Becket (1964)

75% of critics liked it
(24 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(5,190 ratings)

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… More 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

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 2 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Peter Glenville
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Mar 11, 1964 Wide
On DVD: Jan 26, 2007
Studio: Slowhand Releasing

Critic Reviews

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Ripe with homoerotic undercurrents -- which O'Toole mines with relish in his great hysterical performance, full of cunning, eloquence and mad outbursts.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Becket may seem like a movie of yesteryear, but its timeliness brims over with rousing, meditative discourses between Henry and the church leaders on the separation of church and state.
Mark Feeney, Boston Globe
Everything that Doctor Strangelove is -- daring and inspired, vibrant and brilliantly staged -- Becket is not.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The picture is being re-released in 30 cities around the country before finally appearing on DVD after years of online foment from fans.The DVD is due in May, but try to catch it in theaters first. It's worth it.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
Burton is extraordinary in one of his rare good movie roles and O'Toole is regally madcap and larger than life.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
How could you hope for better casting than Peter O'Toole and his acting rival/drinking buddy Richard Burton playing opposite each other?
Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Becket is a terrific example of the historical play or novel turned into a cinematic drama crackling with whip-smart dialogue. I imagine actors must go mad with delight when they read a script that has page after page of dialogue this good.
David Thomas, Filmcritic.com
it finds what's compelling about that history and, more importantly, what's compelling about the people in that history. And, just to be on the safe side, it throws in two of the greatest actors of the day.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The respectable but boring film is nevertheless worth watching for the robust performances of Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole
Sean Axmaker, MSN.com
... what seemed majestic and theatrically impressive back then feels plodding and stodgy today...
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
The material remains relevant, and the film as a whole is completely engrossing. (It may be nearly 2 1/2 hours long, but it doesn't feel like it.)
Sean Means, Salt Lake Tribune
Watching Becket is to see a form of stylized, epic moviemaking not practiced today.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Diligently restored, this first DVD edition contains insightful commentary from Peter O'Toole, old interview with the late Burton, and observations from vet editor Anne V. Coates and composer Laurence Rosenthal.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This adaptation of Anouilh's play about the relationship of Henry II and Becket is well acted by O'Toole and Burton, both Oscar-nominated.
Mike Russell, Oregonian
O'Toole just keeps turning up the volume, and it's thrilling to watch.
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Peter O'Toole plays Henry like Ian McKellan doing a camp cameo.
David Elliott, San Diego Union-Tribune
Peter Glenville's stage-plank direction creaks badly, but the acting still holds you.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Melvin W

Becket is a fantastic period piece. It's long and some scenes are very drawn out, but it is well worth the watch. It's visually stunning and there isn't a bad performance in the film. Becket is the true story of the friendship of King Henry II and Thomas Becket. They… More
Becket is a fantastic period piece. It's long and some scenes are very drawn out, but it is well worth the watch. It's visually stunning and there isn't a bad performance in the film. Becket is the true story of the friendship of King Henry II and Thomas Becket. They have a strong friendship until Henry makes Becket the Archbishop of Canterbury. Becket loyalty turns from Henry to God and the King doesn't like that too much. It truly is an epic film.
AJ V

Two best friends, one an amoral king, the other a man of God. This movie has a great story and great actors for the characters. It's kind of long, but I really liked it, and I recommend seeing it.
Jennifer D

Awesome, the first real bromance picture. As actors Burton and O'Toole did fantastically well. As was expected I think. O'Toole's character a bit more, it's what you get for being animated, I guess. I will admit it dragged a bit towards the middle, but even for… More
Awesome, the first real bromance picture. As actors Burton and O'Toole did fantastically well. As was expected I think. O'Toole's character a bit more, it's what you get for being animated, I guess. I will admit it dragged a bit towards the middle, but even for someone who isn't religious, I found it interesting and even funny at times and well worth watching.
Tim S

Great film with extraordinary performances by O'Toole and Burton. This film is one of the best examples of how a historically based character study should be done. Looks great and very well written. I enjoyed this film a lot.
Michael G

The chemistry between Burton and O'Toole is incredible. Shame the plot wouldn't let it last. I enjoyed Becket a lot more than I thought I would. It came off like a tight-assed Shakespearian story that I can rarely get into. Burton was great, but O'Toole stole the show.… More
The chemistry between Burton and O'Toole is incredible. Shame the plot wouldn't let it last. I enjoyed Becket a lot more than I thought I would. It came off like a tight-assed Shakespearian story that I can rarely get into. Burton was great, but O'Toole stole the show. "I don't like my children!"--best line of the movie.
Ken S

This movie makes someone I know very horny...how facinating is that?
Alec B

There are scenes that are dramatically dull and the characters endless speeches do belabor the point repeatedly, however for the two central performances of Burton and O'Toole (and John Gielgud's cameo) it is really great to watch. And while the film's themes are… More
There are scenes that are dramatically dull and the characters endless speeches do belabor the point repeatedly, however for the two central performances of Burton and O'Toole (and John Gielgud's cameo) it is really great to watch. And while the film's themes are repetitive its still delightfully subversive in moments, especially when it suggests how easily the masses are placated by simple religious gestures.
Constanza B

Depth and quality performances turned in by its stars, refined, unaffected, and effortless, delivering lines from a superb screenplay with an interesting subject at its heart. Sumptuous sets and colorful costumes.
hawk l

Serious, stagey historical drama, Burton and O'Toole are great sparring partners. They and John Gielgud, as French king Louis VII, displaying tremendous acting talent.
cody f

Great film! Burton and O'Toole are so good that its a shame they didn't do more films together. To see them in a 60's version of Tango and Cash or Lethel Weapon would have been one of the best films of all time. It also helps me to sleep at night to hear Robert Osborne… More
Great film! Burton and O'Toole are so good that its a shame they didn't do more films together. To see them in a 60's version of Tango and Cash or Lethel Weapon would have been one of the best films of all time. It also helps me to sleep at night to hear Robert Osborne say that the 2 men were drinking buddies and agreed not to drink until they got the characters down, that lasted 2 days then they were drunk while filming the rest of the picture. O'Toole's King Henry acts like a spoiled child who only cares for one thing in the world, his friend Becket. O'Toole creates one of the best film characters and shines throughout. (I think Gene Wilder uses this character in Start The Revolution Without Me.) Burton's Becket is an incredibly intellegent man who changes a few times throughout the film. All you want to see is these two men together and have them conquer Europe..The only problem I had with the film was how quickly Becket converts into a christian. Add 10 to 15 minutes to this already 2 plus hour film and it could be even better.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Richard Burton as Thomas Becket

            Peter O'Toole as Henry II

            John Gielgud as Louis VII

            Donald Wolfit as Bishop Folliot

            Martita Hunt as Queen Matilda

            Pamela Brown as Queen Eleanor

            Gino Cervi as Cardinal Zambelli

            Paolo Stoppa as Pope Alexander III

            David Weston as Brother John

            Felix Aylmer as Archbishop of Canterbury

            Inigo Jackson as Duke of Leicester

            Sian Phillips as Gwendolen

            Véronique Vendell as Pretty French Girl

            Gerald Lawson as English Peasant

            Jennifer Hilary as Peasant's Daughter

            Riggs O'Hara as Prince Henry

            John Phillips as Bishop of Winchester

            Frank Pettingell as Bishop of York

            Hamilton Dyce as Bishop of Chichester

            Linda Marlowe as Farmer's Daughter

            Geoffrey Bayldon as Brother Philip

            Graham Stark as Pope's Secretary

            Victor Spinetti as French Tailor

            Niall MacGinnis as Baron

            Percy Herbert as Baron

            Christopher Rhodes as Baron

            Peter Jeffrey as Baron

            Patrick Newell as William of Corbeil

            Edward Woodward as Clement
See full cast

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