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A depiction of the conflict between King Henry VIII of England and his Lord Chancellor, Sir Thomas More, who refuses to swear the Oath of Supremacy declaring Henry Supreme Head of the Church in England.
CinemaSerf
Sep 2, 2024 · via TMDB
Paul Scofield is superb as the Lord Chancellor of England ultimately torn between his loyalty to his king and to his conscience. As Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) becomes more and more infatuated by Anne Boleyn (Vanessa Redgrave) he insists that all of his subjects acknowledge his absolute supremacy over the church. Most, fearful for their lives and property, acquiesce but Sir Thomas More (Scofield) cannot. The King has long relied on the honest counsel of his friend as so initially is content to allow him to retire, but soon those conspiring against More use everything at their disposal to bring him to ruin. Wendy Hiller sensitively portrays his stoic wife desperate to save her husband from the scaffold but cognisant of his overwhelming sense of right and wrong. Leo McKern also stands out as his scheming successor Thomas Cromwell and there is a cameo from Orson Welles as the clearly out-of-favour Cardinal Wolsey. Robert Bolt adapts his own stage play without compromising the genuine sentiment of his original work - fear, honesty, integrity and power - making this a thought-provoking watch from Fred Zinnemann.
John Chard
May 8, 2016 · via TMDB
The agony of the moral high ground. Fred Zinnemann directs and Robert Bolt adapts the screenplay from his own play. It stars Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Robert Shaw, Orson Welles, Susannah York, Nigel Davenport and John Hurt. Music is by Georges Delerue and cinematography by Ted Moore. Plot has Scofield as Sir Thomas More, the man who refused to cede to the mighty machinations of King Henry VIII (Shaw). It's very much an actors movie, beautifully literate and costumed and photographed up to the nines. So not one for those more keen on the action orientated historical epic, then! The story is thriving on the anguish of Thomas More, who is torn between loyalty to his King and his own moral beliefs, the beliefs of his religion system and the potential damning of his soul. The political and religious machinations positively pulse throughout, vividly brought to life by a cast of great thespians (Scofield is as great as you have heard). Great credit has to go to Zinneman, one of the deserved recipients of the 6 Oscars the film garnered. He never lets the cast run away with things, no chewing the scenery or smell the fart acting, he keeps them in check and they respond by providing an utterly fascinating and compelling historical saga. But most of all, with all the royal pomp on show, it's the intelligence of the writing that shines brightest. The dialogue via the sharp script throws cloaks of suspicion over everything being played out. Religion and politics, huh, it's for the birds. Top film making. 8/10
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Paul Scofield
Thomas More
Wendy Hiller
Alice More
Leo McKern
Thomas Cromwell
Robert Shaw
King Henry VIII
Orson Welles
Cardinal Wolsey
Susannah York
Margaret More
Nigel Davenport
The Duke of Norfolk
John Hurt
Richard Rich
Corin Redgrave
William Roper (the Younger)
Colin Blakely
Matthew
Cyril Luckham
Archbishop Cranmer
Jack Gwillim
Chief Justice
Thomas Heathcote
Boatman
Yootha Joyce
Averil Machin
Anthony Nicholls
King's Representative
John Nettleton
Jailer
Paul Hardwick
Courtier
Michael Latimer
Norfolk's Aide
Martin Boddey
Governor of Tower
Matt Zimmerman
Messenger
Vanessa Redgrave
Anne Boleyn
Gay Hamilton
2nd Handmaiden (uncredited)
Gina Warwick
3rd Handmaiden (uncredited)
Raymond Adamson
(uncredited)
Arnold Ridley
Innkeeper (uncredited)
Nick Tate
Master at Arms (uncredited)
David Collings
King's Messenger (uncredited)
Ted Moore
Director of Photography
Fred Zinnemann
Director
Patrick Carey
Second Unit Director
Fred Zinnemann
Producer
Georges Delerue
Conductor
Georges Delerue
Original Music Composer
Robert Bolt
Screenplay
Robert Bolt
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Dec 12, 1966
New York City, New York
Dec 16, 1966
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