Plot
A high-class costume drama with a substantive historical basis, Becket is the true story of the friendship between King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and Thomas à Becket (Richard Burton), a royal courtier and confidant whom Henry appoints as Archbishop of Canterbury. As Becket takes his duties with the Church seriously, he finds himself increasingly at odds with the King, who finally orders the death of his once-close companion when he continues to defy the throne. Burton is very good and O'Toole is even better: both men were nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, while Edward Anhalt's screenplay, based on the stageplay by Jean Anouilh, won for Best Adapted Screenplay. The basic theme of separation of church and state still reverberates today, while the top-notch production values ensure Becket's place as one of Britain's better historical epics. ~ Don Kaye, RoviReview
In 1964, Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton were the two biggest British film acting stars, and they were paired in an historical epic about the friendship between King Henry II (O'Toole) and Thomas à Becket (Burton). The film, directed flawlessly if staidly by Peter Glenville, was based on a bitterly sardonic stage play by Jean Anouilh. The movie is less edgy and features much talk and little action, even though its bloody climax was already well-known from history. Burton and O'Toole are great sparring partners, displaying tremendous acting talent. They and John Gielgud, who played French king Louis VII, were Oscar-nominated but didn't win; screenwriter Edward Anhalt won an Oscar for adapting the play. Becket emblematizes the serious, stagey historical dramas of the 1950s and 1960s. Glenville's short directing career would end a few years later. ~ Michael Betzold, RoviCast
- Richard Burton - Thomas Becket
- Peter O'Toole - Henry II
- John Gielgud - Louis VII
- Donald Wolfit - Bishop Folliot
- Martita Hunt - Queen Matilda
Credit
Margaret Furse - Costume Designer, Peter Glenville - Director, Anne V. Coates - Editor, Laurence Rosenthal - Composer (Music Score), John Bryan - Production Designer, Maurice Carter - Production Designer, Geoffrey Unsworth - Cinematographer, Hal B. Wallis - Producer, Edward Anhalt - Screenwriter, Jean Anouilh - Screenwriter, Jean Anouilh - Play Author| Beck: Guero (Film), Beck 2: Spar I Morker (1997 Film) | |
| Beckhamania: Coming to America (2006 Film), Beckoning Flame (1916 Film) |
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