Starring: Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi, Paolo Stoppa Directed By: Peter Glenville Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen Label: MPI Home Video Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: May 15, 2007 Running Time: 150 minutes Theatrical Release Date: March 11, 1964
Amazon.com essential video: Made in 1964, but set in 12th-century England, this is the fact-based story of Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and his dear friend, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Richard Burton). When the king appoints his former drinking buddy to the high religious office, he believes he has placed an ally into power. Instead, he learns that Thomas very much takes his job to heart, prompting Henry to ask that fateful question--"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"
This won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and it is a strong example of finely tuned performances--both leading men received Academy Award nominations for their roles. There is much passion and rage on the screen, but the beauty of their performances is that we always know that love is there as well. The film, shot on location in England, is also visually appealing. Trivia buffs may be interested to know that Peter O'Toole played Henry II four years later in The Lion in Winter. --Rochelle O'Gorman
On the DVD: The primary bonus feature is a treat: a feature-length commentary by Peter O'Toole, accompanied by a moderator. With only occasional gaps of silence, the still sharp and well-spoken O'Toole recalls the making of the film, how he didn't research the historical King Henry ("The author has made the character; that's his job. My job is to play it."), and his memories of Richard Burton, both personal ("We found that we both enjoyed rugby, we both enjoyed songs, and we both enjoyed drinking, and got along very well.") and professional ("he had an astonishing presence on the stage"). There are also two archival interviews with Burton from 1967 and 1977 (26 minutes total), in which he doesn't discuss Becket, but he does say a lot about his life on stage, he recites some lines, and speaks candidly about his drinking problem.
Don't skip over the interviews with the film's editor Anne Coates and composer Laurence Rosenthal. Coates (7 minutes) has some good stories, and Rosenthal (12 minutes) discusses the influences on his Oscar-nominated score and how he had to teach Gregorian chant to Burton ("He was one of these people whom you really can't teach anything. He had this characteristic that you can only remind him of something he already knows. But he didn't know how to sing Gregorian chant."). In addition to a photo gallery and the four-and-a-half-minute theatrical trailer, MPI's long-delayed DVD looks better than many major-studio classics. --David Horiuchi
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!!!!
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.
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.
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.
A Classic Revived Becket is a classic movie with some great actors obviously enjoying playing off each other. The film is a talk-fest most of the time, and certainly lacks some major action scenes, but is still a memorable movie, and this DVD edition has been beautifully restored.
Of the bonus features, the interview with the film's original editor is well worth watching for the extra dimension it gives to the film and acting performances (as well as insight into the actors' liesure activities!)
Anything Goes Trivia
Last Kiss
Megaton Man
Trevor
