MovieChat Forums > A Canterbury Tale (1949) Discussion > so the Glue Man is A-O-K? (spoilers)

so the Glue Man is A-O-K? (spoilers)

posted 13 years ago by adamwarlock
15 replies | jump to latest

The Glue Man's actions aren't so awful in the scale of things but they are certainly assault and a man in such a positions has no right to be doing what he is doing. So to let him off at the end annoyed me. And to even suggest he is the cause of the blessings our 3 heroes receive to too much.

I certain put P & P near the top of my list of favorites and find their films so much better than most of their contemporaries. They don't throw in happy endings or easy moralizing the way Hollywood often did. They take a more challenging route.

But this one lost me. I loved the small town life and pastoral scenes. I could even take the American soldier's monotone & annoying quips. But to have most of the film be about the pursuit of the Glue man and then to be "well, he had good reasons, he's OK, let him off" didn't sit well with me. If perhaps we saw him confess at the end to the police or quit his position, then I'd be OK with it. Plus, if his goal was that more people listen to his history lectures, he wasn't very successful. He got thru to 3 people, the rest sat in bored indifference or slept. I don't think these actions would wash in a film today unless it was a broad comedy.

[–] Steve Crook 13 years ago

Did you pay attention while the credits were rolling?

First we see the boys playing with their new football. Then we see the soldiers going to Colpeper's lecture - with their girlfriends. The lesson had been learned and the "pilgrims" forgave him, even though they never approved of what he did.

It is morally ambiguous, but that's P&P for you. They liked to leave the audience with something to think about, and talk about.

The film wasn't a huge success when it was first released in England, quite possibly because of that lack of easy moralising. But also because by the time it was released D-Day had happened and had been successful so everyone knew that the end of the war was in sight and they were beginning to think about what to do after the war.

The film made back its costs in 1944, but that's about all. But it's growing in popularity all the time, especially in the last 10 years or so. It's a real slow burner. Maybe because we have more leisure time now and so can think about the things discussed in the film, they still apply today. Maybe also because we don't expect easy moralising from films any more.

But is most of the film about the pursuit of the glue man? He gives it away himself almost as soon as we meet him in the town hall. Someone once said, it's not a whodunnit, it's a whydunnit. But it's also so much more.

Steve

[–] adamwarlock 13 years ago

Yes, I saw that. I thought the American paid for the ball and I didn't notice that the soldiers were going to the lecture (right! I'm sure that was a glut of historians after the war). So all those miracles were due to him pouring glue on unsuspecting women. Hmmm...guess I have to rethink how one gets in good with the Lord.

[–] Steve Crook 13 years ago

Don't be so quick to blame the Lord, we're a bunch of pagans & heathens over here, despite the Cathedrals. The connection to Puck of Pook's Hill may be closer

I always like the scene in the mill, after the boys have found the evidence from the collected salvage and Bob's paid them the "half a dollar" for their new football, the two soldiers nod to each other then they stand to attention and salute the boys. Having been a young boy once (as was Powell) I know that's just the sort of thing that young boys would love.

Steve

[–] adamwarlock 13 years ago

I prefer Pier Paolo Passolini's version of The Canterbury Tales. Where else can you see Tom Baker's willie?

OK, I still love P & P so I'll let the Glue Man off for good behavior.

[–] chatomal-1 13 years ago

Colpepper said pilgrims went to Canterbury to receive blessings or to do penance. While the three "heroes" get their blessings he is doing penance for his wrongdoings. He seems to like Alison right from the start & my wife & I thought they would end up together at the end of the film. He disappears quickly when her fiancee is revealed to be alive. In the shot where Alison & Geoffrey's father walk into the cathedral, Colpepper is seen by the wall looking very downtrodden. To me, his penance is no Alison, and maybe the worry that someone will discover he is the Glue Man and he will be ruined.

[–] deeveed 13 years ago

But it's growing in popularity all the time, especially in the last 10 years or so.

I'll throw the hat in the ring for why perhaps at this time? Does the film perhaps provide a longing, nostalgic backward glance at a Britain which has changed pretty much in the intervening years?

[–] Steve Crook 13 years ago

There is an element of that in its popularity. Especially with the scenes of the boys' river battle, the lunchtime picnic in the hop garden, relaxing in the long grass and watching the clouds roll by. We don't do enough of that nowadays.

When we do our annual location walks, a lot of the people there comment on those things. Because that part of Kent isn't affected much by the main London to Dover traffic a lot of it is still very recognisable, especially the early scenes in the villages around Canterbury.

But I feel that there is more to it than just nostalgia. The film itself says that it's important to be aware of your ancestors, but that it's not necessary to live in the past. Look to the future, but be aware of where you've come from and how you got here

Steve

[–] deeveed 13 years ago

When we do our annual location walks, a lot of the people there comment on those things. Because that part of Kent isn't affected much by the main London to Dover traffic a lot of it is still very recognisable, especially the early scenes in the villages around Canterbury.

You know Canterbury is kind of lucky to have retained its geographic character considering all the changes hitting Europe and the UK though I wonder how long it can keep it up. Isn't it more than likely Canterbury itself will be changed as time moves through its streets and fields? I'm here in NY and sometimes one has to look real hard for the past because it appears the mantra here is "constant renewal" in the city where things that are "old" just disappear.

[–] Steve Crook 13 years ago

There are lots of places like that in Britain that have retained their character. We like to preserve old things, in the States they seem to prefer to tear down anything that's old and build something new - with a few exceptions.

Canterbury itself was messed about quite badly by the Luftwaffe during the war (as is seen in the film) and has since been messed about quite badly by the local council. But despite the worst that they could do there is still quite a lot that is recognisable from the film.

But the villages around Canterbury, where most of the action in the film takes place, are still very recognisable as they were filmed in 1943/44. There are more cars and a few other bits of modern "street furniture". But many of the buildings still remain, as does the basic landscape.

It's the same with P&P's other "landscape" films, Gone to Earth and I Know Where I'm Going!. There are some changes but most of it is still very recognisable.

Steve

[–] deeveed 13 years ago

But the villages around Canterbury, where most of the action in the film takes place, are still very recognisable as they were filmed in 1943/44. There are more cars and a few other bits of modern "street furniture". But many of the buildings still remain, as does the basic landscape.

That's good. hmmm..can I trust you that there wojld be an effort to keep say a historical Canterbury removed from the modern day "incursions"???? I'd find it devastating if I went and saw taco or hamburger stands sitting in "fields of gold". I'm afraid I would then be forced to write to the Queen...;-)....

[–] Steve Crook 13 years ago

Well Starbucks have already moved in to the tea rooms next to the entrance to the Cathedral, Where Bob & Micky Roczinsky have their tea & cakes. Various other people tried to run the tea rooms there but Starbucks seem to be the only ones who can afford the high rents charged by the Dean & Chapter of the Cathedral.

But at least you can still sit in that window seat and enjoy a cup of tea, even if it is only a Starbucks tea.

But the West Gate is still there, that's the gate in the old city wall that the pilgrims come though when they get to Canterbury. And of course the Cathedral is still there and is still magnificent.

If you want to, you can get a very good book about the film. "A Canterbury Tale - Memories of a Classic Wartime Movie" by Paul Tritton. It includes interviews with a lot of the people (actors and crew) who helped make that wonderful film, or the families of many of those no longer with us. It also identifies just about every location used in the film and has "Then & Now" comparison photos and gives the grid reference of each location to help you find it.
http://www.powell-pressburger.org/Reviews/44_ACT/TheBook2.html

Steve

[–] deeveed 13 years ago

great...that book looks good...thanks

[–] Drmccormack (743) 7 years ago

Wow! Good to know. Thank you for posting this.

[–] buxtehude99 9 years ago

I don't know about that. I think that he has, in fact, received a blessing. He has touched three young people who are strangers to the area, and they have received their blessings. And perhaps he sees that his actions can now come to an end. Quite a lot, I think.

[–] d.doherty 8 years ago

God, what a lot of self involved twaddle from you Brits.

Coming from an American, this is a great film!

"Nihil sanctum estne?"