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A Canterbury Tale concerns the adventures of three people who arrive at a railway station on a Friday night in the Kent village of "Chillingbourne" near Canterbury during World War Two. Alison Smith is due to start work as a Land Girl, British Army Sergeant Peter Gibbs has been sent to a nearby army camp, and American Army Sergeant Bob Johnson gets off at the wrong station. After getting directions from the acting Station Master, the trio head for the Town Hall, but before they arrive, Alison is attacked by an assailant dressed in a soldier's uniform who pours glue on her hair, before escaping. It's revealed that the glue attacks have already happened ten times to other women in the area. Alison asks Bob if he could spend the next few days in the village to help her solve the mystery. The next day, while riding a farm wagon in the countryside, Alison again meets Peter during his patrol and he also joins the hunt for the Glue Man. The three enlist the help of the locals, including several young boys who love to play war games. By using their detective skills, the trio identify the culprit as the local magistrate, Thomas Colpeper who gives lectures at his institute to the soldiers stationed in the local district. Alison interviews all the Glue Man's victims to identify the dates and times of their attacks. Peter visits Colpeper at his home and steals the Fire Guard roster listing the nights Colpeper was on duty in the Town Hall. Bob's boy army have a salvage drive which lets him discover the source of the gum that was bought by Colpeper to make his glue. The dates of the attacks correspond with Colpeper's night watches where he wore a Home Guard uniform kept in the Town Hall. On a short train journey to Canterbury on Monday morning, Colpeper joins the trio in their compartment. They confront him with their suspicions and he admits to being the Glue Man. Colpeper tells them that his main motive was to prevent the local women from dating the soldiers who would have been distracted from attending his precious lectures. During their time in Canterbury, Alison, Bob, and Peter visit the cathedral. All three have their wishes come true, but Colpeper is left empty handed.

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The world premiere of ACT took place in Canterbury on 11/05/44 and the general release on 21/08/44.



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Director Michael Powell (1905-1990) on location during the production of A Canterbury Tale.

Cinematographer Erwin Hillier (1911-2005) on the left in action filming A Canterbury Tale.

THE CRITERION COLLECTION SPECIAL EDITION DOUBLE DISC DVD SET



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