Becket

PG-13

Released Mar 11, 1964

2h 28m

History

Drama

List

76%

Tomatometer

29 Reviews

87%

Audience Score

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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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.

Rated: 3/4

Mar 8, 2007

Full Review

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.

Mar 1, 2007

Full Review

Mark Feeney

Boston Globe

Everything that Doctor Strangelove is -- daring and inspired, vibrant and brilliantly staged -- Becket is not.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 23, 2007

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Matthew Pejkovic

Matt's Movie Reviews

Beautifully dressed and all so relevant in its subject matter, Becket still stands as one of the great historical costume dramas.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 16, 2024

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It’s all a touch too simple and uninspiring, despite an undoubtedly wry script.

Rated: 5/10

Aug 9, 2023

Full Review

Zita Short

InSession Film

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.

Feb 7, 2023

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Maya S

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/30/23

Full Review

Shay C

It's a very good dramatic experience. This movie has a very classic feel you won't see today.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/23

Full Review

Leaburn O

I wish more films based on seminal historic events were released these days. I just can't see Hollywood producing something from the Middle Ages anymore which is a shame as this was a brilliantly executed (pun intended) biopic of Thomas Becket and really brings the story to life for future generations. More of these epics please.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/20/23

Full Review

Liam D

A true acting masterclass from some of the greatest British actors

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/05/22

Full Review

KARL O

Two lead performances at their height delivering power dialogue. The movie is overlong - plenty of pageantry that could be trimmed at no cost. Lots of badly cast support - Some of those teens have five o clock shadow and that's just the girls. As with all costume dramas of the period they look very wiggy. This one is due a remake. There's lots of greatness in there.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/26/21

Full Review

william d

I love the grand historical epic brimming over with extras. This one just didn't quite do it for me though. It drags a bit too much.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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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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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, Keep Films, Wallis-Hazen
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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