A Man for All Seasons (1988) (TV)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Charlton Heston

Writers:

Robert Bolt (play)
Robert Bolt (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Henry VIII wants to divorce his wife, and seeks the approval of the aristocracy. Sir Thomas More is a man of principle and reason...

Plot Keywords:

Courtroom | Political | Based On True Story | Based On Play

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Charlton Heston	...	Sir Thomas More
John Gielgud	...	Cardinal Wolsey
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Lady Alice More
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicolas Amer	...	Chapuys
Brian Badcoe	...	Chamberlain
Milton Cadman	...	Cranmer
Martin Chamberlain	...	King Henry VIII
Jonathan Hackett	...	Richard Rich
John Hudson	...	William Roper
Richard Johnson	...	Duke of Norfolk
Roy Kinnear	...	The Common Man
Valerie Minifie	...	Woman Litigant
Geoff Owen	...	Chapuys' Assistant
Adrienne Thomas	...	Margaret More
Benjamin Whitrow	...	Thomas Cromwell

Runtime:

USA:150 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Agamemnon Films

Trivia:

The original Broadway production opened at the ANTA Playhouse (New York) on November 21, 1961 and played for 637 performances starring Paul Scofield.

Movie Connections:

Version of A Man for All Seasons (1964) (TV)

There can be no "Man For All Seasons' without a Thomas More".

While this television remake of "A Man For All Seasons' is closer to the script of the play,it falls far below the masterpiece original film version. The main problem is the miscasting of Charlton Heston as Thomas More. His performace ranges from Bombast to boredom. Never a strong actor all his flaws show here,especially when compared to Paul Scofield's masterfully poignant performance in the original film.Roy Kinear as Common Man holds best of show honors. He is a delightfully sly narrator and covers the role of Matthew with ease. Vanessa Redgrave is as strong as Wendy Hiller as More's wife Alice but Adrianne Thomas' Lady Margaret falls far short of Susanna York's memorable portayal.Even the great Sir John Gielgud is miscast here. As Cardinal Wolsey his voice is indeed imposing but his slight frame in no way conveys the "full fed prince of the church" that Wolsey was. Over all it is a good effort at preserving the play, but for emotional power,well developed relationships and emotional passion...see the original film.