Upon its release, the film received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising the cast's performances and the film's lavish production design. However, some critics noted that the film's tone was not always consistent, veering between slapstick comedy and more serious themes.
The Knight tells of two brothers who compete for a maiden by fighting in a Roman arena. However, the battle is interrupted when the maiden reveals she is in love with the referee. This tale features the film's most famous line: "My sword isn't the only thing I can thrust."
During this period, the home video market was exploding. Audiences were hungry for content that pushed the boundaries of mainstream television, leading to a surge in direct-to-video erotic comedies. The Ribald Tales of Canterbury capitalized on this demand by stripping away Chaucer’s complex Middle English framework and focusing entirely on the bawdy, humorous, and romantic misadventures of its characters.
It seems you’re looking for information on —likely the adult-oriented animated film, sometimes confused with or marketed as a spin-off of The Canterbury Tales .
In the landscape of 1980s adult cinema, few films attempted to marry the bawdy, narrative-driven spirit of classic literature with explicit filmmaking. The 1985 release The Ribald Tales of Canterbury stands out as a unique endeavor, offering a high-production-value (for its era) adaptation inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous 14th-century work. Directed by Bud Lee and starring his iconic wife, Hyapatia Lee, this "classic full" film is often remembered not just for its sexual content, but for its creative, energetic approach to storytelling. A Bawdy Journey: The Plot and Premise
Unusual musical numbers are integrated into the narrative, a trait sometimes found in independent genre films of that decade.