Becket (1964)

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Director: Peter Glenville

Writers: Edward Anhalt, from a play by Jean Anouilh and Lucienne Hill

Stars: Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi, Paolo Stoppa, Donald Wolfit



King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) appoints his drinking buddy, Thomas Becket (Richard Burton), as Archbishop of Canterbury, believing that doing so will give him control of the Church. 



An awakening of conscience in his friend leads to conflict and tragedy.

 


O'Toole and Burton give magnificent speeches, but I never really believed their friendship.

 


The whole affair seemed a little cold and calculated, with characters such as Brother John standing out as blatant plot devices.

 


Contrast this film with another in which O'Toole played the same character, "The Lion in Winter." 



That film also featured magnificent speeches, but the central relationship between O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn was full of passion and fire.


Spoiler alert!!! From the end of the movie!!


























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