Becket,
based on play by Jean Anouilh and translated by Lucienne Hill
Becket is a spectacular, effervescent,
triumphant, delightful, ecstatic, masterful motion picture.
It was nominated for a formidable Twelve
Academy Awards and that includes the most prestigious ones:
Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role…Twice:
for both Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole, with solid performances
The list continues with Best Actor in a
Supporting Role for John Gielgud as the King of France, Louis VII,
Best Director and it won for Best Writing,
Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
The plot has at its center the unusual love
between King Henry II and his friend Thomas Becket.
The former is portrayed by the outstanding,
classic Peter O’Toole and the latter by the equally glorious Richard Burton.
It is written that Peter O’Toole and Richard
Burton have enjoyed the set of this masterpiece, perhaps too much:
"Me, Burton, Richard Harris – we did in
public what everyone else did in private then, and does for show now. We drank
in public, we knew about pot." Both Burton and O'Toole won Oscar
nominations for Becket but said they were drunk throughout most of the shooting.”
to begin with, King Henry II and Thomas Becket
are roaming the country, drinking and chasing women.
Nevertheless, Thomas Becket is the more moral
character even in those days of Wine and Glory.
When they find an attractive girl, even if
smelly, in a hut in the middle of the forest, Henry wants to possess her.
Becket saves the poor young woman and says that
he wants her for him, given the favor that he can ask for.
However, a little later, the woman that Becket
loves is asked in return for the wild inhabitant of the forest favor.
In addition, Gwendolen is in love with the
friend of the king and she would rather die than be taken by someone else, be
it his majesty, the king.
Henry II is not just in love with Becket- in a
platonic way, I guess- but he admires the sophistication, wit and personality
of his friend that he considers responsible for an improvement in his own
status.
Therefore, his royal highness has a brilliant
idea and nominates his companion to be the next archbishop of Canterbury.
Thomas Becket is despondent and divines that
this anointment will transform their relationship.
“Please do not do that my king!”
Nevertheless, Henry II is sure that this move
will end all the problems he has had with the clergy.
Soon after the nomination and confirmation, the
new Archbishop has to deal with Adversity and choose sides.
A noble man and his entourage kill a priest and
the king is taking the view that the killer should not be punished.
Only this issue provokes a confrontation, for
the law says that ecclesiastic authorities must judge a priest.
The conflict is savage and the Archbishop is declared
an enemy of the king and of the country.
He has to run to France, where he is under the
protection of Louis VII, king of France and enemy of England.
There is a truce, or conciliation, even if Thomas
Becket would not concede to the authority of the king…
Not before God that is…he is the subject and
loyal servant of Henry II, but the Honor of God comes before that of the king.
Moreover, he has to pay an important price for
that.
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