Becket
DVD - 2007 DVD Drama Becket 1 On Shelf No requests on this item
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Call Number: DVD Drama Becket
On Shelf At: Downtown Library
Location & Checkout Length | Call Number | Checkout Length | Item Status |
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Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout |
DVD Drama Becket | 1-week checkout | On Shelf |
Based on the Broadway play "Becket" by Jean Anouilh ; produced upon the stage by David Merrick.
Originally released as a motion picture in 1964.
"Restored by the Academy Film Archive Restoration Funding provided by The Film Foundation."
Special features: Commentary with Peter O'Toole; interviews with editor Anne V. Coates and composer Laurence Rosenthal; archival interviews with Richard Burton; theatrical trailer; still gallery; TV spot.
Peter O'Toole, Richard Burton, John Gielgud, Donald Wolfit, Martita Hunt, Pamela Brown.
Henry II surprises England by naming his fellow rogue and trusted confidant Thomas Becket as Chancellor. But when Henry next appoints him Archbishop of Canterbury, Becket shocks the world by openly defying the King with his newfound faith and compassion. Will a desperate ruler now destroy a beloved friend to save his splintering kingdom?
DVD, region 1, anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) presentation; Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo.
Contents: Becket.
REVIEWS & SUMMARIES
Library Journal ReviewCOMMUNITY REVIEWS
50 years later, it is still enjoyable to watch. submitted by Tassos on December 24, 2019, 8:54am Fine movie. See it.
Becket
submitted by leighsprauer on February 27, 2024, 7:35am
Becket is the true story (or at least I assume it is - I guess I don't know a lot about St. Thomas Becket, really) of the archbishop's defense of the church against King Henry II. Despite a misspent youth and being extremely self-centered and opportunistic, Becket undergoes a conversion when he, for purely political reasons, is named the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Although there are glimmers of a decent character before, his change into a defender of God's and the Church's honor comes quite suddenly and inexplicably in the movie. Luckily, Richard Burton is wonderful as Becket: he is able to convey Becket's conversion with only meaningful looks and a few heartfelt prayers - no angelic choirs or glowing lights from heaven necessary. Still, though, it seems very abrupt, as does the end of the movie. The tensions between the ruling-class Normans and the local Saxons is a major theme in the movie, but it's not adequately explained why Becket became such a hero to the Saxons. The focus of the movie is instead on Henry II's relationship with him, which is intense and odd.
All in all, it's not a bad movie, but not especially inspiring or moving.
LANGUAGE OPTIONS
English (Dolby 5.1, Dolby 2.0), French (Dolby 2.0) or Spanish (Dolby 2.0) dialogue, English subtitles.
PUBLISHED
[Orland Park, Ill.] : MPI Home Video, [2007]
Year Published: 2007
Description: 1 videodisc (ca. 150 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.
Language: English
Format: DVD
ISBN/STANDARD NUMBER
0788604708
9780788604706
ADDITIONAL CREDITS
Wallis, Hal B., 1899-1986.
Anhalt, Edward, 1914-2000.
Glenville, Peter, 1913-1996.
O'Toole, Peter, 1932-
Burton, Richard, 1925-1984.
Gielgud, John, 1904-2000.
Wolfit, Donald, 1902-1968.
Hunt, Martita.
Brown, Pamela, 1917-1975.
Anouilh, Jean, 1910-1987.
Merrick, David, 1911-2000.
CPI (Firm)
MPI Home Video (Firm)
SUBJECTS
Henry -- II, -- King of England, -- 1133-1189 -- Drama.
Thomas, -- à Becket, Saint, -- 1118?-1170 -- Drama.
Privy councils -- England -- Drama.
Friendship -- England -- Drama.
Great Britain -- Kings and rulers -- Drama.
England -- Social life and customs -- 1066-1485 -- Drama.
England -- Drama.
Feature films.
Historical films.
Historical -- Feature.
Feature films.
Historical films.