A masterclass in acting by all involved, with Scofield giving a performance for the ages, a portrait in character and the cost of having it that ranks with Peck’s Atticus Finch and Burton’s Thomas Beckett . Towering performance rightly honored by an Oscar
Along with Meryl Streep's in "Sophie's Choice" my all-time favourite performance by an actor. Scofield truly deserved the Oscar® for his unforgettable portrayal of Sir Thomas Moore.
My father was legally blind when he first viewed this movie with me. His review: "That's good acting." If you find the vinyl LP of the movie soundtrack I believe most of it consists of spoken excerpts from the movie proper. It's as much music to the ears and to the mind.
Imagine how good this movie would have been with some explosions or maybe if they made Henry VIII a CGI character, would have been an even better movie. Honestly needs a few more one liners and the movie would be perfect, maybe some cameos of other saints from other movies, or an ending scene of the next saint like a teaser.
Didn’t he later become Chancellor? Thomas’s rebuke of him for his perjury was “For Wales?” That was his reward from Cromwell for condemning More to death.
@@mcmanustony Because, after Hollywood's Golden Age, the Movie Men were replaced by the Money Men, who only care about the Bottom Line. That's why we get dirty-minded comedies & kid stuff. Culturally, we've fallen very far, very fast...
@@CLASSICALFAN100 Yes and no. Hollywood was always about money. Was then and is now. There are independent films being made today. Then the entire industry was in the control of the big studios. Kids stuff was also being made in the 60s. As were dirty minded comedies. I grew up in Britain- if you don't know of the Carry On films you're in for a feast of dirty minded comedies. This film is timeless, as are the themes addressed. I was introduced to it as a kid, as an example of evil people persecuting Catholics. That is not the theme of the film. It was written by an atheist.
I think this was the greatest film that was ever made. Great acting and a great script that was ever as close to as what really happened as what was shown in this movie, considering that the Archbishop Cranmer and others were convicted of treason and executed after the whole thing was over. St Thomas More was a wonderful man, and I pray to him regularly
Some people may not quite agree with that statement, but because of the significance of what happened in quite a short period of time, relatively speaking, and the cruelty of what happened in General to all those who objected, and St Thomas More who was a very honest and decent man - and so true to his faith, and the great acting in the film, and the way it plays out the story, it's as close as is possible to get to what really happened, and how it came to be. I pray to him and Cardinal St John Fisher regularly
It was customary. In fact the condemned removed their outer garments also, and these too were given to the executioner as payment. More originally dressed in his best clothes, the Lord Lieutenant told him the executioner was a rogue. So More changed into the cloak of his servant so the executioner did not receive the more valuable clothing.
When Cromwell was to lose his head, others who hated him had made sure the headsman was solid drunk and it took like 10-12 strikes to separate head from shoulders.
We read the Bolt screenplay at my Jesuit high school and watched the film. The message is a simple admission of being true to ones conscience and to not waiver from that.
In Bolt's original stage play, Leo McKern (Cromwell) portrayed the Common Man as part of the crowd at the trial (who were represented by broomsticks) Must have been a striking scene.
The 50s was the last decade of the golden age of Hollywood. In the case of Great Britain, the 60s certainly was the last decade of the golden age of its movie studios. The last breath of Shakespearean acting at its finest if you wish to express it that way.
A TRUE STATESMAN OF HONOUR... WHOM SPEAKS WITH TRUE AND FAITH IN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH... THOMAS MORE LIVES FOREVER... UNLIKE THOSE WHO FOLLOWED THE NARRATIVE OF THE TIME... AND DIED WITH IT... ONLY TO BE FORGOTTEN... ALMOST TOTALLY... ❤😢❤️🙏😢
@@PaulByrne-w8l I was talking about the actor. He played Horace Rumpole in the TV series. One of the episodes was, Rumpole for the Prosecution. I am guessing you didn't get the reference.
No one dare to think perhaps the problem with Henry VIII was something physically wrong with him, not his wives, for ability not to birth normal children.
He was plainly and simply a very evil and desperate man, who has been forgotten about, and thanks be to God for that, whereas St's Thomas More and Cardinal St John Fisher are revered, and rightly so.
@@jkelsey555Only one son was ever acknowledged by Henry. That son was Henry Fitzroy, whose mother was Elizabeth Blount (one of Queen Katherine's ladies-in-waiting). Fitzroy was made Duke of Richmond and Somerset. He was married to a daughter of the Duke of Norfolk, but no children from the marriage. Fitzroy died shortly before Anne Boleyn's execution in 1536.
Of all the power of all the bishops of the church of all the world could not save this great man... but the truth is that Thomas was not a perfect man...
Too true. He was responsible for the deaths of many a poor soul who were cruelly burned at the stake. I admire his resilience and overall stoicism during his defence. He showed true strength of character in upholding his personal beliefs, as did those who refused to yield to him, whilst threatened with death in such a hideous manner.
@@dendemano … Thomas Moore would be considered as the Ayatollah of Christianity in modern times because of his fundamentalist views… he tried to trick William Tyndale back to England from Belgium so that he could be tried and executed for translating the Bible into English… however, we are judging him by today’s morality… whereas he lived in an age when you could be cut to pieces for saying something negative against the king. Henry proved to be much more brutal and yet he is considered as one of the greatest kings of England.. human nature just needs an excuse to return to savagery..
@@miguelservetus9534 ..so you think that Jesus, the apostles and all the prophets were not perfect even though God raised them above everybody else…hmm😏
He did keep schtum regarding his opinions of Henry's divorce and the taking of Anne to be his 2nd wife.... Instead Rich perjured himself to condemn More and gain favour for himself. More was too canny to divulge ANYTHING of worth to Rich, but failed to take account of his avarice and dishonesty.
More had given refuge and protection to the young Rich. Rich rewarded him by betraying him with his perjury. More ask if anyone would believe he opened his mind “to such a man as this?”
YOU SEND ME TO GOD , WHAT POWER FULL WORDS RIGHT TO THE LAST , HE DIDNT GIVE IN , GODS WORDS ARE SUPREME ;; DEUTERONOMY 10;17 THE LORD YOUR GOD IS SUPREME OVER ALL GODS AND OVER ALL POWERS, ST THOMAS MORE NEW THIS RIGHT DOWN TO HIS SOUL , THATS WHY HE COULDNT GO ALONG WITH THE OTHERS , EVEN THE KING OF ENGLAND HES MY SAINT I TOOK HIM AT MY CONFIRMATION INTO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC FAITH , ALSO MY CHURCH IS NAMED AFTER HIM ST THOMAS MORE SEAFORD AMEN
@ProsperosCloset lol eg of your ignorant hate - u think all catholics are child abusing ? only hatermongers ascribe actions of an errant few to all. supernatural- do you think some actions are good and others bad at all times (murder for instance)? why? explain that without aid of supernatural. if you can't, you too believe in supernatural. dress-wearing? - you think dress wearing is bad? typically intolerant and ignorant. ur arguments sadly fail proving your irrational ignorant hate
@ProsperosCloset the cur, is clearly way over its head. it does not get even the insults if they are not already defined and much used. lol it almost admits it tried to mark my comments as spam. lol. typical ignorant bigoted behavior when faced with reason they cannot defeat. and as everyoen can see he runs from my arguments and questions ( eg about his equating of pedophilia with catholics, supernatural , dress wearing etc) like a cur, bringing in straw tangents to distract. lol
Why should he sign it? What could he have done to fix henry shooting blanks? What was he going to accomplish by signing? Lending his prestige to the following oppression of catholics?
A masterclass in acting by all involved, with Scofield giving a performance for the ages, a portrait in character and the cost of having it that ranks with Peck’s Atticus Finch and Burton’s Thomas Beckett . Towering performance rightly honored by an Oscar
Along with Meryl Streep's in "Sophie's Choice" my all-time favourite performance by an actor. Scofield truly deserved the Oscar® for his unforgettable portrayal of Sir Thomas Moore.
Is such a performance deserving of hackneyed description?
"Parliament hath not the competence..." Still true in 2024.
My father was legally blind when he first viewed this movie with me. His review: "That's good acting." If you find the vinyl LP of the movie soundtrack I believe most of it consists of spoken excerpts from the movie proper. It's as much music to the ears and to the mind.
The casting of Shaw and Schofield was inspired.These two fabulous talents at the height of their powers puts this movie in a league of its own.
Every bit as good as O'Toole and Burton.
No doubt! Shaw was able to be charismatic and friendly then turn volatile and intimidating in a split second, especially in the garden scene
Scofield and Shaw in this film. O'Toole and Burton in Becket. Unbelievable pairings and pieces of acting.
If only they had not portrayed Becket in the same light as the whoremonger, Henry II, the movie would have 99% accurate.
You read my mind. The part in which I give Peter OToole a slight point above Scofield is his voice, which he would whisper or scream out like a lion.
I didn't much care for Shaw's caricature. But Schofield: undoubted and certain Oscar winner.
@@dizwell I recommend Scofield's performance in Quiz Show, as well. It is a small part, but his performance is heartbreaking.
O'Toole in the Lion in Winter is something very rare.
No CGI, no action scenes of any kind, no masks, just a powerful story and compelling acting. Modern film making has fallen far.
Plenty of harumphs though
Wdym, the executioner is clearly wearing a mask. I guess it’s unsurprising, those who complain about modernity are blind and stupid.
@@vondas1480 I take it you forgot the sarc tag.
Imagine how good this movie would have been with some explosions or maybe if they made Henry VIII a CGI character, would have been an even better movie. Honestly needs a few more one liners and the movie would be perfect, maybe some cameos of other saints from other movies, or an ending scene of the next saint like a teaser.
@@Blibetyblabla LOL! Absolutely.
Remember that history repeats itself. And this history of conscience against human power is repeating en masse in our lives and society.
I agree with the sentiment of your words. However, does history repeat or rhyme?
Richard Rich was a No1 slimeball & outlived them all
Didn’t he later become Chancellor? Thomas’s rebuke of him for his perjury was “For Wales?” That was his reward from Cromwell for condemning More to death.
God would have judged him for his perjury, however
Yes! John Hurt's character gives a masterclass in being a weasly rat, while knowing all the time just how low he's sunk
No one in the industry would dare to even attempt such a subject. They have neither the heart , the intellect or the soul.
Why?
@@mcmanustony No soul.
@@mcmanustony Because they are degenerate filth.
@@mcmanustony Because, after Hollywood's Golden Age, the Movie Men were replaced by the Money Men, who only care about the Bottom Line. That's why we get dirty-minded comedies & kid stuff. Culturally, we've fallen very far, very fast...
@@CLASSICALFAN100 Yes and no. Hollywood was always about money. Was then and is now.
There are independent films being made today. Then the entire industry was in the control of the big studios.
Kids stuff was also being made in the 60s.
As were dirty minded comedies. I grew up in Britain- if you don't know of the Carry On films you're in for a feast of dirty minded comedies.
This film is timeless, as are the themes addressed. I was introduced to it as a kid, as an example of evil people persecuting Catholics. That is not the theme of the film. It was written by an atheist.
One of the greatest films of all time.
ALL TIME...
GOD BLESS...
❤🙏❤️
What a phenomenal actor!🥰
I think this was the greatest film that was ever made. Great acting and a great script that was ever as close to as what really happened as what was shown in this movie, considering that the Archbishop Cranmer and others were convicted of treason and executed after the whole thing was over. St Thomas More was a wonderful man, and I pray to him regularly
Some people may not quite agree with that statement, but because of the significance of what happened in quite a short period of time, relatively speaking, and the cruelty of what happened in General to all those who objected, and St Thomas More who was a very honest and decent man - and so true to his faith, and the great acting in the film, and the way it plays out the story, it's as close as is possible to get to what really happened, and how it came to be. I pray to him and Cardinal St John Fisher regularly
Amazing movie about an amazing man!!
Saw this movie years ago and haven't seen it again until now.
The fact that he tipped the executioner before being beheaded is straight up epic.
Everybody did. It was customary. What More said to the axeman is more important.
He wants ensure the blow was clean and swift, Axe man have tendency making mess of it. Which means victims suffered a lot before end.
It was customary. In fact the condemned removed their outer garments also, and these too were given to the executioner as payment.
More originally dressed in his best clothes, the Lord Lieutenant told him the executioner was a rogue. So More changed into the cloak of his servant so the executioner did not receive the more valuable clothing.
When Cromwell was to lose his head, others who hated him had made sure the headsman was solid drunk and it took like 10-12 strikes to separate head from shoulders.
We read the Bolt screenplay at my Jesuit high school and watched the film. The message is a simple admission of being true to ones conscience and to not waiver from that.
Originally a play, rewritten several times. But this movie is rich. Fabulous performances and mostly historically accurate. Well filmed.
In Bolt's original stage play, Leo McKern (Cromwell) portrayed the Common Man as part of the crowd at the trial (who were represented by broomsticks) Must have been a striking scene.
Just finished watching the movie. Haven't watched the movie in years. As always the movie is excellent, 5🌟
The 50s was the last decade of the golden age of Hollywood. In the case of Great Britain, the 60s certainly was the last decade of the golden age of its movie studios. The last breath of Shakespearean acting at its finest if you wish to express it that way.
My favourite movie of all time.
One of the best films made EVER! Paul Scofield excelled in every role he played, but most notably Sir Thomas More.
Excellent film., my mother and i are off to Hampton Court in November for a Christmas fayre its great , its like stepping back in time !!!!!😊🇬🇧
great movie
I think the late 60s must have been a high point in the fine arts. Since then film and music have fallen.
Old Rumpole is having his mind let off.
Superb production on every level
A TRUE STATESMAN OF HONOUR...
WHOM SPEAKS WITH TRUE AND FAITH IN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH...
THOMAS MORE LIVES FOREVER...
UNLIKE THOSE WHO FOLLOWED THE NARRATIVE OF THE TIME...
AND DIED WITH IT...
ONLY TO BE FORGOTTEN...
ALMOST TOTALLY...
❤😢❤️🙏😢
The greatest actor that ever lived
Sancti Thomae Moro ora pro nobis
🙏
The torment the executioner was feeling
You saw that he was going to make it quick as possible.
Where is SAINT THOMAS MOORE Tomb? I would like to visit.
@nicholaswestley9851 Thank you, Sir Thomas More was a good Knight.
Rumpole is prosecuting!
@papist77 An inspiration to us all.
“Papist” is an insult and meant to be such at the time. It still is, to most Catholics.
One thing I never understood. Did the king knowingly allow this trial, or was it done behind his back "in his name'?
John Hurt was very
good (great) actor,
Deute. 18:10-14,
Mark 7:20-23,
@@robertfield5904 ...I agree, he was outstanding in "1984"
Rumpole for the prosecution!
Wrong!Christ for the defence!
@@PaulByrne-w8l I was talking about the actor. He played Horace Rumpole in the TV series. One of the episodes was, Rumpole for the Prosecution. I am guessing you didn't get the reference.
U welcome
No one dare to think perhaps the problem with Henry VIII was something physically wrong with him, not his wives, for ability not to birth normal children.
To be fair, his mistresses gave him healthy sons
He was plainly and simply a very evil and desperate man, who has been forgotten about, and thanks be to God for that, whereas St's Thomas More and Cardinal St John Fisher are revered, and rightly so.
@@jkelsey555Only one son was ever acknowledged by Henry. That son was Henry Fitzroy, whose mother was Elizabeth Blount (one of Queen Katherine's ladies-in-waiting).
Fitzroy was made Duke of Richmond and Somerset. He was married to a daughter of the Duke of Norfolk, but no children from the marriage. Fitzroy died shortly before Anne Boleyn's execution in 1536.
@@gidzmobug2323 Yes but there are many other suspected non-acknowledged bastard sons who were healthy and lived to adulthood
@@jkelsey555 Perhaps. Fitzroy was the only one I knew about.
Compared to the pusillanimous perfidy of those doing temporal bidding over us these days...😐
Today the cowards in Hollywood could not act in such a film because they are all complicit in treachety and deceit!
Of all the power of all the bishops of the church of all the world could not save this great man... but the truth is that Thomas was not a perfect man...
Too true. He was responsible for the deaths of many a poor soul who were cruelly burned at the stake. I admire his resilience and overall stoicism during his defence. He showed true strength of character in upholding his personal beliefs, as did those who refused to yield to him, whilst threatened with death in such a hideous manner.
@@dendemano … Thomas Moore would be considered as the Ayatollah of Christianity in modern times because of his fundamentalist views… he tried to trick William Tyndale back to England from Belgium so that he could be tried and executed for translating the Bible into English… however, we are judging him by today’s morality… whereas he lived in an age when you could be cut to pieces for saying something negative against the king. Henry proved to be much more brutal and yet he is considered as one of the greatest kings of England.. human nature just needs an excuse to return to savagery..
Is any one?
@@miguelservetus9534 No, but not everyone acts like they are.
@@miguelservetus9534 ..so you think that Jesus, the apostles and all the prophets were not perfect even though God raised them above everybody else…hmm😏
To have such faith in God and Jesus Christ......would that I could have the same.
Why did Sir Thomas More even bother talking to Richard Rich during the time that he was imprisoned. He should have just kept schtum ...
He did keep schtum regarding his opinions of Henry's divorce and the taking of Anne to be his 2nd wife.... Instead Rich perjured himself to condemn More and gain favour for himself. More was too canny to divulge ANYTHING of worth to Rich, but failed to take account of his avarice and dishonesty.
More had given refuge and protection to the young Rich. Rich rewarded him by betraying him with his perjury. More ask if anyone would believe he opened his mind “to such a man as this?”
Why post this EDITED version of this great film?
Remember that history repeats itself. And this history of conscience ... err sorry, i'm being repetitive...
I'm more inclined to think this whole thing went down like in Wolf Hall the book and tv show.
I don’t buy the Wolf Hall version
There is pretty good contemporaneous record of the trial. The movie got a fair amount right. Wolf Hall is less so.
@@miguelservetus9534 I'm sure the trial is accurate i shouldve been more specific when I said whole thing i guess.
The diary of Sir Thomas More's son-in-law, William Roper, provided the historical evidence.
Wolf hall is a mean-spirited slander of a great (though not perfect) man. And an elevation of the monster Cromwell.
YOU SEND ME TO GOD , WHAT POWER FULL WORDS RIGHT TO THE LAST , HE DIDNT GIVE IN , GODS WORDS ARE SUPREME ;; DEUTERONOMY 10;17
THE LORD YOUR GOD IS SUPREME OVER ALL GODS AND OVER ALL POWERS, ST THOMAS MORE NEW THIS RIGHT DOWN TO HIS SOUL , THATS WHY HE COULDNT GO ALONG WITH THE OTHERS , EVEN THE KING OF ENGLAND HES MY SAINT I TOOK HIM AT MY CONFIRMATION INTO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC FAITH , ALSO MY CHURCH IS NAMED AFTER HIM ST THOMAS MORE SEAFORD AMEN
The executioners face is always hidden. Bob Dylan
THOOOOMASSS!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO! D:
Becket?
@ProsperosCloset lol
eg of your ignorant hate -
u think all catholics are child abusing ? only hatermongers ascribe actions of an errant few to all.
supernatural- do you think some actions are good and others bad at all times (murder for instance)? why? explain that without aid of supernatural. if you can't, you too believe in supernatural.
dress-wearing? - you think dress wearing is bad? typically intolerant and ignorant.
ur arguments sadly fail proving your irrational ignorant hate
Monarchies were such a bunch of faffy nonsense.
Retarded
@ProsperosCloset the cur, is clearly way over its head. it does not get even the insults if they are not already defined and much used. lol
it almost admits it tried to mark my comments as spam. lol. typical ignorant bigoted behavior when faced with reason they cannot defeat.
and as everyoen can see he runs from my arguments and questions ( eg about his equating of pedophilia with catholics, supernatural , dress wearing etc) like a cur, bringing in straw tangents to distract.
lol
talk talk talk talk talk talk talk talk
Clearly you weren't listening to a single word.
Yes, numbskulls and nincompoops often complain about such things.
The voice and pen are far mightier than the sword. Because words can be made into laws.
Stay in your Gumtree Aussie.
Films like that are not for you, dear. Stick with Mr Bean.
More was very selfish. Just sign it. What’s the issue?
Why should he sign it? What could he have done to fix henry shooting blanks? What was he going to accomplish by signing? Lending his prestige to the following oppression of catholics?
His soul …….
More would not swear to something he believed to be untrue, not to save his neck or gain any earthly reward. That's the whole point of the story.
Honesty and integrity
You just don’t get it, do you?