The Ribald Tales Of Canterbury 1985 Classic Updated -

The 1985 classic often forgot it was based on Chaucer. An update would lean into the literature—but viciously subvert it. Imagine the "Wife of Bath" reimagined as a polyamorous lifestyle influencer live-streaming her pilgrimage. Imagine the "Pardoner" as a televangelist selling crypto-indulgences. By updating the tales to critique 2020s greed, vanity, and hypocrisy, the film would become what the 1985 version wanted to be: a timeless satire using filth as a vehicle for truth.

| 1985 Element | 2025 Update | |----------------|----------------| | Medieval frame story | A “wellness retreat” gone wrong – they’re actually fleeing a crypto scammer | | Male-dominated tales | Nonbinary, queer, poly, and asexual perspectives equally featured | | Physical humor only | Digital-era humiliations: leaked sexts, OnlyFans dilemmas, AI revenge porn | | Simple storytelling | Interactive branching tales – listener votes alter the ending of each story | | Taboo subjects (incest, coercion) | Handled with content warnings & tonal shifts – satire vs. dark drama toggle |

To break up the laughs, this tale turns into a psychedelic horror show about three drunkards hunting Death. The rotoscoped skeletons and glowing ale mugs are genuinely unsettling. It’s the Watership Down of the group—traumatizing, but memorable.

Here’s a helpful, balanced review for The Ribald Tales of Canterbury (1985 classic, updated edition): the ribald tales of canterbury 1985 classic updated

Title: A naughty time capsule with a fresh coat of paint
Rating: 3.5/5

The Good:
This update cleans up the video and audio nicely—far better than the grainy VHS copies floating around. The bawdy humor and earthy charm of the original remain intact, leaning hard into the raunchy side of Chaucer’s spirit rather than scholarly accuracy. Fans of low-budget 80s erotic comedy will appreciate the intentionally campy performances and over-the-top “ye olde” double entendres. The new intro contextualizing the film as a cult relic is a nice touch.

The Bad:
Let’s be honest—the “humor” is very dated. Jokes about consent, gender, and clergy hypocrisy land differently now, sometimes more cringe than clever. Production values are still bargain-basement (think softcore Monty Python without the budget or wit). The “updated” claims are mostly cosmetic; no deleted scenes or modern commentary track. The 1985 classic often forgot it was based on Chaucer

Verdict:
Buy this only if you’re a cult film completist or hosting a kitschy retro movie night with forgiving friends. For a genuine Chaucer adaptation, look elsewhere. For a tipsy laugh at 1980s “adult” cinema trying to look medieval, this delivers—just go in with low expectations.

For the uninitiated, The Ribald Tales of Canterbury (directed by veteran animator Ralph R. Bakshi-adjacent figures, though often misattributed to "B. Ron Yorty") takes Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th-century frame story and drags it kicking and screaming into the age of excess.

The plot remains structurally pure: A disparate group of pilgrims—a bawdy Miller, a lusty Wife of Bath, a corrupt Pardoner, a lecherous Monk, and a naive Squire—travel to Canterbury Cathedral. To pass the time, they tell stories. However, unlike Chaucer’s subtler Middle English innuendos, this 1985 rendition translates every "queynte" and "pryvetee" into full, glorious nudity and slapstick sexual comedy. To break up the laughs, this tale turns

What makes the 1985 classic updated version stand out is its refusal to be merely pornography. It is satire. The Miller’s Tale, for example, is not just about "pryvetee" (Chaucer’s pun for ‘private parts’); it’s a visually hysterical sequence involving a crank organ, a bucket of rainwater, and a hot poker. The animation, though low-budget, is fluid and expressive—reminiscent of Fritz the Cat but with a distinctly British music hall sensibility.

In the mid-1980s, the animation industry was navigating a curious crossroads. Disney was licking its wounds after The Black Cauldron, and the direct-to-video market was a lawless wasteland of cheaply made, often bizarre content. Buried in that chaotic era—sandwiched between The Care Bears Movie and The Transformers: The Movie—lies an X-rated gem that modern audiences are only now rediscovering: The Ribald Tales of Canterbury (1985 Classic Updated) .

For decades, this adult animated feature was passed around on grainy VHS tapes and bootleg DVDs. But thanks to a recent digital restoration and a re-release on streaming platforms, the 1985 classic updated version is shocking a new generation with its wit, its surprisingly faithful literary roots, and its unapologetically crude charm.

This is not your high school English teacher’s Canterbury Tales. This is Chaucer meets Heavy Metal, filtered through the lens of 1980s punk rock and burlesque.