A Canterbury Tale

A Canterbury Tale

Year: 1944

Runtime: 125 mins

Language: English

Directors: Emeric Pressburger, Michael Powell

DramaMysteryWarComedy

Three modern day pilgrims investigate a bizarre crime in a small town on the way to Canterbury.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen A Canterbury Tale yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – A Canterbury Tale (1944)

Explore the full timeline and setting of A Canterbury Tale (1944). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

late August 1943

The events take place in the summer of 1943 during the Second World War. It highlights wartime rhythms: the presence of British and American troops, Home Guard routines, and civilian life continuing amid danger. The timeline includes the weekend investigation and a Monday train journey to Canterbury, culminating in a ceremonial mood as the town seeks renewal.

Location

Chillingbourne, Canterbury, Kent

The story unfolds in the fictional Kent village of Chillingbourne, near Canterbury, a tight-knit rural community set against the backdrop of World War II. The action is filmed across neighboring villages like Chilham, Fordwich and Wickhambreaux to evoke a quintessential English wartime landscape. The setting emphasizes small-town life under blackout conditions, with soldiers, land workers, and locals intertwining daily routines with the mystery at hand.

🗺️ Kent village 🎖️ Wartime setting 🕊️ Community resilience

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:56

Main Characters – A Canterbury Tale (1944)

Meet the key characters of A Canterbury Tale (1944), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Peter Gibbs (Dennis Price)

British Army Sergeant who leads diplomatic and practical effort to solve the case. A former cinema organist, he brings a calm, organized approach and takes initiative to protect Alison and aid the investigation. His actions blend leadership with a growing personal stake in the goodwill of the community.

🎖️ Soldier 🎼 Musician 🗺️ Leader

Bob Johnson (John Slater)

U.S. Army Sergeant who participates in the investigation and helps mobilize local youngsters into the effort. He demonstrates resourcefulness and teamwork, discovering crucial clues through the salvage drive and other duties. His presence reinforces Allied camaraderie during wartime.

🎖️ Soldier 🧭 Resourceful 🤝 Team player

Alison Smith (Sheila Sim)

Land Girl who initiates the weekend investigation and interviews the victims to map dates and times of the attacks. She is determined, curious, and willing to work with locals and soldiers alike to uncover the truth. Her arc centers on courage, companionship, and the tension between duty and personal life.

🌾 FarmWorker 💪 Determined 🤝 Collaborator

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:56

Major Themes – A Canterbury Tale (1944)

Explore the central themes of A Canterbury Tale (1944), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧭 Detective Work

A wartime mystery drives the plot, with three young outsiders using observation and collaboration to uncover the culprit behind the glue attacks. Local children participate in improvised, large-scale war games that double as fieldwork for the investigation. The trio gathers clues from victims, rosters, and receipts to connect dates and nights of offense. The pursuit tests trust, courage, and communal problem-solving in a tight-knit community.

💞 Love & War

The narrative threads romance and longing through Alison, Peter, and Bob against the backdrop of separation by war. Alison hopes to protect relationships while investigating, while Peter and Bob navigate letters, expectations, and the pull of home. Wartime distance sharpens emotional stakes and personal choices, underscoring how love persists despite danger and disruption. The ending suggests renewed hope as relationships endure or are reconciled.

🙏 Blessings & Renewal

The journey to Canterbury culminates in a symbolic blessing, reaffirming faith and resilience amid bombardment and loss. Canterbury Cathedral becomes a focal point where personal fortunes are acknowledged and futures reimagined. The resolution links moral action with forgiveness or acceptance, offering a sense of renewal for the protagonists. The film closes with a quiet assurance that life can resume meaningfully after fear and upheaval.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:56

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Cozy community mysteries like A Canterbury Tale

A puzzling crime brings characters together in a charming, close-knit community.If you enjoyed the gentle investigative spirit of A Canterbury Tale, you'll like these movies. They feature puzzling crimes solved by everyday people in charming settings, focusing on community and discovery rather than grit and violence.

investigativecommunity-focusedserenecuriouscharmingsatisfying

Narrative Summary

A central, often peculiar, mystery disrupts the routine of a small community or a group of strangers. The narrative follows the collaborative efforts to solve the puzzle, with the investigation itself becoming a journey of personal connection and discovery for the characters.

Why These Movies?

This thread groups films that share a low-stakes investigative core balanced by a strong sense of place and community. The mood is more curious than fearful, and the unfolding mystery leads to positive character development and a satisfying, coherent conclusion.

Hopeful journeys of self-discovery like A Canterbury Tale

Characters find personal blessings and new purpose on a meaningful journey.Movies like A Canterbury Tale feature characters on a literal or symbolic pilgrimage. If you liked seeing the protagonists find their personal blessings, you'll appreciate these films about transformative journeys leading to hope and renewal.

hopefulreflectivenostalgicpersonal growthtransformativeserene

Narrative Summary

Characters, often at a crossroads in life, embark on a journey. The events and people they encounter along the way challenge and change them, leading to moments of clarity, resolution of past troubles, and a hopeful outlook for the future.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by the theme of the journey as a transformative experience. They share a hopeful tone and a steady pacing that allows for reflection, focusing on emotional growth and positive outcomes for the characters.

Unlock the Full Story of A Canterbury Tale

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Canterbury Tale in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Canterbury Tale is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Canterbury Tale Summary

Read a complete plot summary of A Canterbury Tale, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

A Canterbury Tale Summary

A Canterbury Tale Timeline

Track the full timeline of A Canterbury Tale with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

A Canterbury Tale Timeline

A Canterbury Tale Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Canterbury Tale that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

A Canterbury Tale Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Canterbury Tale

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Canterbury Tale: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About A Canterbury Tale