Becket (1964 film)
- Richard Burton: Thomas Becket
- Peter O'Toole: King Henry II
- John Gielgud: King Louis VII of France
- Gino Cervi: Cardinal Zambelli
- Paolo Stoppa: Pope Alexander III.
- Donald Wolfit: Bishop Folliot
- Pamela Brown: Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Felix Aylmer: Archbishop of Canterbury
- Percy Herbert Baron
- Inigo Jackson: Robert de Beaumont
- Niall MacGinnis: Baron
Becket is a British drama film directed by Peter Glenville in 1964 after the play Becket or the Honour of God ( original title: Becket ou l' honneur de Dieu ) by Jean Anouilh.
Action
Henry II, the Norman King of England, has problems with the church. As the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, the king puts in place a faithful churchman a one Saxony, his faithful chancellor, friend and old drinking buddies Thomas Becket. To the displeasure of Henry Becket, however, has its own views and opinions, for which he vouches also. Becket quarreled with the king, which ultimately leads to his murder in the cathedral of Canterbury.
Reviews
" Ponderous but excellent played film adaptation of the play by Jean Anouilh, which puts the historical conflict between King Henry II of England and the Archbishop Thomas Becket (1115-1170) as a necessary evil very earthly power struggles and the transformation of the sainted martyr of the man of the world to Confessor detected only psychologically. The film examines Anouilh biting anticlerical irony carefully mitigate. "Says the Encyclopedia of the International film
Background
On Broadway, the play in 1959 with Laurence Olivier as Becket and Anthony Quinn was listed as King Henry. As Quinn resigned from his role, Olivier moved to the role of the King and Arthur Kennedy took on the role of Becket.
One of the few films for which the same two actors ( Burton and O'Toole ) were nominated for the Oscar for Best Actor.
The German premiere was on October 2, 1964.