Becket (1964)

Great Movie Making - Excellent Theme

Historical drama at its best. An amazing bit of history portrayed by Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton. Nominated for 12 Academy Awards. This is really great stuff. Watch this one ! ! ! August 31, 2008

Peter O'Toole's finest!!!

This film is in my opinion OFF the charts on most levels!!! For any fans of ¨Lion in Winter ¨, this is a MUST see!!! For students of film and drama this is a benchmark of pristine, powerful and heartfelt delivery of the director's and the script writers intentions. Furthermore, the film's transfer onto DVD
is gorgeous!!! I would even go as far to say that ALL actors on any level be it stage or film can learn from this epic film which features a STELLAR cast! This was directed by Peter Glenville as well as gracing the New York Stage courtesy of Mr.David Merrick and received a whopping 12 Academy Award nomimations only to lose the Best Picture award to ¨My Fair Lady¨ A popularity contest AT BEST!

Do yourself a favor and see this film ASAP!!!! June 28, 2008

Hollywood At It's Best

Let's face it, Hollywood is in business to make money. Every once in a while they do something that actually goes beyond that and this movie is one of them. For the person who does not know a great deal of history I believe they will be surprised to discover that a King of England would submit to being thrashed by a bunch of monks in penance for anything, including the murder of a priest. Certainly the fact that the primary characters are based on real people might spark an interest, at least to go read a survey of the central characters' biographies. Hollywood can do useful work in this regard in a culture where significant percentages of people cannot answer basic questions of historical fact. The acting and the story line are compelling and the casting is superb.

On the other side of the house, Henry II is depicted as being far too shallow and weak. His angst is much more modern than actual and, then, Becket's transformation is depicted as far more spiritual than are the facts. Becket never stopped being a politician though I believe that he certainly did undergo a fairly extensive "rebirth" upon entering the priesthood. Those things can be forgiven but allow only a four star recommendation.

Good flick, watch it with someone who might be open to conversation about what challenges Henry II really faced and what long lasting influence he had on the English (and thence US) institutions. June 26, 2008

Becket

Very fine acting but historically incorrect as was the stage play. Conflict between Becket and King was well portrayed even allowing for the fact that the characters were somewhat subverted from the real historical personalities. Well worth watching in spite of the ignorance shown in characterisation but this not the fault of the actors but of the script writer and producer. May 30, 2008

A masterpiece!

One of my favorite movies of all time!

There is so much to enjoy in this movie, but for me, two bits of dialog stand out. In the first, King Henry finally realizes that Becket is no longer "his Chancellor" or "his man." The brooding Henry's words cannot help but touch us:

Becket: forgive me (as he hands over chancellor's ring back to Henry)

Henry: You give the Lions of England back to me; like a little boy who doesn't want to play any more. I would have gone to war with all England's might being me -- and even against England's interest -- to defend you, Thomas. I would have given away my life, laughingly, for you. Only, I loved you, and you didn't love me... that's the difference.

Next is the near comic discussion between Henry and his wife:

Queen Matilda: I gave you my youth... gave you your children.

Henry: I don't LIKE my children. And as for your youth... THAT withered flower, pressed between the pages of a hymnbook since you were 12 years old, with its watery blood and stale, incipid scent, you can bid farewell to that without a tear. Your body was an empty desert, madam, which duty forced me to wander in alone... And Becket was my friend... red-blooded, generous and full of strength, oh my Thomas...

There's so much more!

One day, I'm going to wash my face by breaking the ice covering the water. As Thomas Becket always told his friend Henry to do.

John Cathcart
Author Delta 7 May 26, 2008

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