| Other author/creator | Wallis, Hal B., 1899-1986 producer. |
| Other author/creator | Anhalt, Edward, 1914-2000, screenwriter. |
| Other author/creator | Glenville, Peter, 1913-1996 director. |
| Other author/creator | Burton, Richard, 1925-1984 actor. |
| Other author/creator | O'Toole, Peter, 1932-2013 actor. |
| Other author/creator | Gielgud, John, 1904-2000 actor. |
| Other author/creator | Cervi, Gino, 1901-1974, actor. |
| Other author/creator | Stoppa, Paolo, actor. |
| Other author/creator | Wolfit, Donald, 1902-1968 actor. |
| Other author/creator | Hunt, Martita, 1900-1969 actor. |
| Other author/creator | Brown, Pamela, 1917-1975 actor. |
| Other author/creator | Herbert, Percy, 1920-1992 actor. |
| Other author/creator | Phillips, Siân, 1933- actor. |
| Other author/creator | Aylmer, Felix, 1889-1979, actor. |
| Other author/creator | MacGinnis, Niall, 1913-1977 actor. |
| Other author/creator | Rhodes, Christopher, 1914-1964, actor. |
| Other author/creator | Phillips, John, 1914-1995, actor. |
| Other author/creator | Pettingell, Frank actor. |
| Other author/creator | Vendell, Véronique, 1942- actor. |
| Other author/creator | Hilary, Jennifer, 1942-2008, actor. |
| Other author/creator | Dyce, Hamilton, 1912-1972, actor. |
| Other author/creator | Jeffrey, Peter, 1929-1999 actor. |
| Other author/creator | Miller, Michael, 1931-1983, actor. |
| Other author/creator | Unsworth, Geoffrey, 1914-1978 cinematographer. |
| Other author/creator | Coates, Anne V. film editor. |
| Other author/creator | Rosenthal, Laurence, 1926- composer. |
| Other author/creator | Merrick, David, 1911-2000. |
| Other author/creator | Anouilh, Jean, 1910-1987. Becket. |
| Other author/creator | Paramount Pictures Corporation. |
| Other author/creator | Keep Films (Firm) |
| Other author/creator | MPI Home Video (Firm) |
| Uniform title | Becket (Motion picture) |
| Contents |
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. |
| Abstract |
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. |
| General note | Based upon the play "Becket" by Jean Anouilh, as translated by Lucienne Hill and produced on the New York stage by David Merrick. |
| General note | 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]. |
| Credits | Director of photography, Geoffrey Unsworth ; editor, Anne V. Coates ; music, Laurence Rosenthal ; production designer, John Bryan ; art director, Maurice Carter ; costume designer, Margaret Furse. |
| Cast |
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. |
| Date/time/place of a event note | Originally produced as a motion picture in 1964. |
| Audience |
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and violence. |
| Technical details | DVD. |
| Language | In English, dubbed Spanish or French with optional subtitles in English; SDH subtitles. |
| Awards note | 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. |
| ISBN | 0788604708 |
| ISBN | 9780788604706 |
| UPC |
030306105390 |
| Publisher number | DVD1053 MPI Home Video |
| Stock number | Midwest Tape http://www.midwesttapes.com |
