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Becket

Becket

Drama · History · 1964

Thomas Becket, Henry II's longtime advisor, finds his friendship with the debauched king corroding when he is unwillingly appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury in an attempt to gain absolute loyalty from the Church.

Movie details

Becket

“An age of rampant lusts, abandon, runaway passions. An age brought bristling to life by two of the most exciting stars of our time!”

1964 Drama · History 2h 28m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.2 / 10

Community rating

Thomas Becket, Henry II's longtime advisor, finds his friendship with the debauched king corroding when he is unwillingly appointed as Archbishop of Canterbury in an attempt to gain absolute loyalty from the Church.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Becket?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Peter Glenville

Written by

Edward Anhalt

Richard Burton

Richard Burton

Thomas Becket

Peter O'Toole

Peter O'Toole

King Henry II of England

John Gielgud

John Gielgud

King Louis VII of France

Gino Cervi

Gino Cervi

Cardinal Zambelli

Paolo Stoppa

Paolo Stoppa

Pope Alexander III

Donald Wolfit

Donald Wolfit

Bishop Folliot

David Weston

David Weston

Brother John

Court is in session

Put Becket on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.