Synopsis
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. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2003.
Votre Filmothèque
Cast
- Richard BurtonBecket / Thomas Becket
- Peter O'Toolehis King / King Henry II
- John GielgudKing Louis of France / King Louis VII of France
- Gino Cervithe Cardinal / Cardinal Zambelli
- Paolo Stoppathe Pope / Pope Alexander III
- Donald WolfitBishop Folliot
- David WestonBrother John
- Martita HuntEmpress Matilda
- Pamela BrownQueen Eleanor of Aquitaine
- Percy HerbertBaron
Recommandations
- 90
Los Angeles Times
While major stars thrust together on screen often end up undercutting each other, one of the pleasures of Becket is how easily and generously these two commanding actors play off each other, each allowing the other the space to make the most of their individual roles. - 83
Christian Science Monitor
Burton is extraordinary in one of his rare good movie roles and O'Toole is regally madcap and larger than life. No doubt his Oscar-nominated appearance in "Venus" has prompted this rerelease of Becket. They make a fascinating then-and-now combination. - 83
Portland Oregonian
O'Toole just keeps turning up the volume, and it's thrilling to watch. - 80
Washington Post
It is a snapshot of a great actor in his prime and a chance for us to see one of yesteryear's great films in all its kingly luster. - 75
Philadelphia Inquirer
Peter Glenville's staging of the material is the opposite of cinematic, but the pleasure of these two extravagantly gifted actors at the top of their game - their diction! their conviction! their beauty! - is enormous. - 75
Chicago Tribune
Becket, now richly restored, is one of those '60s British theatrical spectaculars that we always imagine as a bit better than they were. - 70
L.A. Weekly
There's much to be said for a film that, however cheesily realized, sticks in memory for four decades. - 63
Boston Globe
The one thing going for Becket is actually two things: Burton and O'Toole.
