Murder in the Cathedral

Name: Murder in the Cathedral
Genre: Drama
Released: 1952-03-25
Duration: 1 h 54 min
Rating: 6.9
Cast: John Groser, Donald Bisset, Clement McCallin

19511951
ApprovedApproved
1h 54min

6.9/10

Drama

The tape version, if one exists, may be 114 minutes but the film, on original release, ran the same 140 minutes in the USA as it did in England. It is an experimental transposition of ... Read allThe tape version, if one exists, may be 114 minutes but the film, on original release, ran the same 140 minutes in the USA as it did in England. It is an experimental transposition of the Eliot play to the screen and, as such, and Eliot a poet, the film deals more with sound and ... Read allThe tape version, if one exists, may be 114 minutes but the film, on original release, ran the same 140 minutes in the USA as it did in England. It is an experimental transposition of the Eliot play to the screen and, as such, and Eliot a poet, the film deals more with sound and meaning than it does film movement, i.e., static shots with voice overs. It is the story o... Read all

6.9/10

Director
- George Hoellering
Writers
- T.S. Eliot(play)
- George Hoellering(screenplay)
Stars

Top credits

See production, box office & company info

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

George Woodbridge in Murder in the Cathedral (1951)

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The tape version, if one exists, may be 114 minutes but the film, on original release, ran the same 140 minutes in the USA as it did in England. It is an experimental transposition of the Eliot play to the screen and, as such, and Eliot a poet, the film deals more with sound and meaning than it does film movement, i.e., static shots with voice overs. It is the story of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, and his struggles against temptation and personal vanity prior to his murder in the great Cathedral. —Les Adams <longhorn1939@suddenlink.net>

vanity thomas becket struggle poet murder 23 more

Taglines
- A Great Play Becomes a Motion Picture Masterpiece!
Genre
- Drama
Certificate
- Approved
Parents guide
- Add content advisory

Trivia
The first film of Leo Mckern.

Connections
Remade as Murder in the Cathedral (1962)

Top review

6/10

Not that bad

This is a film of a play and resembles Greek classical theater in its format. Some of the dialogue from the chorus is a bit wishy-washy and goes on too long. There are a few silly moments that don't work. Most of Beckets dialogue was interesting. Too be honest I'd have too see it again to get what it was about, though the historical narrative just about exists and is interesting. However, filmically, it leaves a lot to be desired. It's like a minimalist cross between Ingmar Bergman and Carl Dreyer. Static shots are held too long. Inserts of ponds and waves on the sea shore could have been done without. This sounds like I'm painting an unflattering picture, but it wasn't really that bad. Put it like this: If you love Carl Dreyer then you'll love this film.

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