Customer Reviews

Becket (1964) (Import Edition - NTSC format - Region 1 - Playable in North America)

5 star:		(154)
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3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"Becket." Now THERE is a marvelous movie... probably one of the finest "biopics" ever written!! It tells the story of the relationship between two men: King Henry II of England, great-grandson to William the Conqueror, and Thomas Becket, a Saxon nobleman, a close friend of King Henry's, and, ultimately, Archbishop of Canterbury.

As our story unfolds, Henry and Becket are inseparable friends. They spend their days feasting at banquets, carousing, wenching, and hunting. Henry (played by Peter O'Toole) appoints Becket (Richard Burton) to the post of Chancellor of England - the equivalent of Prime Minister and Treasurer. Becket is a man completely loyal to the King, and a man with a curious sense of honor. "Honor is a private matter within," he tells Henry early in the film. "It's an idea, and every man has his own version of it."

"Becket" is ultimately a story of "the honor of God" versus "I am your king." In an effort to gain the upper hand in the ongoing controversy between the Church and state, Henry names Becket to the post of Archbishop of Canterbury. In Thomas Becket, the King sees a loyal servant who will place the wishes of his monarch before everything else. Unfortunately, the King's hopes for an easy time of it are soon dashed. After becoming the primate of England, Becket rediscovers his personal sense of honor. To Becket, "the honor of God" becomes worthy of defending against all who would attack the Church... even if the attacker is the King. When one of Henry's noblemen kills a priest, Becket orders him haled before an ecclesiastical court. The inevitable showdown between King and Archbishop is at hand.

Despite the King's insistence, he refuses to budge from his position that the church courts have jurisdiction in this and all similar cases. His continuing defiance of the King sends Henry into increasingly virulent paroxysms of rage against his former friend. "I am your king!" he repeatedly tells Becket.

Ultimately, Becket is forced to flee England, but returns after seven years, having agreed to a series of compromises with the King, but not conceding the main points of his argument. The truce is short lived, however. Becket continues to resist Henry's efforts to intrude into Church affairs. Henry, enraged once again, fills the air with oaths against his new-found foe, asking at one point: "Will no-one rid me of this meddlesome priest?" On December 29, 1170, four of his barons assassinate Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, on the altar of Canterbury Cathedral.

"Becket" is based on the stage play of the same name by French playwright Jean Anouilh, and adapted for the screen by Edward Anhalt (who won the 1964 "Best Screenplay" Academy Award for his efforts). It was also nominated for 11 other Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor.

This is one of those movies where words can't really convey the depth and quality of the performances turned in by its stars. It's rare to find a film with one performance of such great magnitude; I don't ever recall seeing two such brilliant performances in one movie! For Burton and O'Toole are so very good in their roles as Becket and Henry, that they seem almost to become the very characters they're playing. Their acting is refined, unaffected, completely without ego, almost effortless.

"Becket" is one of those good old-fashioned movies so popular forty years ago... the kind with world-class actors delivering lines from a superb screenplay; with an interesting subject at its heart; sumptuous sets; and colorful costumes. Maybe the film doesn't quite match the tastes of today's moviegoers as well as it did 37 years ago; but, if you're looking for some first-rate entertainment by the best actors in the business, "Becket" is indeed an excellent choice!

This 1964 film deals with the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, after his old drinking buddy, King Henry II, famously asked, "Who will rid me of this turbulent priest!?" Its been a matter of great debate whether Henry actually meant to order the murder of his old friend and, to me at least, this film almost makes the case that Henry's words were just the impulsive, possibly drunken words of a rather immature man thrust, by heredity, into a position of power he was not yet ready for.

One might think that the political murder of a priest in a pre-Reniassance England would make for a rather dry, humorless film. Luckily, Becket proves them wrong. Though director Peter Glenville was not a flashy stylist and occasionally does allow the film to become a bit stagey, he was also a wonderful director of actors and manages to get wonderful lead performances from a young Peter O'Toole (as Henry) and even from the normally diffident Richard Burton (as Becket). When the film begins, it feels very much like a comedy. When we first meet Becket and Henry, they are two young, spoiled friends who spend most of their time drinking and wenching. Though, as expected, O'Toole is hilarious as the fun-loving monarch, even Burton manages a few slyly sardonic line readings. Years later, in an interview with David Letterman, O'Toole would admit that both the lead actors were drunk during the majority of the shooting and basically just having a grand old time of it. Their sense of fun in these early scenes is easily translatable to the audience and its hard not to like these two immoral rogues and, perhaps, to even secretly want to find a time machine and go hang out with them. O'Toole and Burton were friends in real life and the mutual affection the two shared is especially obvious and endearing and serves to make the film's later events all the more tragic.

The film takes a serious turn when the previous Archbishop dies and Henry, seeing a way to make things easier for himself, appoints his old friend Becket to the position. However, once installed, Becket discovers his soul. He becomes a rare example of a man who power does not corrupts but instead serves to purify. As a leader, Becket discovers his lost integrity and tragically, this leads to his own martyrdom and later canonization. Fittingly, this man redeemed by the church (and who would guess that this would be the premise of such a hilarious, entertaining, and downright fun film?) becomes patron saint of the clergy.

That said, this isn't really a film about religion as much as its about friendship and the price one pays for taking a stand. This is one of the best historical films I have ever seen and should be seen by anyone interested in either a good story or just some of the best acting ever put on screen. There's something beautiful about a film that surprises you by defying your expectations and Becket is a great example of one of those films.

This is a true historical epic, it has everything the viewer could want. Superb acting, suspense, sexcapades, court intrigue,, fine cinematography, a dysfunctional family, pageantry, betrayal, & murder. King Henry the second{Peter O'Toole}, the Norman grandson of William the conqueror is locked in a "church & state battle with his longtime Saxon friend Thomas Becket{Richard Burton}." The turmoil begins after Henry appoints Thomas against his will to the newly vacant position of Archbishop of Canterbury. Soon, a priest is arrested by lord Gilbert for dishonoring a young girl. Becket protests that the church should judge the priest, rather than the state. Meanwhile, the priest is killed trying to escape. Becket excommunicates lord Gilbert, & the battle is set. The egos are absorbed into the church & state quagmire.

I won't reveal anymore of the story, buy it & you will enjoy this period piece. The soul of this tale is the bond of two friends torn apart by their own manipulations & circumstances beyond their control. For me it is a sin against logic that neither Peter O'Toole & Richard Burton ever won the acadamy award. For their performances in this classic alone, the academy should be ashamed!

"Becket" has been restored (thankfully) and is sked for DVD issue 01/05/2005. This is great!!! The Film Foundation has been in the process of restoring and re-issuing projects. Rec'd confirmation from them that the DVD is, in fact, coming out.
They also attached this information "The Film Foundation provides substantial annual support for preservation and restoration projects at its member archives * the Academy Film Archive, George Eastman House, Library of Congress, Museum of Modern Art, UCLA Film & Television Archive * and affiliated organizations * the National Center for Film and Video Preservation at the AFI and the National Film Preservation Foundation. These institutions have mounted ambitious programs of preservation and restoration and serve as a vital link for public access to our nation's film treasures. The Film Foundation's efforts have resulted in saving over 300 endangered films, including Hollywood features, silent films, independent, documentary and experimental films, as well as newsreels and other historical films whose titles may not be widely known but whose importance to our film heritage is no less significant."

I just don't understand why this gem of a movie hasn't yet been released on DVD. I am a teacher of English Literature in a college in Bangalore, India, and when I talk to my students about the European Middle Ages, I strongly recommend this film. I tell them that they cannot get a better introduction to the great issues of that era than what this superb film gives them.

I know of at least thirty people who would love to get a DVD version of this film

In an email exchange recently, a VP in Sales/Marketing at MPI wrote that "rights issues" prevented previous plans to release Becket on dvd as long ago as three years, but that those issues have been "addressed and resolved." MPI therefore expects to issue a dvd "toward the end of 2006, depending on how discussions for a theatrical release go." Not exactly a sure-thing promise, but perhaps more grounds for hope than heretofore?

Both richard Burton and Peter O'Toole give one of the greatest performces ever captured on film. There is the growing tension between friendship and honor, with Becket realizing that the honor of God is greater than the honor of the king. Richard Burton gives a great performance in his transition from a womanizer to a saint. Peter O'Toole is equally convincing as King Henry II who must endure the agnoy of both physical and emotional punishment as he grieves over the loss of his friend and also the smartest man in England. Watch for the great scenery and the historical depiction of the the tesnsions in England between the Normans and the Saxons. There are very good supporting roles of the Saxon aide to Becket and the Henry's queen and her mother, who provide reason for Henry to not want to be with his family. Listen for the great put down of the queen by Henry. It is one of the funniest and best insults of a spouse, and drives home the point of the emptiness that Henry feels in his home life.

This movie is a must see. When it first caame out in theaters, I saw it at lest six times.

I just finished reading a (german) biography about Peter O'Toole and came here to see which movies are available on DVD. Unfortunately this one isn`t.
Peter O`Toole was (pardon: still is) an outstanding actor and "Becket" is one of his best movies. He and Richard Burton team up to give the performance of their lives. O`Toole as King Henry II and Burton as his friend and boon-companion and later archbishop Thomas Becket.
Both were nominated for an Academy Award in a leading role and luckily neither of them won it. They both would have deserved the award equally.
Kate Hepburn once called Peter O'Toole a "lousy picker". To often did he choose to do the wrong (=bad) movies and not even his superb acting could save these movies. This time he was right, perfectly right.
Becket is a great movie and I would love to have it in my DVD library.

Peter Glenville's Becket is one of the earliest movies that shows the differences between state and church. Set in 12th century England, this has Peter O'Toole as Henry II and his friend Richard Burton as the Archbishop of Canterbury. It has one of the finest cast and outstanding screenplay. Richard Burton has often been complained for overacting his parts, this movie is one were his part is beautifully played were he gradually changes from a loyal servant of the King to one who becomes loyal to God. Peter O'Toole performance is also fantastic were he is torn between the love for his friend and the hatred that he has for the new power that he has to fight. I doubt if there are any actors now except probably Anthony Hopkins who can play this well.

That year saw the release of My Fair Lady that pretty much vanquished all the other movies. Though Rex Harrison is an outstanding actor and that movie is superb, it was more popular than this one. It was also intelligently made and the appeal was not lost to the Oscar people. So, our two people lost yet again. This was the one time when they lost to a reasonable actor (I think). In all, they lost 7 times, sometimes to not so great actors, which was really sad. Luck has a lot to do with it. The movie won for best screenplay, which one will understand why.

The film starts out with mirth and becomes serious when the previous Archbishop dies and Henry, who was always opposed by the church, finally decides to get his friend appointed to the post. He does not realize that Thomas Becket has been trying to find his honor and this appointment lets him find it. In history, the final separation happens when Henry VIII creates the church of England to marry Anne Boleyn. Both the King and the Bishop play their parts very well and there are points that one can argue for both. In all, it is a wonderfully made movie, which everyone would adore. The movie is more to do with friendship and its interaction with the person's job than to do with religion. The movie is well directed and subtle. Supporting actors such as John Gielgud do a very good job. This movie is listed to come out in DVD sometime by the end of the year (12/30/2005) in two online DVD stores (though I have been disappointed in the past).

I don't know if Amazon seriously submits info to the studios on requests, but I hope they do. This film deserves to be on DVD. I mean, "Space Camp" is on DVD for pete's sake. This is a masterpiece and needs the DVD treatment ASAP!!!