Becket 1964

type: Movie

language: English

duration: 148 min

genre: historical

theme: biographical

director: Peter Glenville

Score: 6 / 10

Becket is a 1964 British historical drama film about the historic, tumultuous relationship between Henry II of England and his friend-turned-bishop Thomas Becket. It is a dramatic film adaptation of the 1959 play Becket or the Honour of God by Jean Anouilh made by Hal Wallis Productions and released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Peter Glenville and produced by Hal B. Wallis with Joseph H. Hazen as executive producer. The screenplay was written by Edward Anhalt based on Anouilh's play. The music score was by Laurence Rosenthal, the cinematography by Geoffrey Unsworth and the editing by Anne V. Coates.

Plot

Thomas Becket is a advisor and companion of the carousing King Henry II. Henry appoints Becket as Lord Chancellor to have a close confidant in this position whom he can completely control. Henry is more interested in escaping his royal duties through drunken forays in the royal hunting grounds, and womanising among peasant women. He becomes increasingly dependent on Becket, a Saxon commoner, who arranges these debaucheries when he is not busy running Henry's court. This foments great resentment on the part of Henry's Norman noblemen, who distrust and envy this Saxon upstart, as well as Henry's wife Queen Eleanor and Henry's mother Empress Matilda, who see Becket as an unnatural and unseemly influence upon the King.

Awards

Cast

More details

author	Edward Anhalt Jean Anouilh
award	Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay National Board of Review Award for Best Film National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
contentLocation	England
director	Peter Glenville
editor	Anne V. Coates
genre	drama historical
keywords	best of canonise canonization canterbury church eleanor of aquitaine empress matilda excommunication folk hero henry ii henry ii of england holy see hunt kill king henry ii king louis lord chancellor louis vii of france meet military camp norman on the beach pope pope alexander iii queen eleanor run the king vatican whip will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest? young girl
musicBy	Laurence Rosenthal
nomination	Academy Award for Best Actor Academy Award for Best Art Direction, Color Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color Academy Award for Best Costume Design, Color Academy Award for Best Director Academy Award for Best Film Editing Academy Award for Best Original Score Academy Award for Best Picture Academy Award for Best Sound Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay
producer	Hal B. Wallis
productionCompany	Hal Wallis Productions
publisher	Paramount Pictures
theme	biographical biographical drama epic religion