	Peasant (uncredited)
Cliff Elvidge	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Roy Fisher	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Dean Fredericks	...	Bellringer at Church (uncredited)
T. Gilbert	...	Pilgrim: The Tapister (uncredited)
Mr. Gregory	...	Peasant (uncredited)
George Hall	...	Police Superintendent in Mayoral procession entering Cathedral (uncredited)
Mrs. Hendry	...	Peasant (uncredited)
Jim Holland	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Ben Horton	...	Bystander at wheelwright's (uncredited)
Eric Horton	...	Bystander at wheelwright's (in leather jacket) (uncredited)
Neville Horton	...	Bystander at wheelwright's (working the forge bellows) (uncredited)
A.W. Jennings	...	Pilgrim: Nun's Priest (uncredited)
G. Keeys	...	Peasant Girl (uncredited)
Dennis Kennett	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Dick Kerry	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
M. Kirby	...	Pilgrim: The Dyer (uncredited)
R. Kirby	...	Pilgrim: The Manciple (uncredited)
Mr. Klaiber	...	Peasant (uncredited)
Victor Large	...	Pilgrim: The Ploughman (uncredited)
Charles Lefèvre	...	Alderman in Mayoral procession entering Cathedral (uncredited)
J. Lomas	...	Pilgrim: The Monk (uncredited)
Miss Marr	...	Peasant (uncredited)
Mike Martin	...	Carpenter in wheelwright's workshop (uncredited)
Jack May	...	Pilgrim: The Cook (uncredited)
H. Michael	...	Pilgrim: The Pardoner (uncredited)
George Miller	...	Pilgrim: The Reeve (uncredited)
G. Moore	...	Peasant Girl (uncredited)
Link Neal	...	Pilgrim: The Franklyn (uncredited)
A. Noble	...	Pilgrim: The Miller (uncredited)
Reg Pattenden	...	Drum Major in Army parade entering Cathedral (uncredited)
H. Pearce	...	Pilgrim: The Summoner (uncredited)
Ralph Poole	...	Pedlar (uncredited)
C. Pucinelli	...	Pilgrim: Squire's Yeoman (uncredited)
Sid Pullman	...	Drummer boy and bugler in Army parade entering Cathedral (uncredited)
J. Purchase	...	Pilgrim: The Weaver (uncredited)
Mila Raymanova	...	Pilgrim: Wife of Bath (uncredited)
Glyn Rolands	...	Pilgrim: Doctor of Physic (uncredited)
Vincent Russel	...	Pointing Policeman at West Gate, Canterbury (uncredited)
James Sadler	...	Pilgrim: The Squire and 1944 soldier watching spitfire (uncredited)
Roy Samson	...	Boy in river battle, lookout (uncredited)
G.R. Schjelderup	...	Pilgrim: Chaucer (uncredited)
C. Semphill	...	Pilgrim: The Goldsmith (uncredited)
F. Sequin	...	Pilgrim: The Haberdasher (uncredited)
John Shuggs	...	Water Carrier (uncredited)
Martin Smith	...	Pilgrim: Clerk of Oxford (uncredited)
C. Spencer	...	Pilgrim: The Prioress (uncredited)
Mr. Stone	...	Peasant (uncredited)
Charlie Tamsitt	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Brian Todd	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Ben Tragett	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Robert Tragett	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
Timothy Tragett	...	Boy in river battle (uncredited)
H. Walter	...	Pilgrim: The Merchant (uncredited)
Eric Waters	...	Water Carrier (uncredited)
Billy Wells	...	Pilgrim: The Knight (uncredited)
William Wood	...	Bystander at wheelwright's - Cleetus (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Powell
Emeric Pressburger

Writing credits
Michael Powell		(written by) &
Emeric Pressburger		(written by)

Produced by
Jock Laurence	....	producer: additional scenes in US version
Michael Powell	....	producer
Emeric Pressburger	....	producer

Original Music by
Allan Gray

Cinematography by
Erwin Hillier		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
John Seabourne Sr.		(as John Seabourne)

Production Design by
Alfred Junge

Makeup Department
George Blackler	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Ernest Gasser	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Hilda Sheardown-Course	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
George Maynard	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George R. Busby	....	assistant director (as George Busby)
George Aldersley	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
John Arnold	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Parry Jones Jr.	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Harold Batchelor	....	construction manager (uncredited)
A. Hetherington	....	stand-by props (uncredited)
Arthur Hetherington	....	props (uncredited)
Harold Hurdell	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Miss Johnstone	....	set dresser (uncredited)
William Kellner	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
William Leather	....	location constructor (uncredited)
Mike Martin	....	master carpenter (uncredited)
Frederick Morgan	....	stagehand (uncredited)
Harry Parr	....	buyer (uncredited)
Elliot Scott	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Bill Shaw	....	stand-by carpenter (uncredited)
E. Thompson	....	property manager (uncredited)
H. Westbrook	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Herbert Westbrook	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Desmond Dew	....	sound recordist
C.C. Stevens	....	sound recordist
Alan Whatley	....	sound recordist: exteriors
L.A.C. Collic	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Peter Davies	....	sound camera (US version) (uncredited)
Roy Day	....	sound maintenance (uncredited)
Sidney Hayers	....	sound camera operator: exteriors (uncredited)
Sidney Hayers	....	sound maintenance: interiors (uncredited)
J.H. Kay	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Gus Lloyd	....	assistant boom operator (uncredited)
P. Lloyd	....	assistant boom operator (uncredited)
Gordon K. McCallum	....	boom operator: interiors (uncredited)
George Paternoster	....	boom operator: exteriors (uncredited)
Winston Ryder	....	sound camera operator: interiors (uncredited)
J. Stirton	....	sound maintenance: interiors (uncredited)
Alan Thorne	....	sound assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
W. Percy Day	....	models (uncredited)
Charles Staffell	....	back projection (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Besche	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jim Body	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Derek V. Browne	....	camera loader (uncredited)
Cecil R. Cooney	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Fred Daniels	....	still photographer: portraits (uncredited)
J. Demaine	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Desmond Dickinson	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
Ian Gibson-Smith	....	still photographer (uncredited)
William Leach	....	grip (uncredited)
E. Pockney	....	electrician (uncredited)
S. Shrimpton	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
George Stretton	....	second camera operator (uncredited)
A.G. Stunt	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
A. Raymond	....	casting: small parts and crowd (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arthur Breton	....	wardrobe: men (uncredited)
Dorothy Edwards	....	wardrobe: women (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Roger Cherrill	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Jim Pople	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)
David Powell	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Walter Goehr	....	conductor

Transportation Department
William Leather	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)
Bert Woodcock	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Herbert Norris	....	period advisor
Jean Able	....	continuity assistant (uncredited)
Paddy Arnold	....	continuity (uncredited)
Sheila Bell	....	understudy: Sheila Sim (uncredited)
Betty Curtis	....	production company secretary (uncredited)
Walter R. Day	....	maintenance (uncredited)
Alex Devore	....	cashier (uncredited)
Parry Jones	....	production runner (uncredited)
Captain C.W.R. Knight	....	falconer (uncredited)
Vivienne Knight	....	publicist (uncredited)
David Laing	....	understudy: Eric Portman (uncredited)
Joan Page	....	production company secretary (uncredited)
Bill Paton	....	assistant: Mr Powell (uncredited)
Harold Plaister	....	publicist (uncredited)
Pat Smith	....	production secretary (uncredited)
Anthony Swaine	....	liaison: Canterbury Cathedral (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Archers, The (as A Production of the Archers)
• Independent Producers

Distributors

• Eagle-Lion Films (1949) (USA) (theatrical)
• General Film Distributors (GFD) (1944) (UK) (theatrical)
• British Film Institute (BFI) (1991) (UK) (VHS)
• Carlton International (1996) (UK) (VHS)
• Carlton International (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Citizens of Canterbury  thanks
• Dean and Chapter of Canterbury  gratefully acknowledge help & advice
• Mayor and Corporation of Canterbury  gratefully acknowledge help & advice
• Men and Women of Kent  thanks
• U.S. Army  gratefully acknowledge help & advice (as the United States Army)
• Very Reverend the Dean of St. Albans  gratefully acknowledge help & advice
• Women's Land Army  gratefully acknowledge help & advice

Runtime:

124 min | USA:95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | Spain:7

Filming Locations:

Bridge over Little Stour, Wickhambreaux, Kent, England, UK

Company:

Archers, The

Trivia:

Upon arriving in Canterbury, Sgt. Gibbs goes to the Police Station and asks to speak to Superintendant Hall. George Hall was the real-life Superintendant of the Canterbury Police at the time (1944). The Police Station was also real.

Quotes:

Sergt. Roczinsky: Hey, let's have some tea first, huh?
Bob Johnson: That stuff?
Sergt. Roczinsky: Sure; it's a habit, like marijuana.
Bob Johnson: I'll take marijuana.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Days of Heaven (1978)

A gentle gem that defies description

The major disadvantage when recommending this film to someone is that it's practically impossible to describe! It's easy enough to say what it *isn't*: it's not a detective story and it's certainly not a thriller, despite the fact that it nominally revolves around an unsolved crime. It's not a war-story, despite the fact that it is set immediately before D-Day and the main characters are intimately involved in the war effort. It's not a romance, despite the fact that two of the characters have an unhappy love-story. And it's not the Chaucerian epic one might be led to expect by the title and the opening scene - although by the end, the pilgrimage allusions turn out to be rather more strangely apt then they at first appear.

The only word I can find to give a flavour of this story is that it is above all English - as English as Ealing comedy (without the comedy), as Miss Marple (without the murder), as Elizabeth Goudge (without the magic)... and yet again I find myself defining it by what it *isn't*! It's English in a way that is quietly, deeply antithetical to the frenetic posturing of 'Cool Britannia'. It is as English as the haze over the long grass beneath the trees of a summer meadow; as polished brass and a whiff of steam as the express pulls up at a country halt; as church bells drifting in snatches on a lazy breeze, and the taste of blackberries in the sun.

It's almost impossible now to comprehend that the 1940s countryside in which this film is set was *really there*; that it was not the Second World War but its crippling aftermath that industrialised farms, banished the horse-drawn vehicles from the wheelwright's, and exchanged towering hay-wains for silage towers. Britain was determined never to starve again - and so the world that had once differed so little from that of Chaucer's time was swept away beyond recall. When it was made, this film was no more a rustic period piece than 'Passport to Pimlico', a few years later, was an urban social documentary. Subsequent events have preserved both in mute evidence of contemporary communities that are almost unbelievable today.

It is perhaps fair, therefore, to assume that the type of viewer who will watch 'Battlefield Earth' is unlikely to find this film anything other than silly, parochial and ultimately dull! Very little actually happens. The story is on occasion both humorous and poignant, but what we at first assume to be the central plot turns out not to be the point at all. The triple denouement is set up so gently and skilfully that we, too, are taken by miraculous surprise, with the true shape of the film only evident in retrospect.

It is, ultimately, a story about faith, and miracles, and pilgrimages, even in the then-modern world of shopgirls, lumbermen and cinema organists - and if that idea in itself sounds enough to put you off, as I confess it would have done for me before I watched it myself, then I will gladly add that it is a film about beauty, and hope, and unexpected friendship and laughter; and technically very accomplished to boot. The use of black and white is glorious, ranging from the glimmer in the obscurest of shadows to sun-drenched hillside, and the totally unselfconscious reference to Chaucer in the opening sequence is in these days worth the price of admission alone.

If you like gentle films - sweet-natured films - films with a deep affection for their subject - films that make you laugh and cry, but always smile - then I urge you not on any account to miss this one. If, for the moment, you require thrills, spills, forbidden passions and last-minute rescues, then pass it by and let it go on its tranquil way. When you are old and grey and full of sleep, this unassuming classic will still be there, waiting...