A Man for All Seasons | Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller

A Man for All Seasons | Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller | A Movie for All Seasons

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A Man for All Seasons

	A Man for All Seasons Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller Sony Pictures, 1994 average customer review:based on 199 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Movie for All Seasons

You'd be hard pressed to find a film so profound as "A Man for All Seasons"; it borders on Shakespearean in its tone. Yes, it shows only one side of Sir Thomas More, and we fleetingly glimpse More's intense revulsion toward Protestantism and its followers (he sent some of them to the stake for heresy). But the side that the movie portrays is accurate, as Sir Thomas deeply loved his family and believed in educating both his son and his daughters (he had six girls: Three were his own, two were adopted, and one became his ward and later married his son). Sir Thomas also displayed a flashing wit that could run the gamut from light-hearted to biting. Paul Scofield's Oscar-winning portrayal of Sir Thomas has yet to be topped; not even Charlton Heston could do it. Orson Welles is perfect as Henry VIII's right-hand man Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, while Leo McKern's cunning Thomas Cromwell and John Hurt's sleazebag-in-training Richard Rich send chills down your spine. Robert Shaw's Henry VIII is a roaring lion who brooks no opposition from anyone. Wendy Hiller is delightfully gruff as Dame Alice More, Susannah York is radiant as Sir Thomas's daughter Margaret More, and Colin Redgrave is great as Margaret's outspoken suitor Will Roper. The settings and the costumes are the cherries on the cake, though the Tudor gown that Margaret wears when she first meets King Henry did not come into fashion until a decade later.

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A Movie for All Seasons

There can be little argument about the merit of this film winning the 1966 Best Picture award. The acting is superb, the authenticity is extraordinary, and the dialogue is absolutely captivating. Paul Scofield gives perhaps the best acting performance in the history of cinema. They simply don't make movies like this any more. Unfortunately, most of the younger generation will likely find this movie to be boring because it lacks action and has no sex, profanity or graphic violence -- a sad reflection of the times and of our society in general.

review

haven't watched it yet but Paul Greenberg wrote it was a good story and that's good enough for me...i'll watch it someday

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Heartwarming and Encouraging Film for the Catholic!

This film is a great example of the saying that a great script is what makes a film great and Robert Bolt's excellent screenplay comes to life in spectacular manner in this film. For Catholics who are jaded or have somehow forgotten the significance of their faith will find this film together with "The Song of Bernadette" to be very encouraging as it reminds us of just how precious the faith was to our ancestors of the faith who were willing to sacrifice their lives to ensure that doctrinal purity is preserved for posterity. Having also read St. Thomas More's written works and especially those written during his captivity in the the Tower of London, I've grown to really respect this great man whose superior intellect is evident in his very lucid and considered writing style. No wonder he is the patron saint of lawyers.

This dvd version is also pretty well restored picture quality wise and although the sound quality is in mono those with Dolby Pro Logic capabilities can still enjoy surround sound quality although I would like to see future restored releases to come with better bonus features such as a good documentary on the life of the saint, improved picture quality and at least Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound options as well.

This is a good film and a deserving best Oscar winner for 1966 although you may want to wait for an improved restored Blu-ray version to surface. As far as standard dvds go, this version is pretty good already though.

Recommended.

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Even more thoughtprovoking in 21st Century!

King or God? Who is more important?
Law of the land? Or religious sermon? Which is more correct?
Lawmakers or clergy - who should override whom?

Come and watch this movie to find how these thoughts were resonated in 16th Century England as it still do today at a different wavelength.

Sir Thomas More had bee glorified in last century as Saint, though he was a lawyer and a statesman. This movie at least partially explains why. He remained firm to his stance that King Henry VIII can not be placed beyond Papal authority. As the heretic King did not like More's idea - which was not sanitizing his divorce and marriage to Anne Boleyn - the end came to Sir More too soon.

The strength of the movie is the steady and restrained and often with intelligent wit, with which Scofield carried the role. Though he utters the same for a number of times (not mentioning intentionally why), he has been able to build the man of utmost reputation and integrity, for which Sir More has been known. The research work by Bolt is commendable too.

The movie preaches a lot. If you are not a real serious movie goer, or do not want to tax your brain with real complex religious-political issues, skip it. Though that does not discredit Zinneman's work.

I would like to end this with an interesting question though. In 21st century, whom would people follow? Clergy or Head of the State. What if clergy is wrong?

What happens to Sir Mores of 21st Century then?

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