After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.After his master dies, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, creates a new identity for himself as a knight.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 13 nominations
- Christiana
- (as Berenice Bejo)
- Simon the Summoner
- (as Steve O'Donnell)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsThis is a satirical romance, not a historical documentary. While nominally set in the middle of the 14th century (when Edward the Black Prince and Geoffrey Chaucer were active), it freely amalgamates the costume, custom and slang of many different centuries to create a unique world. The Chaucer character (who mentions his signature Canterbury Tales) bears almost no resemblance to his historical counterpart. Matte replicas of the London Eye and the Eiffel Tower are included to drive home the anachronistic intentions.
- Quotes
Chaucer: You're good. You're very good. My lords, my ladies, and everybody else here not sitting on a cushion!
[crowd roars]
Chaucer: Today... today, you find yourselves equals.
[crowd roars]
Chaucer: For you are all equally blessed. For I have the pride, the privilege, nay, the pleasure of introducing to you to a knight, sired by knights. A knight who can trace his lineage back beyond Charlemagne. I first met him atop a mountain near Jerusalem, praying to God, asking his forgiveness for the Saracen blood spilt by his sword. Next, he amazed me still further in Italy when he saved a fatherless beauty from the would-be ravishing of her dreadful Turkish uncle.
[crowd, boo]
Chaucer: In Greece he spent a year in silence just to better understand the sound of a whisper. And so without further gilding the lily and with no more ado, I give to you, the seeker of serenity, the protector of Italian virginity, the enforcer of our Lord God, the one, the only, Sir Ulllrrrich von Lichtenstein!
[crowd roars]
Chaucer: Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week.
- Crazy creditsAfter the credits finish, Roland, Wat, Kate, and Geoff have a flatulence contest/drinking game. Wat loses, but Kate is the obvious winner.
- Alternate versionsThere is a slight difference between the UK cinema version and the UK DVD release. In the cinematic release, the queen/Robbie Williams version of We Are The Champions starts playing when William and Jocelyn kiss just before the credits, whereas the DVD release has a different song play. However, We Are The Champions still plays over the last half of the credits.
- ConnectionsFeatured in HBO First Look: The Making of 'A Knight's Tale' (2001)
I've now seen this film about six times, and though I can't say that I see something new in it every time (it's just not that complicated), I can say that I have enjoyed it each and every time. The characters, though relatively uncomplicated, are very lovable and the casting is quite excellent all around. Before Brokeback Mountain, William Thatcher was Heath Ledger's most memorable role. He's a poor boy from London's Cheapside who wants to change his stars and to become an honored knight. Travelling from tournament to tournament with his fellow indentured servants, his liege passes on, and William seizes the moment - taking his armor and his horse to become Sir Ulrich Von Liechtenstein of the Gelderland.
He is joined by the other now-free indentures, and eventually, by Chaucer and a female Farrier played by the wonderful Laura Fraser. Eventually, William falls in love with a princess and is challenged by a rival for her affections with a lot more experience, money and political clout. The love story, which could have easily become a distracting annoyance, in fact, comes to dominate and drive the story very nicely.
Special kudos to Ledger, Alan Tudyk, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany and James Purefoy for their awesome performances. And extra special kudos to Director Brian Helgeland for pulling off an impossible task - taking a fairy tale, making us want to believe it, and yet retaining some wonderful elements of silliness often missing in the fairy tale genre. This would make a wonderful romantic living-room double feature with The Princess Bride.
Recommendation: Definitely worth seeing.
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $65,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $56,569,702
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $16,511,391
- May 13, 2001
- Gross worldwide
- $117,487,657
- Runtime2 hours 12 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1