Prestigious, well turned out piece of British historical drama with enough genuine intrigue and wit to persuade some audiences they aren't watching a history lesson.
A Man for All Seasons (1966)
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Reviews Counted: 28
Fresh: 24
Rotten:4
Average Rating: 7.8/10
Consensus: Solid cinematography and enjoyable performances from Paul Scofield and Robert Shaw add a spark to this deliberately paced adaptation of the Robert Bolt play.
Runtime: 2 hrs 48 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: When Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, is unable to produce an heir to the throne, he uses that as a pretext for the pope to grant him a divorce, so he can marry his newest conquest,... When Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, is unable to produce an heir to the throne, he uses that as a pretext for the pope to grant him a divorce, so he can marry his newest conquest, Anne Boleyn. The King is backed by everyone on this request except the highly regarded and religious Sir Thomas More. When Cardinal Wolsey, Chancellor of England, names More as his successor, it becomes important for Henry to get More's support, but More cannot be swayed. Henry demands the clergy to renounce the Pope and to name him Head of the Church of England. Oliver Cromwell frames More, forcing him to resign as Chancellor. Eventually More is brought to trial, found guilty of treason, and beheaded. [More]
Starring: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Robert Shaw
Starring: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Robert Shaw, Orson Welles, Susannah York
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Reviews for A Man for All Seasons
Orson Welles alone relieves the boredom in a marvellous cameo as Cardinal Wolsey. If only they'd let him loose with the whole sorry history...
Bolt's writing is elegant, vivid, shot through with a mounting sense of irony, and both Scofield and Shaw clearly relish their roles.
Political, religious and personal niceties of the period are streamlined, and the movie concentrates on the impressive steadfastness of Sir Thomas More.
The dry film, more boring than it had a right to be, nevertheless was sincere and won an Oscar for Best Picture.
Ainda que a abordagem de Zinnemann não consiga contornar a natureza essencialmente teatral do roteiro, as atuações (especialmente de Scofield, brilhante) e os diálogos absurdamente elegantes e bem construídos mantêm o filme sempre instigante.
Producer-director Fred Zinnemann has blended all filmmaking elements into an excellent, handsome and stirring film version of A Man For All Seasons.
Waiting for More's breaking point provides the only thread of suspense.
This absorbing film features inventive camerawork and superior production values.
Robert Bolt's boring historical drama functions best as an anthology of British acting styles, circa 1966.
One man's conviction against the tyranny of Henry VIII makes for an intriguing drama in A Man for All Seasons
Splendidly acted by Paul Scofield and Robert Shaw, this version of Robert Bolt's play about the conflict between Church and State suffers from Zinnemann's restrained, middlebrow sensibility, the kind of which impresses Academy voters, hence the Oscar.
Outstanding adaptation of Robert Bolt's play detailing battle between Sir Thomas More and King Henry VIII
Latest News for A Man for All Seasons
March 20, 2008:
Paul Scofield: 1922-2008
David Paul Scofield, Oscar-winning British actor of stage and screen died from complications related to leukemia in a hospital near his home in Sussex. He was 86. More...
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