Becket [videorecording] / Paramount Pictures presents ; a Paramount and Keep Films co-production ; screenplay by Edward Anhalt ; produced by Hal Wallis ; directed by Peter Glenville.
Material type:
FilmPublisher number: DVD1053 | MPI Home VideoLanguage: English, French, Spanish Original language: English Subtitle language: English Publication details: Hollywood, CA : Paramount Pictures ; [Orland Park, IL] : Distributed by MPI Home Video, c2007.Description: 1 videodisc (ca. 150 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 inISBN: - 0788604708
- 9780788604706
- Becket (Motion picture).
- Henry II, King of England, 1133-1189 -- Drama
- Thomas, à Becket, Saint, 1118?-1170 -- Drama
- Christian saints -- Drama
- Kings and rulers -- Drama
- Loyalty -- Drama
- England -- Social life and customs -- 1066-1485 -- Drama
- Great Britain -- History -- Henry II, 1154-1189 -- Drama
- Great Britain -- Kings and rulers -- Drama
- Director of photography, Geoffrey Unsworth ; editor, Anne V. Coates ; music, Laurence Rosenthal ; production designer, John Bryan ; art director, Maurice Carter ; costume designer, Margaret Furse.
- Winner, 1964 Academy Awards for Best Writing: Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium--Edward Anhalt; Winner, 1965 Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture, Drama--Hal B. Wallis; Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama--Peter O'Toole; Winner, 1965 BAFTA Film Awards for Best British Costume, Colour--Margaret Furse; Best British Art Direction, Colour--John Bryan; Best British Cinematography, Colour--Geoffrey Unsworth.
| Item type | Home library | Collection | Call number | Materials specified | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adult DVD
|
Main Library | DVD | DRAMA Becket | Available | 33111007379130 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
A high-class costume drama with a substantive historical basis, Becket is the true story of the friendship between King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and Thomas à Becket (Richard Burton), a royal courtier and confidant whom Henry appoints as Archbishop of Canterbury. As Becket takes his duties with the Church seriously, he finds himself increasingly at odds with the King, who finally orders the death of his once-close companion when he continues to defy the throne. Burton is very good and O'Toole is even better: both men were nominated for the Best Actor Oscar, while Edward Anhalt's screenplay, based on the stageplay by Jean Anouilh, won for Best Adapted Screenplay. The basic theme of separation of church and state still reverberates today, while the top-notch production values ensure Becket's place as one of Britain's better historical epics. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi
Based upon the play "Becket" by Jean Anouilh, as translated by Lucienne Hill and produced on the New York stage by David Merrick.
Special features: Stills gallery [slide show]; Trailer (5 min.); Interview with composer Laurence Rosenthal [featurette] (13 min.); Interview with editor Anne Coates [featurette] (8 min.); TV spot (30 sec.); Richard Burton interviewed by Ludovic Kennedy (1977) [featurette] (13 min.); Richard Burton interviewed by Kenneth Tynan (1967) [b&w featurette] (14 min.); Commentary with Peter O'Toole [audio feature].
Opening credits -- "In the year 1066" -- Noble Thomas Becket -- Thrill of the hunt -- Gwendolen's sweet voice -- Business before pleasure -- Inevitable conflict of interest -- New Archbishop of Canterbury -- Higher loyalty -- Friendship torn -- Excommunication leads to accusations -- Trial of Thomas Becket -- Exile -- Meeting of old friends -- King's heavy heart -- Return from exile -- Posthumous declaration.
Director of photography, Geoffrey Unsworth ; editor, Anne V. Coates ; music, Laurence Rosenthal ; production designer, John Bryan ; art director, Maurice Carter ; costume designer, Margaret Furse.
Richard Burton (Becket), Peter O'Toole (the King), John Gielgud (King Louis of France), Gino Cervi (the Cardinal), Paolo Stoppa (the Pope), Donald Wolfit (Bishop Folliot), David Weston, Martita Hunt, Pamela Brown, Percy Herbert, Sian Phillips, Inigo Jackson, Felix Aylmer, Niall MacGinnis, Christopher Rhodes, John Phillips, Frank Pettingell, Veronique Vendell, Jennifer Hilary, David Davenport, Hamilton Dyce, Peter Jeffrey, Michael Miller, Peter Prowse, Jack Taylor.
Originally produced as a motion picture in 1964.
Despite differences in rank and background, King Henry II and Thomas Becket are lifelong friends. The King is in constant conflict with the Church, which refuses to contribute financing to his wars in France, and jealously guards the tax-free status granted it by previous monarchs. When the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, Henry has a brilliant idea: rather than another pious cleric loyal to Rome, he will appoint his old friend, Thomas Becket--technically a deacon--to the post. Unfortunately, Becket takes the job seriously, holding devotion to God and the Church above his loyalty to the throne, or the person of its inhabitant. In opposition to Henry, he proves abler than his predecessors do, and the clash of two powerful personalities leads to destruction.
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and violence.
DVD; Region 1, NTSC; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo; anamorphic widescreen presentation, aspect ratio 2.35:1.
In English, dubbed Spanish or French with optional subtitles in English; SDH subtitles.
Winner, 1964 Academy Awards for Best Writing: Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium--Edward Anhalt; Winner, 1965 Golden Globe Awards for Best Motion Picture, Drama--Hal B. Wallis; Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama--Peter O'Toole; Winner, 1965 BAFTA Film Awards for Best British Costume, Colour--Margaret Furse; Best British Art Direction, Colour--John Bryan; Best British Cinematography, Colour--Geoffrey Unsworth.