A Knight's Tale (2001) is a film written and directed by Brian Helgeland; the title, though not the plot, is taken from The Knight's Tale, one of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. Brian Helgeland (born January 17, 1961 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a movie writer and director, who graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. ... Brian Helgeland (born January 17, 1961 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a movie writer and director, who graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. ... Brian Helgeland (born January 17, 1961 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a movie writer and director, who graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. ... Heathcliff Andrew Ledger (born April 4, 1979) is an Academy Award-nominated Australian actor. ... Rufus Frederik Sewell (born October 29, 1967) is an English actor. ... Shannon Marie Sossamon (born October 3, 1978), better known as Shannyn Sossamon, is an American actress, musician, dancer and mother. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Carter Burwell (born November 18, 1955, in New York) is a composer of film soundtracks. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Columbia Pictures logo, used only in the early-1990s Columbia Pictures, now Columbia-Tristar Pictures after their merger with the former Tristar Entertainment, is a film production company, and part of Sony Pictures Entertainment. ... is the 138th day of the year (139th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... “Moving picture” redirects here. ... Brian Helgeland (born January 17, 1961 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a movie writer and director, who graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. ... The Knights Tale is the first tale from Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales. ... Canterbury Tales Woodcut 1484 The Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories written by Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century (two of them in prose, the rest in verse). ... Geoffrey Chaucer (c. ...

The film combines action, comedy, and romance, and is notable for its deliberate use of anachronisms, such as the use of classic rock songs like Queen's "We Will Rock You", War's "Low Rider", David Bowie's "Golden Years" Thin Lizzy's "The Boys are Back in Town" and AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long", (and many others) in the soundtrack of a film that notionally takes place during the Middle Ages. The film was also one of several movies that became subjects of controversy involving a fictitious movie critic, David Manning. Look up Anachronism in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Queen are an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist Brian May, singer Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor, with bassist John Deacon joining the following year. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... War was a multiracial, multicultural American funk band of the 1970s from Southern California, known for the hit songs Low Rider and Why Cant We Be Friends?. Formed in 1969, War was the first and most successful musical crossover, fusing elements of rock, funk, jazz, Latin music, R&B... Low Rider is a song written by the band War and appearing on their album Why Cant We Be Friends?, released in 1975. ... David Bowie (IPA: []) (born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and audio engineer. ... Golden Years is a song written by David Bowie in 1975. ... Thin Lizzy are a hard rock band who formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1969. ... The Boys Are Back in Town is a single from the hard rock/proto-metal band Thin Lizzy. ... AC/DC are a hard rock band formed in Sydney, Australia in 1973 by brothers Angus and Malcolm Young. ... You Shook Me All Night Long is a hit song by the hard rock band AC/DC that appeared on one of the most successful albums in music history, Back in Black. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... David Manning was a fictitious film critic, created by a marketing executive working for Sony Corporation around July 2000 to give consistently good reviews for releases from Sony subsidiary Columbia Pictures. ...

Plot

Set in late medieval Europe, the plot centers on a young peasant squire called William Thatcher, played by Heath Ledger, who, after the death of his knight, Sir Ector, joins the jousting circuit, an act forbidden to those not of noble birth. Thatcher travels around Europe under the pseudonym of Sir Ulrich von Liechtenstein, along with two fellow squires, Wat and Roland (Alan Tudyk and Mark Addy); his well-spoken herald, Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany); and his armourer, Kate the Farrier (Laura Fraser). Along the way, he falls in love with a noble young lady, Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon), and develops a rivalry with Count Adhemar of Anjou (Rufus Sewell). In the end, Thatcher wins both the lady of his dreams (Sossamon) and the fight with Adhemar. The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... For the guitar company, see Squier. ... Heathcliff Andrew Ledger (born April 4, 1979) is an Academy Award-nominated Australian actor. ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ... Jousting is a staple entertainment at Renaissance Fairs. ... A pseudonym (Greek: , pseudo + -onym: false name) is an artificial, fictitious name, also known as an alias, used by an individual as an alternative to a persons legal name. ... Ulrich von Liechtenstein (1200-1278) was a medieval nobleman, knight, politician and minnesinger. ... Alan Wray Tudyk (born March 16, 1971) is an American stage, film, and television actor. ... Mark Addy (born January 14, 1964 in York, England) is a British actor. ... Geoffrey Chaucer (c. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Laura Fraser (born 24 July 1976) is a Scottish actress. ... Shannon Marie Sossamon (born October 3, 1978), better known as Shannyn Sossamon, is an American actress, musician, dancer and mother. ... Rufus Frederik Sewell (born October 29, 1967) is an English actor. ...

Setting

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It can be assumed the movie is set sometime between 1368 and 1376; Chaucer mentions having already written The Book of the Duchess, which was written no earlier than 1368, while Edward, the Black Prince (who appears in the movie) died in 1376. There is also a reference to a French pope which could either be Pope Urban V or Pope Gregory XI who reigned during that period and were both French. Image File history File links Circle-question. ... John of Gaunt Blanche, Duchess of Lancaster The Book of the Duchess is a dream vision narrative poem written by Geoffrey Chaucer. ... Edward of Woodstock, Prince of Wales, KG (15 June 1330 – 8 June 1376), popularly known as the Black Prince, was the eldest son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, and father to King Richard II of England. ... Blessed Urban V, né Guillaume Grimoard (1310 – December 19, 1370), Pope from 1362 to 1370, was a native of Grizac in Languedoc (today part of the commune of Le Pont-de-Montvert, département of Lozère). ... Pope Gregory XI (c. ...

The time period can be further narrowed down to between 1369—when the Black Prince resumed his campaign in southern France—and 1371, when the campaign ended. (The Encyclopedia of World History); however, the Battle Of Poitiers is shown as occurring during the course of the film, despite taking place in 1356. Additionally, Edward is depicted as a fairly young man, closer to the 26 suggested by Poitiers than the 39 to 41 suggested by his campaign in southern France. Combatants Kingdom of England Gascony France Commanders Edward, the Black Prince Captal de Buch John II of France Strength 9,000 12,000 Casualties Minimal 2,500 killed or wounded The Battle of Poitiers was fought between the Kingdom of England and France on September 19, 1356, resulting in the...

Even though the approximate setting of the film can be easily deduced, the costuming (especially the armour) is much more in late 15th century style than 14th. (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ...

Controversy

Newsweek revealed in June 2001 that print ads for at least four movies released by Columbia Pictures, including A Knight's Tale and The Animal (2001), contained glowing comments from a film reviewer who did not exist. The fake critic, David Manning, was created by a Columbia employee who worked in the advertising department. "Manning" was misrepresented as a reviewer for a newspaper in a small Connecticut town. The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ... The Columbia Pictures logo from 1993 to the present Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. ... The Animal is a 2001 comedy film, directed by Luke Greenfield. ... David Manning was a fictitious film critic, created by a marketing executive working for Sony Corporation around July 2000 to give consistently good reviews for releases from Sony subsidiary Columbia Pictures. ... Official language(s) English Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport Largest metro area Hartford Area  Ranked 48th  - Total 5,543[2] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km)  - % water 12. ...

As of August 2005, Sony agreed to refund $5 to anyone who saw the film, as well as Hollow Man, The Animal, The Patriot or Vertical Limit, all in American theatres between 3 August 2000 and 31 October 2001.^[1] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Animal is a 2001 comedy film, directed by Luke Greenfield. ... The Patriot is a 2000 film starring Mel Gibson and directed by Roland Emmerich. ... Vertical Limit (2000) is an action movie/thriller directed by New Zealander Martin Campbell (GoldenEye, No Escape) starring, among others, Chris ODonnell, Bill Paxton, Robin Tunney and Scott Glenn. ... is the 215th day of the year (216th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ...

Production

The entire movie was filmed in Prague, Czech Republic. Nickname: Motto: Praga Caput Rei publicae Location within the Czech Republic Coordinates: , Country Czech Republic Region Capital City of Prague Founded 9th century Government  - Mayor Pavel Bém Area  - City 496 km²  (191. ...

The film includes a great deal of jousting footage. The initial scene of the two knights jousting is actually footage of Heath Ledger's stunt double in an accident. During filming of a later scene in the movie, the lance of the stunt double's opponent moved off target and hit him in the head. The double fell to the ground unconscious. In another incident, Heath Ledger knocked out one of director Brian Helgeland's front teeth with a broomstick when the two were demonstrating a jousting move. It was several months before Helgeland's mouth had healed enough to repair the damage. Jousting is a staple entertainment at Renaissance Fairs. ...

Plenty of effort was expended creating lances that would splinter convincingly without injuring the stunt riders as well. The body of each lance was scored so it would break easily, and the tips were made of balsa wood. Each was also hollowed out, and the hole filled with balsa chips and uncooked linguini and saw dust to make convincing splinters. The term lance has become a catchall for a variety of different pole weapons based on the spear. ... Binomial name Ochroma lagopus Balsa (Ochroma lagopus, synonym ) is a large, fast-growing tree to 30 m tall, native from tropical South America north to southern Mexico. ... Linguine or linguini is a kind of pasta which is a flattened spaghetti originating from the Campania region of Italy. ...

References

External links

• A Knight's Tale at the Internet Movie Database
• A Knight's Tale at Rotten Tomatoes