Becket
starring: Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi, Paolo Stoppa
directed by: Peter Glenville
directed by: Peter Glenville
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Product Description:
SPLENDID PRODUCTION OF FAMOUS PLAY ABOUT TURBULENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOMAS BECKET AND HIS KING, HENRY II OF ENGLAND.
Amazon.com essential video:
Made in 1964, but set in 12th-century England, this is the fact-based story of Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and his dear friend, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Richard Burton). When the king appoints his former drinking buddy to the high religious office, he believes he has placed an ally into power. Instead, he learns that Thomas very much takes his job to heart, prompting Henry to ask that fateful question--"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"
This won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and it is a strong example of finely tuned performances--both leading men received Academy Award nominations for their roles. There is much passion and rage on the screen, but the beauty of their performances is that we always know that love is there as well. The film, shot on location in England, is also visually appealing. Trivia buffs may be interested to know that Peter O'Toole played Henry II four years later in The Lion in Winter. --Rochelle O'Gorman
On the DVD:
The primary bonus feature is a treat: a feature-length commentary by Peter O'Toole, accompanied by a moderator. With only occasional gaps of silence, the still sharp and well-spoken O'Toole recalls the making of the film, how he didn't research the historical King Henry ("The author has made the character; that's his job. My job is to play it."), and his memories of Richard Burton, both personal ("We found that we both enjoyed rugby, we both enjoyed songs, and we both enjoyed drinking, and got along very well.") and professional ("he had an astonishing presence on the stage"). There are also two archival interviews with Burton from 1967 and 1977 (26 minutes total), in which he doesn't discuss Becket, but he does say a lot about his life on stage, he recites some lines, and speaks candidly about his drinking problem.
Don't skip over the interviews with the film's editor Anne Coates and composer Laurence Rosenthal. Coates (7 minutes) has some good stories, and Rosenthal (12 minutes) discusses the influences on his Oscar-nominated score and how he had to teach Gregorian chant to Burton ("He was one of these people whom you really can't teach anything. He had this characteristic that you can only remind him of something he already knows.But he didn't know how to sing Gregorian chant."). In addition to a photo gallery and the four-and-a-half-minute theatrical trailer, MPI's long-delayed DVD looks better than many major-studio classics.--David Horiuchi
Beyond Becket
Stills from Becket (click for larger image)
SPLENDID PRODUCTION OF FAMOUS PLAY ABOUT TURBULENT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THOMAS BECKET AND HIS KING, HENRY II OF ENGLAND.
Amazon.com essential video:
Made in 1964, but set in 12th-century England, this is the fact-based story of Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and his dear friend, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Richard Burton). When the king appoints his former drinking buddy to the high religious office, he believes he has placed an ally into power. Instead, he learns that Thomas very much takes his job to heart, prompting Henry to ask that fateful question--"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"
This won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and it is a strong example of finely tuned performances--both leading men received Academy Award nominations for their roles. There is much passion and rage on the screen, but the beauty of their performances is that we always know that love is there as well. The film, shot on location in England, is also visually appealing. Trivia buffs may be interested to know that Peter O'Toole played Henry II four years later in The Lion in Winter. --Rochelle O'Gorman
On the DVD:
The primary bonus feature is a treat: a feature-length commentary by Peter O'Toole, accompanied by a moderator. With only occasional gaps of silence, the still sharp and well-spoken O'Toole recalls the making of the film, how he didn't research the historical King Henry ("The author has made the character; that's his job. My job is to play it."), and his memories of Richard Burton, both personal ("We found that we both enjoyed rugby, we both enjoyed songs, and we both enjoyed drinking, and got along very well.") and professional ("he had an astonishing presence on the stage"). There are also two archival interviews with Burton from 1967 and 1977 (26 minutes total), in which he doesn't discuss Becket, but he does say a lot about his life on stage, he recites some lines, and speaks candidly about his drinking problem.
Don't skip over the interviews with the film's editor Anne Coates and composer Laurence Rosenthal. Coates (7 minutes) has some good stories, and Rosenthal (12 minutes) discusses the influences on his Oscar-nominated score and how he had to teach Gregorian chant to Burton ("He was one of these people whom you really can't teach anything. He had this characteristic that you can only remind him of something he already knows.But he didn't know how to sing Gregorian chant."). In addition to a photo gallery and the four-and-a-half-minute theatrical trailer, MPI's long-delayed DVD looks better than many major-studio classics.--David Horiuchi
Beyond Becket
 Other Peter O'Toole Films |  Other Richard Burton Films |  More King Henrys on DVD |
Stills from Becket (click for larger image)
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- A Couple of Quick Comments
I want to offer a couple of quick comments rather than a long-winded essay. I recommend this film heartily to anyone who loves history, loves the medieval period, loves Burton and O'Toole at their brio-filled best, loves castles with burning torches mounted on the walls. I first saw the movie in the '60s, saw it again in the '70s, lost track of it, and came upon the new DVD recently. For my money, the film has aged very well. It's essentially timeless. Historical accuracy be damned - this movie captures ... Read More
Rating: 
- Becket
Based on historical fact, this is a classic! Peter O'Toole shines as the ego-centric King Henry II and Richard Burton is amazing as Becket, the King's one-time friend who places honor above all. We are still embroiled in the separation of Church and State issues upon which the conflict between King Henry II and Beckett was based, causing this to be a timeless movie, it's premise as true today as it was almost 1000 years ago.
Rating: - Becket film
I was amazed how quicklythe film,Becket,arrived after I clicked on the one-click button ! It's in fine shape, too. Thankyou.J. Comito
Rating: - Beautiful Restoration and Transfer to Blu-ray
It is incredible to see a film from 1964 restored to the screen so beautifully.I have both the DVD and the Blu-ray and the higher resolution only reveals more gorgeous detail, not flaws in the film.Films half or a quarter the age of Becket would look so much better with this film restoration treatment than they do when with just the tranfer to Blu-ray.I wish they would do this for Lion in Winter.
Rating: - Becket
In my opinion this is one of the finest movies ever made.Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton gave performances unmatched anywhere.
- A Couple of Quick CommentsI want to offer a couple of quick comments rather than a long-winded essay. I recommend this film heartily to anyone who loves history, loves the medieval period, loves Burton and O'Toole at their brio-filled best, loves castles with burning torches mounted on the walls. I first saw the movie in the '60s, saw it again in the '70s, lost track of it, and came upon the new DVD recently. For my money, the film has aged very well. It's essentially timeless. Historical accuracy be damned - this movie captures ... Read More
- BecketBased on historical fact, this is a classic! Peter O'Toole shines as the ego-centric King Henry II and Richard Burton is amazing as Becket, the King's one-time friend who places honor above all. We are still embroiled in the separation of Church and State issues upon which the conflict between King Henry II and Beckett was based, causing this to be a timeless movie, it's premise as true today as it was almost 1000 years ago.
- Becket filmI was amazed how quicklythe film,Becket,arrived after I clicked on the one-click button ! It's in fine shape, too. Thankyou.J. Comito
- Beautiful Restoration and Transfer to Blu-rayIt is incredible to see a film from 1964 restored to the screen so beautifully.I have both the DVD and the Blu-ray and the higher resolution only reveals more gorgeous detail, not flaws in the film.Films half or a quarter the age of Becket would look so much better with this film restoration treatment than they do when with just the tranfer to Blu-ray.I wish they would do this for Lion in Winter.
- BecketIn my opinion this is one of the finest movies ever made.Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton gave performances unmatched anywhere.
