The year 1986, as was the entire decade, became a time of ups and downs in the country and the world. A lot has taken place in the past thirty one years. If you were around then how much of what took place then do you remember?
As always we’ll begin with the cost of living in 1986. The average price for a new home was just under $90,000, the average income was at $23,000 and the average price for a new car was around $10,000. Gas kept inching toward the one dollar mark and was 91 cents a gallon. You could by a Tandy 600 portable computer for only $1600, but you could by 5 pounds of potatoes for $1. Among the news headlines in 1986, Pan Am Flight 73 with 358 people on board is hijacked at Karachi International Airport by four armed men. A bomb explodes on a TWA jet over Greece blowing a hole in aircraft sucking 4 passengers out. It was also a year when tragedy came to the space program when the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated after launch, killing all on board. It was also the year the Iran-Contra Affair took place in President Reagan’s administration that sold arms to Iran. On the brighter side, Mike Tyson becomes the youngest heavyweight boxing champion. The Nintendo Entertainment system makes its debut as do transparent watches. Across the pond England and France announce plans to begin construction of the English Channel Tunnel, to be known as “The Chunnel”. The Internet Mail Access Protocol is defined and that opens the way for E-Mail to begin.
In the world of entertainment the big movies of 1986 included Top Gun, Platoon, Crocodile Dundee and Aliens. In music some the big names were Billy Joel, Lionel Ritchie, Madonna, Van Halen and Prince. TV watchers favorite shows included Magnum P.I., Hill Street Blues, The A-Team, Dynasty and Murder, She Wrote. Among the celebrities we lost in 1986 were actor Cary Grant, director Otto Preminger, jazz great Teddy Wilson, baseball Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg, actor/producer Desi Arnaz, actor James Cagney and actress Donna Reed.
The world of porn saw many changes and by now most all production was being done on the west coast and more coming out of Europe. The coming of video would make a major change in porn. Many female porn stars began to sport breast enhancements and the clean shaven look. The year also provided some excellent productions, such as the one we take a look back at today, “The Ribald Tales of Canterbury”
Back in the 80’s a few attempts were made at doing parodies. But one did become a classic and was the sole idea of porn star Hyapatia Lee. She took a true classic piece of writing by English poet, writer and philosopher Geoffrey Chaucer from 1384 and turned into a porn film. The idea was not well received, but Hyapatia, and her husband producer/director Bud Lee, didn’t give up, eventually got the film made and it was released in 1986.
The Ribald Tales of Canterbury – Cabellero Films – Director – Bud Lee – Cast – Hyapatia Lee, Colleen Brennan, Debra Lynn, Cheri Janvier, Beverly Bliss, Petite Luv, Mike Horner, Peter North, Bud Lee, Page Turner, Stevie Taylor, Marc Wallice, Josephine Carrington, Buffy Davis, F.M. Bradley, Jon Martin, Jesse Eastern, Tom Martino.
The basic premise centers around a group of travelers on a pilgrimage to Canterbury. Along the way they would tell each other stories to keep themselves amused on their journey. Of course in this retelling of the classic stories and actions they were far more than Chaucer may have ever imagined. Only six or so stories are acted out, way below the number in Chaucer’s original writing. They are very well done and kept within a good time frame to make it more interesting and entertaining. Back in the pre Victorian days much of the writing was very bawdy and earthy, so taking something like this and giving it the porn twist was a natural in the right hands.
As for the stories and scenes, first up comes the classic ‘Miller’s Tale.’ where a miserly miller cheats two students (Jon Martin and Peter North) until the miller’s wife (Stevie Taylor) and daughter (Page Turner) repay the boys with a hot and heavy daisy chain. Then there is Hyapatia Lee who plays a Gypsy who gets into a scorcher of a girl-girl scene with the Wife of Bath (Colleen Brennan), and then later she inflames the crystal balls on two gypsy studs! In addition Ms. Lee also acts as your hostess for the film. There are more Ribald Tales of Canterbury that will have you both mesmerized and turned on as they go about satisfying the true urges of the stories they tell and relate.
There were several things that made this a classic. First, the large cast had actors and actresses who were more than just sex performers. They could really act and deliver lines convincingly. Second, the costuming of the period was just about perfect and the music fit perfectly. The cinematography was excellent and totally captured the essence and feel of what Chaucer might have done in a porn vein. Overall, from the writing, acting and sexual standpoint, Lee directed this ensemble in a way that gave the viewer realism, fun and telling good stories in a very novel way. As for the sex scenes that take place in this film, they were hot, passion filled, had great chemistry and offered plenty of great visuals.
If you are looking for a classic that is decidedly different, fun and very sexual, then “The Ribald Tales of Canterbury” is an excellent choice to make for total entertainment and enjoyment. It is available on DVD with some really good extras added. This is one from the golden age that is well worth having.
Art Koch, National Features & DVD Editor, NightMoves Magazine and AAN
