Becket (1964)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 148 minuten
Country:
United Kingdom
Directed by: Peter Glenville
Stars: Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole and John Gielgud
IMDb score:
7,7 (16.965)
Releasedate: 11 March 1964
Becket plot
"An age of rampant lusts, abandon, runaway passions. An age brought bristling to life by two of the most exciting stars of our time!"
Costume drama about the friendship between King Henry II and Thomas Becket. Becket was a welcome guest among royalty and was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury by Henry II. This is mainly because the king himself had quite a few problems with the church. However, Becket takes his duties as a church leader very seriously and therefore comes up against the king time and again. It leads to an inevitable denouement.
Actors and actresses
Becket / Thomas Becket
His King / King Henry II
King Louis of France / King Louis VII of France
The Cardinal / Cardinal Zambelli
The Pope / Pope Alexander III
Bishop Folliot
Brother John
Empress Matilda
Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine
Baron
Reviews & comments
Mug
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- 13981 messages
- 5969 votes
Theatrical cinema in which the great Peter O'Toole (unfortunately) manages to attract all the attention. This is mostly due to the hilarious lyrics he can spit out. He scurries off like a madman. Delicious. The problem, however, is that the rest of the cast (and sets) don't matter. Even Burton as the main character Becket comes to the fore here and there, but is quickly eliminated by O'Toole.
O'Toole reprized the role of Henry II in The Lion in Winter. The rest of the cast does a great job with that. But that will undoubtedly also depend on the script. A-serious versus a-serious. In Becket it's rather a-serious versus serious, and that's where it hurts.
Extremely good, but not brilliant.
Translated from Dutch · View original
MauriceMankes
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- 218 messages
- 213 votes
Without a doubt a beautiful, perhaps even impressive film. Beautiful dialogues; and nice details, but two things detracted me: the very theatrical treatment; and the for me very simple contrast bosom friend becomes enemy. I certainly enjoyed it; but the black and white left me with a somewhat cowardly aftertaste.
Translated from Dutch · View original
baspls
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- 4118 messages
- 1673 votes
A fine portrait of Saint Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Although it was recorded in a studio, the decoration all looks fine. It takes a while for it to get going, but in the end the conflict between the old bosom friends Becket and Henry was certainly acceptable. I personally found the atmospheric excommunication rite to be a highlight.
In terms of historical accuracy, it should be noted that the film portrayed Becket's murder quite tamely. Medieval chronicles already recounted the particularly gruesome murder in which Becket's skull was split open and his brains graced the cathedral floor.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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