A Man for All Seasons (1966)

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Robert Bolt (play)
Robert Bolt (screenplay)

Release Date:

1967 (Japan)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

...a motion picture for all times!

Plot:

The story of Thomas More, who stood up to King Henry VIII when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarriage.

Plot Keywords:

Thomas More | Divorce | Chancellor | Catholic | King Henry VIII

Awards:

Won 6 Oscars. Another 27 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Paul Scofield	...	Sir Thomas More
Wendy Hiller	...	Alice More
Leo McKern	...	Thomas Cromwell
Robert Shaw	...	King Henry VIII
Orson Welles	...	Cardinal Wolsey
Susannah York	...	Margaret More
Nigel Davenport	...	The Duke of Norfolk
John Hurt	...	Richard Rich
Corin Redgrave	...	William Roper (the Younger)
Colin Blakely	...	Matthew
Cyril Luckham	...	Archbishop Cranmer
Jack Gwillim	...	Chief Justice
Thomas Heathcote	...	Boatman
Yootha Joyce	...	Averil Machin
Anthony Nicholls	...	King's Representative

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Latin | Spanish | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | West Germany:12 (nf) | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:U | USA:Approved (original rating) | USA:G (re-rating) (1971)

Filming Locations:

Beaulieu River, Hampshire, England, UK

Company:

Highland Films

Trivia:

Eira Heath considered turning her part down because it was so tiny.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the trial of More, the guards at the back of the room change the direction they're facing several times.

Quotes:

Sir Thomas More: [to the Chief Justice] Death comes for us all, My Lord... even for kings.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The O'Reilly Factor: (2008-08-21)" (2008)

Brilliant acting

A Man for all Seasons is simply a fantastic film which I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical dramas. The film is directed by the late great Fred Zinnemann, who has helmed such diverse classics as From here to Eternity and Day of the Jackal, brings a sense of immediacy to the screen, and thereby transcends some of the screenplays stage like origins.

Paul Scofield plays the title role of Sir Thomas More. His dilemma being that he's forced against his will to acknowledge King Henry VIII divorce. The film's action therefore is confounded to a battle of wits between Sir Thomas Moore and his opponents at the Kings court.

That might not sound like much in terms of excitement in the classical sense, but this is offset by the brilliant acting of the entire cast and especially Paul Scofield, who received an Academy Award for his outstanding work, as Sir Thomas Moore and his main nemesis Thomas Cromwell, played by Leo McKern, exchange arguments and counterarguments in a bid for victory, where only one of them may come out the winner.

The sumptuous productions values must also be noted as they play a crucial part in the film's overall success. Both the cinematography and the music is some the best I've seen in a period-piece such as this one. As I've just said, a truly fantastic achievement by all involved parties. Go and see for yourselves!! You won't be disappointed! I'll guarantee You that!