King Henry II of England comes to terms with his affection for his close friend and confidant Thomas Becket, who finds his true honor by observing God's divine will rather than the King's.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 1 Oscar. Another 13 wins & 23 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Richard Burton | ... |
Thomas Becket
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| Peter O'Toole | ... |
King Henry II
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| John Gielgud | ... |
King Louis VII of France
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| Gino Cervi | ... |
Cardinal Zambelli
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| Paolo Stoppa | ... |
Pope Alexander III
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| Donald Wolfit | ... |
Bishop Folliot
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| David Weston | ... |
Brother John
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| Martita Hunt | ... |
Empress Matilda
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| Pamela Brown | ... |
Queen Eleanor [of Aquitaine]
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| Percy Herbert | ... |
Baron
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| Siân Phillips | ... |
Gwendolen
(as Sian Phillips)
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Inigo Jackson | ... |
Robert de Beaumont
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| Felix Aylmer | ... |
Archbishop of Canterbury
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| Niall MacGinnis | ... |
Baron
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| Christopher Rhodes | ... |
Baron
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| John Phillips | ... |
Bishop of Winchester
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| Frank Pettingell | ... |
Bishop of York
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| Véronique Vendell | ... |
French prostitute
(as Veronique Vendell)
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| Jennifer Hilary | ... |
Peasant's Daughter
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David Davenport |
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Hamilton Dyce | ... |
Bishop of Chichester
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| Peter Jeffrey | ... |
Baron
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| Michael Miller | ... |
Baron
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Peter Prowse | ... |
Baron
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Jack Taylor |
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Chris Adcock | ... |
Sergeant (uncredited)
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Michael Anthony | ... |
Courtier (uncredited)
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| Geoffrey Bayldon | ... |
Brother Philip (uncredited)
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Roy Beck | ... |
Young French boy (uncredited)
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Garrett Cassell | ... |
Man (uncredited)
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| Dave Clark | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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| George Lane Cooper | ... |
Soldier (uncredited)
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| Ian Cullen | ... |
Servant (uncredited)
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| Ivor Dean | ... |
Monk (uncredited)
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| Guy Deghy | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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John Doye | ... |
Priest (uncredited)
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Paul Farrell | ... |
Farmer (uncredited)
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Patrick Halpin | ... |
Monk (uncredited)
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Laurie Heath | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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Laurence Hepworth | ... |
Bishop (uncredited)
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Rose Howlett | ... |
Farmer's Wife (uncredited)
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| Magda Konopka | ... |
Girl on Balcony (uncredited)
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Gerald Lawson | ... |
English Peasant (uncredited)
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| Wilfrid Lawson | ... |
Old Soldier (uncredited)
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Paul Layton | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Tutte Lemkow | ... |
French Courtier (uncredited)
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| Linda Marlowe | ... |
Farmer's Daughter (uncredited)
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| John Moulder-Brown | ... |
Boy (uncredited)
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| Patrick Newell | ... |
William of Corbeil (uncredited)
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Riggs O'Hara | ... |
Prince Henry (uncredited)
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Frederick Piper | ... |
Monk (uncredited)
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Dido Plumb | ... |
Man in Crowd (uncredited)
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| Steve Plytas | ... |
Cardinal (uncredited)
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| Robert Rietty | ... |
Alexander III (uncredited) (voice)
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| Alex Scott | ... |
Priest (uncredited)
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Terence Soall | ... |
Minor Role (uncredited)
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| Victor Spinetti | ... |
French Tailor (uncredited)
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| Graham Stark | ... |
Pope's Secretary (uncredited)
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Fred Stroud | ... |
Church Guard (uncredited)
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| Elizabeth Taylor | ... |
Village Extra with Blonde Wig (uncredited)
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Royston Tickner | ... |
Royal Servant (uncredited)
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| Fred Wood | ... |
Congregation Member (at Bishops Service) (uncredited)
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| Edward Woodward | ... |
Clement (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Peter Glenville | ||
Written by
| Jean Anouilh | ... | (play "Becket") |
| Lucienne Hill | ... | (play "Becket" as translated by) |
| Edward Anhalt | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Joseph H. Hazen | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
| Peter O'Toole | ... | co-producer (uncredited) |
| Hal B. Wallis | ... | producer (as Hal Wallis) |
Music by
| Laurence Rosenthal | ||
Cinematography by
| Geoffrey Unsworth | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Anne V. Coates | ||
Editorial Department
| Willy Kemplen | ... | first assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Sally Nicholl | ||
Production Design by
| John Bryan | ||
Art Direction by
| Maurice Carter | ||
Set Decoration by
| Robert Cartwright | ... | (set decorations) |
| Patrick McLoughlin | ... | (set decorations) |
Costume Design by
| Margaret Furse | ||
Makeup Department
| Eric Allwright | ... | makeup artist |
| Charles E. Parker | ... | makeup artist (as Charles Parker) |
| Joan Smallwood | ... | hairdresser |
Production Management
| Denis Holt | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Colin M. Brewer | ... | assistant director (as Colin Brewer) |
Art Department
| Ferdinand Bellan | ... | scenic artist |
| Albert Blackshaw | ... | construction manager |
| Alan Evans | ... | scenic artist |
| Jack Maxsted | ... | assistant art director |
| John New | ... | apprentice carpenter (uncredited) |
| W. Simpson Robinson | ... | scenic artist |
| Gilbert Wood | ... | scenic artist |
| Ken Barley | ... | apprentice plasterer (uncredited) |
| Peter Mullins | ... | props (uncredited) |
| Alan Roderick-Jones | ... | junior draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Arthur Wicks | ... | dressing props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Buster Ambler | ... | sound (as A.W. Ambler) |
| Bob Jones | ... | sound (as Robert Jones) |
| Winston Ryder | ... | sound editor |
Visual Effects by
| Alan Maley | ... | matte artist (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Peter Diamond | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Nosher Powell | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Eddie Stacey | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Ernest Day | ... | camera operator |
| Maurice Gillett | ... | supervising electrician (uncredited) |
| Peter MacDonald | ... | focus puller (uncredited) |
| Bob Penn | ... | still photographer (uncredited) |
| Len Prout | ... | gaffer (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| John Wilson-Apperson | ... | wardrobe master (as John W. Apperson) |
| Evelyn Gibbs | ... | wardrobe mistress (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Muir Mathieson | ... | conductor / musical director (uncredited) |
| Laurence Rosenthal | ... | orchestrator (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Phyllis Crocker | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Richard McWhorter | ... | assistant to producer |
| David Merrick | ... | producer: New York stage play |
| Mike Maidlin | ... | unit publicist (uncredited) |
| Charles Wilder | ... | production accountant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Paramount Pictures (1964) (United States) (theatrical)
- Paramount British Pictures (1964) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Film AB Paramount (1964) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1967) (United States) (theatrical) (re-release)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1968) (United States) (tv)
- MPI Home Video (1994) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- MPI Home Video (2002) (United States) (VHS)
- MPI Home Video (2007) (United States) (DVD)
- EuroVideo (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
- Another World Entertainment (2010) (Denmark) (DVD)
- Art Free (2009) (Greece)
- CBS / Fox Video (1983) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Channel 5 Television (1986) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Image Entertainment (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- MPI Home Video (United States) (VHS)
- Odyssey Video (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- The Criterion Channel (2022) (United States) (tv) (streaming)
- Video Classics (1980) (Australia) (VHS)
- Video Communications (VCI) (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Decca Records (soundtrack album)
- Panavision (camera equipment provided by)
- Screen Time Images (color correction)
- Screen Time Images (film restoration)
- Screen Time Images (film transfer)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
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 on-going 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. Written by Jwelch5742 |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | An age of rampant lusts, abandon, runaway passions. An age brought bristling to life by two of the most exciting stars of our time! See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $3,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Richard Burton initially turned this movie down because he felt the press would have a field day over the idea of him playing a saint. He also said he would be more suited to playing Henry II. See more » |
| Goofs | Thomas Becket was a Norman (Thomas Bequet), not a Saxon. Jean Anouilh based the play's script on Augustin Thierry's 1825 work "The History of the Conquest of England by the Normans", which presumed that Becket was a Saxon. Anouilh admitted he'd learned the truth after completing the play, but decided to leave it as is because it made for a better story. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Precious Images (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Dies Irae See more » |
| Quotes |
Thomas a Becket:
Tonight you can do me the honor of christening my forks. King Henry II: Forks? Thomas a Becket: Yes, from Florence. New little invention. It's for pronging meat and carrying it to the mouth. It saves you dirtying your fingers. King Henry II: But then you dirty the fork. Thomas a Becket: Yes, but it's washable. King Henry II: So are your fingers. I don't see the point. See more » |