IMDb > Becket (1964)
Becket
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Overview

User Rating:
8.1/10   4,710 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 41% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Peter Glenville
Writers:
Jean Anouilh (play)
Lucienne Hill (play)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Becket on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 March 1964 (USA) more
Tagline:
An age of rampant lusts, abandon, runaway passions. An age brought bristling to life by two of the most exciting stars of our time! more
Plot:
An English king comes to terms with his affection for his close friend and confidant, who finds his true honor by observing God's divine will rather than the king's. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 12 wins & 22 nominations more
User Comments:
Towering performances by 2 actors at the zenith of their powers. more (63 total)
US TV Schedule:
Wed. Nov. 1112:30 AMTCM   

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content and violence.
Runtime:
148 min | Argentina:150 min
Country:
UK | USA
Language:
English | Latin
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Originally produced on Broadway in 1959 with Laurence Olivier as Becket and Anthony Quinn as King Henry. When Quinn left the play to make films, Olivier took over the role of Henry and Arthur Kennedy was brought in to play Becket. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Hanry II's men kill brother John, Becket turns to them. The next shot shows Becket still in prayer facing away and then begins to turn. more
Quotes:
King Henry II: I'm suddenly very intelligent. It probably comes from making love to that French girl last night. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in The Sinister Saga of Making 'The Stunt Man' (2000) (V) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
30 out of 34 people found the following comment useful.
Towering performances by 2 actors at the zenith of their powers., 13 June 2004
Author: edward-speiran (edward.speiran@verizon.net) from Brooklyn, New York

My comments here tend to be Misremembrances of things past. I know I saw "Becket" decades ago while I must have been suffering from a periodic bout of reviling Richard Burton. Having recently seen "Cleopatra" again, I will forgive myself. Still, there are movies that I've enjoyed - "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" and "The Night of the Iguana", to name 2 - so I thought I'd give "Becket" another try.

Historical movies are among my favorites, although the IMDB parameter of not spoiling restricts me from discussing plot. But this is a movie that made me click on here to see who directed it...since directing Burton and O'Toole must have been like being a meterologist tracking a tornado and a hurricane. Their synergy is astounding...but whereas O'Toole launches himself on occassion into a thespian stratosphere it is Burton's performance that is incandescent. There are scenes..."inner monologues" - queries to God, where the ribald Burton is transformed into a man illuminated by a spiritual puzzle - he cannot believe that he is becoming who he is becoming - and it is Burton's challenge to share that bewilderment with us.

Well, I'm comforted that I can now stretch the glory days of historical film-making at least to "Becket." Any film in which John Gielgud, Martita Hunt, Felix Aylmer and Pamela Brown are "supporting" - how do I put it, "supporting" performances such as these are most other actors' triumphs. The costumes and sets are sumptous. Finis.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (63 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Becket (1964)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
O'Toole's King or Burton's Becket????? VOTE MyJRy
This or 'A Man for All Seasons' jimmyd-5
Becket was a Norman??????? bobcan653
They don't make 'em like this any more david__T
Homosexual Themes - SPOILERS sosale
Music Score opinion john-wheat
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Fratello sole, sorella luna Der Name der Rose Andrey Rublyov Luther The Hunchback of Notre Dame
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Biography section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.