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Becket

Play trailer Poster for Becket PG-13 1964 2h 28m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 28 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Debauched King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) installs his longtime court facilitator Thomas Becket (Richard Burton) as the Archbishop of Canterbury, assuming that his old friend will be a compliant and loyal lackey in the King's ongoing battles with the church. But Becket unexpectedly finds his true calling on the ecclesiastical side, and aligns himself against the king's selfish wishes, causing a rift and an eventual showdown not only between the two men, but also the institutions they represent.
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Becket

Critics Reviews

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Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune 03/08/2007
3/4
Ripe with homoerotic undercurrents -- which O'Toole mines with relish in his great hysterical performance, full of cunning, eloquence and mad outbursts. Go to Full Review Desson Thomson Washington Post 03/01/2007
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. Go to Full Review Mark Feeney Boston Globe 02/23/2007
2.5/4
Everything that Doctor Strangelove is -- daring and inspired, vibrant and brilliantly staged -- Becket is not. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 08/09/2023
5/10
It’s all a touch too simple and uninspiring, despite an undoubtedly wry script. Go to Full Review Zita Short InSession Film 02/07/2023
If you really want to think about the conflict between religious and political movements and the necessary separation between them then this will be for you. Go to Full Review Judith Crist New York Herald Tribune 08/15/2022
The power of the film is in the close-up, the concentration on the two protagonists. And what is so fascinating in this exploration is that Burton and O'Toole provide no ultimate answers for each other or for us. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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James H 6d The acting of both Burton and Otoole amazing as always, past that and some great shots, can be a bit slow.. long dialogue, so may not be for everyone.. But the acting of the Two leads make this worth a Watch! See more Isaiah Y @zayman2 Dec 30 Great performances by Richard Burton and especially Peter O'Toole See more Mary S 01/11/2025 The assault on divine right of kings proved central to the English, who recognized in Henry II a greedy brute. Becket remains a key figure in English history and in Catholicism. See more Jelisije J @jjosifovic 01/09/2025 A fantastic film about the love a king had for the only man who gave him any as semblance of happiness and how he must destroy him for finding love in God. See more Maya S 11/30/2023 The story of a childish king who kills the friend he loves best in the world because this man has discovered his true vocation as the archbishop. The mise-en-scène is a bit stately, this could have been a brilliant film but it only turned out to be a very good one because it got bogged down in its grand scenery (the whole of Canterbury Cathedral on a studio lot and a soundstage) and rather silly costumes with too much polyester velvet and Disney-style headpieces. Burton and O'Toole are a wonderful pair and give it their best, it's worthwile watching just for their on screen chemistry. See more Shay C 10/24/2023 It's a very good dramatic experience. This movie has a very classic feel you won't see today. See more Read all reviews
Becket

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Cast & Crew

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Peter Glenville

Director

Richard Burton

Thomas à Becket

Peter O'Toole

King Henry II

John Gielgud

King Louis VII of France

Gino Cervi

Cardinal Zambelli

Paolo Stoppa

Pope Alexander III

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Becket

Becket (1964) Becket (1964) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Debauched King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) installs his longtime court facilitator Thomas Becket (Richard Burton) as the Archbishop of Canterbury, assuming that his old friend will be a compliant and loyal lackey in the King's ongoing battles with the church. But Becket unexpectedly finds his true calling on the ecclesiastical side, and aligns himself against the king's selfish wishes, causing a rift and an eventual showdown not only between the two men, but also the institutions they represent.
Director
Peter Glenville
Producer
Hal B. Wallis
Screenwriter
Edward Anhalt
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Wallis-Hazen, Keep Films
Rating
PG-13 (Some Sexual Content|Violence)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 11, 1964, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 20, 2011
Runtime
2h 28m
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