The Canterbury Tales
Mary Fielding
The Italian Director, Pier Paolo Pasolini, used Campden as a location for his 1972 film of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.
‘We are again plummeted into a world of lecherous old ladies, ugly old husbands, willing and ready pages, ending with a superb final fling in gaudy red Sicilian hell, accompanied by a salvo of farts.’ (Time Out Film Guide)Not quite the way Campden saw it in production!
‘There was great excitement in Campden on hearing the news that a version of “The Canterbury Tales” was to be filmed in Campden under the direction of the Italian producer, Pasolini, and that “extras” would be needed to take part! Much activity by our three policemen, Desmond, Ian and Paul to clear the streets of traffic, and the Town Hall requisitioned for costume fitting and a pay centre. A High Street and Market Hall transformed!!’ Dorrie Ellis
‘We had to be at the Town Hall at 6am to get our costumes. The Italian wardrobe master wore tight leather trousers and carried a bag. He decided who played what, probably based on the size of clothes he had. I was a nun. We waited around and got hot – the clothes smelled of cleaning fluid!’ Betty Grove
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The production company created a viewing area on the pavement of the High Street, just behind the Market Hall, and we went to watch the day’s filming. The High Street was transformed, with loose straw along street and pavement, and shop signs wrapped in hessian to hide them. There were farm animal loose in the street, causing occasional moments of chaos, and the dozens of extras in their rough costumes milled about to create a busy rural market day scene. Meanwhile the camera ran along its track right in front of the viewing area, filming the action, with the great Pier Paulo Pasolini directing the scene just a few metres away from us. Quite a day.
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