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United Kingdom, United States · 1964
Rated PG-13 · 2h 28m
Director Peter Glenville
Starring Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi
Genre Drama, History
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King Henry II of England has trouble with the Church. When the Archbishop of Canterbury dies, he will appoint his old drinking and wenching buddy, Thomas Becket, technically a deacon of the church, to the post. Unfortunately, Becket takes the job seriously and provides opposition to Henry.
Dully overcomposed, the film evinces a Disneyed sense of palace life and reaches a laughable apotheosis when Henry and Becket's rendezvous on a beach is staged as a reunion between scorned lovers. In 1964, the film's innuendo might have seemed daring; today it's close to ridiculous.
Philadelphia Inquirer by Carrie Rickey
Peter Glenville's staging of the material is the opposite of cinematic, but the pleasure of these two extravagantly gifted actors at the top of their game - their diction! their conviction! their beauty! - is enormous.
One hundred forty-nine minutes of pure, unadulterated culture.
Washington Post by Desson Thomson
It is a snapshot of a great actor in his prime and a chance for us to see one of yesteryear's great films in all its kingly luster.
There's much to be said for a film that, however cheesily realized, sticks in memory for four decades.
Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan
While major stars thrust together on screen often end up undercutting each other, one of the pleasures of Becket is how easily and generously these two commanding actors play off each other, each allowing the other the space to make the most of their individual roles.
Portland Oregonian by M. E. Russell
O'Toole just keeps turning up the volume, and it's thrilling to watch.
Chicago Tribune by Michael Wilmington
Becket, now richly restored, is one of those '60s British theatrical spectaculars that we always imagine as a bit better than they were.
Christian Science Monitor by Peter Rainer
Burton is extraordinary in one of his rare good movie roles and O'Toole is regally madcap and larger than life. No doubt his Oscar-nominated appearance in "Venus" has prompted this rerelease of Becket. They make a fascinating then-and-now combination.
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