‘A Knights Tale’ Turns 20: Secrets Behind Heath Ledger’s Royal Rock Flick

Some films are appreciated from the start — the big blockbusters find their audiences or the acclaimed indies find the critical raves right out of the gate. Then there are films that are ahead of their time, that find a bigger audience as they age, where the appreciation might come a little later thanks to DVDs or television viewings.When “A Knight’s Tale” opened in theaters on May 11, 2001, it wasn’t without fanfare. It featured rising star Heath Ledger in the lead, a writer-director hot off an Oscar win and a lot of buzz for the fact it mixed modern music with its medieval setting. It made its money back, had its fans and was notable for its fresh-faced cast who would go on to prominent careers. But it wasn’t a runaway hit; some were confused by the anachronisms and simply couldn’t get past a film about jousting that ...