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Becket: Directed by Peter Glenville. With Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi. King Henry II of England comes to terms with his affection for his close friend and confidant Thomas Becket, who finds his true honor by observing God's divine will rather than the King's.
- (16K)
- Biography, Drama, History
- Peter Glenville
- 1964-03-11
Becket is a 1964 British historical drama film about the historic, tumultuous relationship between Henry II of England and his friend-turned-bishop Thomas Becket. It is a dramatic film adaptation of the 1959 play Becket or the Honour of God by Jean Anouilh made by Hal Wallis Productions and released by Paramount Pictures . [ 3 ]
- Overview
- Production notes and credits
- Cast
- Academy Award nominations (* denotes win)
Becket, American-British dramatic film, released in 1964, that was an adaptation of French playwright Jean Anouilh’s play Becket ou l’honneur de Dieu (1959; Becket; or, The Honour of God) about the quarrel between Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, and King Henry II of England. The film features three of Britain’s most acclaimed actors of the 20th century: Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, and John Gielgud.
In order to gain more control over the church, King Henry II (played by O’Toole) slyly appoints his close friend and confidant, Thomas Becket (Burton), archbishop of Canterbury. The move outrages the church, but instead of being Henry’s loyal puppet, Becket gains respect by taking his new profession as an archbishop seriously—a move that puts him in direct conflict with the king and leads to his murder in Canterbury Cathedral on Dec. 29, 1170.
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•Studio: Paramount Pictures
•Director: Peter Glenville
•Producer: Hal B. Wallis
•Writer: Edward Anhalt
•Music: Laurence Rosenthal
•Running time: 148 minutes
•Richard Burton (Thomas Becket)
•Peter O’Toole (King Henry II)
•John Gielgud (King Louis VII of France)
•Donald Wolfit (Bishop Folliot)
•Picture
•Lead actor (Peter O’Toole)
•Lead actor (Richard Burton)
•Supporting actor (John Gielgud)
•Director
•Screenplay*
- Lee Pfeiffer
Becket is a historical drama that stars Richard Burton as Thomas Becket and Peter O'Toole as King Henry II. The film explores the turbulent relationship between the English king and his former friend, who becomes Archbishop of Canterbury. Driven by themes of power, loyalty, and faith, the story is set against the backdrop of 12th-century ...
Glenville was a noted British stage director who had directed two feature films, The Prisoner (1955) and Me and the Colonel (1958), and a well-regarded Broadway production of Rashomon in 1959. Wallis retained Glenville as the director for the film adaptation of Becket, though he decided to go with younger actors in the lead roles. Not ...
- Peter Glenville, Colin Brewer
- Richard Burton
King Henry II of England has trouble with the Church. When the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, he has a brilliant idea. Rather than appoint another pious cleric loyal to Rome and the Church, he will appoint his old drinking and wenching buddy, Thomas Becket, technically a deacon of the church, to the post. Unfortunately, Becket takes the job seriously and provides abler opposition to Henry.
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King Henry II of England has trouble with the Church. When the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, he has a brilliant idea. Rather than appoint another pious cleric loyal to Rome and the Church, he will appoint his old drinking and wenching buddy, Thomas Becket, technically a deacon of the church, to the post. Unfortunately, Becket takes the job seriously and provides abler opposition to Henry.
