Becket
starring: Richard Burton, Peter O'Toole, John Gielgud, Gino Cervi, Paolo Stoppa
directed by: Peter Glenville
directed by: Peter Glenville
List Price: $24.98
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Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0030306105390
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
Label: MPI Home Video
Manufacturer: MPI Home Video
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MPI Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: May 15, 2007
Running Time: 150 minutes
Sales Rank: 3145
Studio: MPI Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: March 11, 1964
Related Items:
- A Man for All Seasons (Special Edition)
- The Lion in Winter
- Anne of the Thousand Days / Mary, Queen of Scots
- The Agony and the Ecstasy
- The Queen
- see more
Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video:
Made in 1964, but set in 12th-century England, this is the fact-based story of Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and his dear friend, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Richard Burton). When the king appoints his former drinking buddy to the high religious office, he believes he has placed an ally into power. Instead, he learns that Thomas very much takes his job to heart, prompting Henry to ask that fateful question--'Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?'
This won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and it is a strong example of finely tuned performances--both leading men received Academy Award nominations for their roles. There is much passion and rage on the screen, but the beauty of their performances is that we always know that love is there as well. The film, shot on location in England, is also visually appealing. Trivia buffs may be interested to know that Peter O'Toole played Henry II four years later in The Lion in Winter. --Rochelle O'Gorman
On the DVD:
The primary bonus feature is a treat: a feature-length commentary by Peter O'Toole, accompanied by a moderator. With only occasional gaps of silence, the still sharp and well-spoken O'Toole recalls the making of the film, how he didn't research the historical King Henry ('The author has made the character; that's his job. My job is to play it.'), and his memories of Richard Burton, both personal ('We found that we both enjoyed rugby, we both enjoyed songs, and we both enjoyed drinking, and got along very well.') and professional ('he had an astonishing presence on the stage'). There are also two archival interviews with Burton from 1967 and 1977 (26 minutes total), in which he doesn't discuss Becket, but he does say a lot about his life on stage, he recites some lines, and speaks candidly about his drinking problem.
Don't skip over the interviews with the film's editor Anne Coates and composer Laurence Rosenthal. Coates (7 minutes) has some good stories, and Rosenthal (12 minutes) discusses the influences on his Oscar-nominated score and how he had to teach Gregorian chant to Burton ('He was one of these people whom you really can't teach anything. He had this characteristic that you can only remind him of something he already knows. But he didn't know how to sing Gregorian chant.'). In addition to a photo gallery and the four-and-a-half-minute theatrical trailer, MPI's long-delayed DVD looks better than many major-studio classics. --David Horiuchi
Beyond Becket
 Other Peter O'Toole Films |  Other Richard Burton Films |  More King Henrys on DVD |
Stills from Becket (click for larger image)
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Average Rating: 
Rating:
- Dramatic History at its BestAnother "Burton" at his best, "Becket" gives us a superb Peter O'toole as Henry II. No better ... Read More
Rating:
- Peter O'TooleI love Peter O'Toole as King Henry II. Becket is great but the Lion in Winter is better. Peter plays ... Read More
Rating:
- Excellent!Great move for a great price. I'm a huge fan of The Lion in Winter, in which O'Toole plays the title role ... Read More
Rating:
- Top-notch period drama with great castAt last, we can see this top-notch period drama as it was intended to be seen. Restored in high definition, ... Read More
Rating:
- Great Movie Making - Excellent Theme Historical drama at its best. An amazing bit of history portrayed by Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton. Nominated ... Read More
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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.