DramaHistory

A Man for All Seasons

- ...a motion picture for all times!

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.

Release Date : 1966-12-13

Language :EnglishLatin

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Highland Films

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles : A Man for All Seasons

Cast

Character Name : Thomas More

Original Name : Paul Scofield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alice More

Original Name : Wendy Hiller

Gender : Female

Character Name : Thomas Cromwell

Original Name : Leo McKern

Gender : Male

Character Name : King Henry VIII

Original Name : Robert Shaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cardinal Wolsey

Original Name : Orson Welles

Gender : Male

Character Name : Margaret More

Original Name : Susannah York

Gender : Female

Character Name : The Duke of Norfolk

Original Name : Nigel Davenport

Gender : Male

Character Name : Richard Rich

Original Name : John Hurt

Gender : Male

Character Name : William Roper (the Younger)

Original Name : Corin Redgrave

Gender : Male

Character Name : Matthew

Original Name : Colin Blakely

Gender : Male

Character Name : Archbishop Cranmer

Original Name : Cyril Luckham

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chief Justice

Original Name : Jack Gwillim

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boatman

Original Name : Thomas Heathcote

Gender : Male

Character Name : Averil Machin

Original Name : Yootha Joyce

Gender : Female

Character Name : King's Representative

Original Name : Anthony Nicholls

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jailer

Original Name : John Nettleton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Matthew's Wife

Original Name : Eira Heath

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maid

Original Name : Molly Urquhart

Gender : Female

Character Name : Courtier

Original Name : Paul Hardwick

Gender : Male

Character Name : Norfolk's Aide

Original Name : Michael Latimer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Captain of Guard

Original Name : Philip Brack

Gender : Male

Character Name : Governor of Tower

Original Name : Martin Boddey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Executioner

Original Name : Eric Mason

Gender : Male

Character Name : Messenger

Original Name : Matt Zimmerman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Anne Boleyn

Original Name : Vanessa Redgrave

Gender : Female

Character Name : 1st Handmaiden (uncredited)

Original Name : Fiona Hartford

Gender : Male

Character Name : 2nd Handmaiden (uncredited)

Original Name : Gay Hamilton

Gender : Female

Character Name : 3rd Handmaiden (uncredited)

Original Name : Gina Warwick

Gender : Female

Character Name : 2nd Maid (uncredited)

Original Name : Julie Martin

Gender : Female

Character Name : (uncredited)

Original Name : Raymond Adamson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Innkeeper (uncredited)

Original Name : Arnold Ridley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Master at Arms (uncredited)

Original Name : Nick Tate

Gender : Male

Character Name : King's Messenger (uncredited)

Original Name : David Collings

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

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

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-09-02

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.