A Man for all Seasons - Clip 1 of 3 

Absolute masterpiece of a scene. Another film with phenomenal acting and dialogue exchanges is 1964's BECKET starring the legendary actors Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole.

We couldn't agree more. This scene resonates through the decades.

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The dialogue, the acting, the plot - absolutely superb!

I agree, great scene. I wonder how much was scripted and how much was improv. Those two could have done the whole scene without a script.

Me to

Of course it is; it's Orson Welles. Did you expect any less than brilliance?

Many should be better clerics than they are today

🤣🤣🤣 great observation.

Right?!

You, sir, are a man of taste

😂

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But does Wolsey know that Cromwell is eavesdropping? Or More?

They both do silly

@@JemHadar422 There conversation even leads them to tell each other who it is who is eves dropping.

Everybody liked More, that's why they were so exasperated with him when he wouldn't bend. Even the tiniest bit of submission and they would have saved him, but he wouldn't

@@NYCZ31 Cromwell and Rich wouldn't have saved More.

@@NYCZ31 Is this right, it has been some time... "And you a "Lawyer's Son", We are the Nobility! We are supposed to be the Proud Ones! I tell you man, it is Disproportionate." and as to saving him, I will never forget, "And if you are sent to Heaven for doing your conscience and I am sent to Hell for Not doing mine, will you come with me, for Fellowship's sake?" God bless.

@Art Ellis I was so looking forward to the part, "May I have more books?" But thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving this all as much as I do. My hands are crippled, but I will find a way to repay you. :) ("Somewhere, a bitch got over the wall!" - Norfolk swings as More intended.)

i used to like this movie until I learned the true record of Thomas More who burned and tortured people who disagreed with him.

@@SRV2013 Exactly ! Henry was so right, in getting rid of the Church, bad as he was , he was every bit as able to head a church as the pope was or is. We still have to suffer the catholic church and its unworkable policies.

@@SRV2013 It is said that King Henry VIII executed up to 70,000 people during his reign. Probably, more Protestants when he was a Fake Catholic, and more Catholics when he was a Fake Protestant, than anyone in History! Really a disgusting human being!

​​​@@SRV2013England (and the rest of Europe) was Roman Catholic at the time. There was also the Inquisition in Spain going on at the time. Also happening in Europe: the Reformation (Martin Luther).

@@gidzmobug2323 I know this, and so what? What sort of saint burns people at the stake? And why does this film valorize More?

A Man for All Seasons was my introduction to Paul Scofield. Some years later I saw a late night showing of Lear at an arts cinema. I will never forget my walk home afterwards trying to begin to comprehend what I had just seen.

@@michaelboyd4233 Thanks for sharing your experience. I also learned about Paul Scofield by watching A Man for All Seasons. "But for Wales." is perhaps one of the most beautifully spoken lines in that film. It was originally intended to be delivered as a snarky outburst ("But for WHALES!!????"), ridiculing Sir Richard Rich one last time for being such a dim-witted negotiator. However, Scofield, in a moment of improvisational brilliance, delivered those words completely differently. He spoke them with a delicate and soft cadence . . . going into a such a deep baritone register at the very end of the line that you can barely hear him say Wales. In doing so, Scofield transformed what would have been a forgettable punchline about Richard's desperation to be important into a profound expression of grief/pity (even pathos) for the tragic the loss of Richard's most prized possession--his soul. That line alone, deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as a late Rembrandt painting. ✌🏽

...also as the French King in Henry V.

@@BradBrassman Never seen it, that has to change 👍

Without a doubt. Simply a masterpiece in every way.

The only other screenplay that could rival this is Casablanca.

@@brandonallen3808 I agree another absolute gem

Agreed

St. Thomas More was a savage 👊💙

You were correct to begin - it has no equal!

Now western politicians forsake their personal consciences for the filthy lucre hosed over them by corporate globalists.

Well he's not wrong.

private conscience should inform public duty.

Which explains the state of politics in America, to say the least. American politicians have been forsaking their own private consciences in the name of public duty and political expediency for decades now....and behold the carnage.

The 1930s “Age of Radio” established solid foundation for future movies & TV.

Today people babble incoherently, with unsound grammar and, well, weird sounds. No elocution, articulation, or projection. Can one imagine a public figure speaking with the measured cadence and literate delivery as Schofield does in his portrayal of Saint Thomas More. This English is lyrical. Like spoken music.

Finally i have one person to back me up. I mean a lot of people appreciate facial expression and body gestures while neglecting the most important aspect of acting which is the voice.

In the age before green screens, effects and hand picked beauty pageants. There was stage actors.

True! Today's actors are fluff and no substance, looks and no brains, being political socialists instead of being thespians.

Yes and a first class attempt at an English accent too. Great performance.

Every moment and movement of his eyes and jowls was magnificent.

@@chariotreign yes, exactly

He so totally pulls off the cleric quietly desperate to fulfill the will of his King. Magnificent job by Wells.

@@georgeorwell4534 Yes, absolutely amazing performance of Welles.

Two words: Red Room.

@@gregoryjenkins8645 An allusion to Bergman?

It's why I got a used D4 a low light Ninja. $1000. When new it was $6000

For impeccable cinematography: Polanski's "MacBeth".

Photography by Ted Moore, South Africa's first Oscar winner 😊🇿🇦

A total tribute to Hans Holbein the Younger. You can feast your eyes on his portrait of St. Thomas More at the Frick in NYC.

Welles*

Wolsey had many at Court who hated him. Many of those were of the nobility--including the Duke of Norfolk (uncle to Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard).

@@gidzmobug2323 As he says to Cromwell in Wolf Hall, "You may be the only man here more lowly born than myself."

The film won an amazing six Academy Awards, including best picture, while Scofield took the award for Best Actor.

Scofield*

LOLS. He's no doubt one of the best. But I don't think Scofield would care about getting any more accolades. I mean this is the man who rejected knighthoods thrice!

You're bargaining posture is highly dubious.

Hah! Nice. Laughing out loud. EDIT: I have a feeling I might be misread. This is sincere.

@Art Ellis It's a reference to the last role of Orson Welles, in a _very_ different kind of a movie.

@@andrewmihovich4252 😂Unicron?.. I love him anyway and always... champagne commercials and all. A true Master of Arts.

Only 1966?

The movie John Ford wished he had made and his favorite film.

A giant.

a classic British story.......met thinks not , as Britain did not exist at this time in history.

Paul Newman said every scene he was in with Orson was Orsons scene …

Every scene was orsons scene …Paul Newman

Ever seen Casino Royale?

@@johnsrabe yes

Odd comment. Underrated by whom? Everyone knows they are two of the greatest ever

Or leo mckern!

Indeed. Kenneth McMillan's portrayal of the Baron was definitely the weak link in David Lynch's Dune. The Baron in the novel is far more subtle and three dimensional. One of the key principles in acting or writing when portraying an evil character is that no one, not even the most wicked is pure evil. There is always some glimmer of goodness even in the worst of people. Otherwise, they're just cartoon characters.

Except it wouldn't have been in A Man For All Seasons...

@@califgirl101 Sorry, I was being deliberately pedantic. I'm sure it was just a typo when you mentioned Henry VII.

Believe it or not, I would like to have seen Welles play Father Christmas around the time he gave this interview: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-a8B5lCOBUis.html I think he would have found a new generation of fans and I'm sure he would have accepted the role if it had been offered to him.

A rich interplay of two Thespian Titans..

It's a very good scene but the greatest scene ever? Bullshit.

Then McKern started a eastern religious cult and was stopped by The Beatles

You mean 2016 - 2020

An oath is a promise or affirmation. I think you meant "oaf". Air is the substance our atmosphere is comprised of. I believe you meant "heir". I am not aware of alternate spellings or meanings for "sacrificed" and "physically", however.

​@@whiteknightcat I understood what Walter meant. Don't nit pick over spelling. English may not be his first language anyway.

It is worth remembering that while Kings and Queens required a (male) heir there was naturally a 50% chance each birth of a female. Much bloodshed could have been avoided if an heir was any gender as long as it was a royal progeny.

@@stephendoherty8291 Two of his daughters did end up ruling England.

Henry VIII was trying to be what everyone thought a young man as a king should be - athletic, virile, aggressive, testing his limits, a leader of men. The memory of Edward IV - who was all this and more - was still fresh in everyone’s minds.

I think he’s referring to the Virgin Mary.

​@@RedSpartan32no, he's referring to Sarah the mother of isaac, to Hannah the mother of Samuel, and to Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist. All were well past childbearing age, and this is a reference to Katherine of Aragon's age. Mary wasn't

Bolt*

SWMBO was Cromwells missus???

Kind of odd to see a Prince of the Roman Church as a highly-powerful official in a secular court, no?

@@gidzmobug2323 Now . . . not then . . . .

@@JohnMinehan-lx9ts You are saying that it would be an unusual sight now, but not so much in Tudor times?

@@gidzmobug2323 Yes. More was the first layman to be Lord Chancellor (although some previous Lord Chancellors, like Thomas A'Beckett, had been minor clergy rather than Cardinals, bishops or even Priests). It was not just England, considering Cardinal Richelieu in France in the 17th Century..

@@JohnMinehan-lx9ts I forgot about Richelieu.

It was strikingly like a painting from the period, or maybe a little later. Especially the opening scene with Wolsey at his desk.

A very good list, sir

Touch of evil Wells other masterpiece

Ahem ... One more, if I may add... "Far From the Madding Crowd". With Julie Christie and Olivier... Damn I just forgotten his other name. Hah. But they were equally good ... Hah...

Leo McKern was a very good actor. But he wasn't legendary.

He didn't defy Henry.... But he Stood with GOD! 🙏

There were braver people who defied Thomas More

​@@SmithsnMozNo, he stood with the Pope. Do you read the Bible? More would have had you burned for that.

I realize the movie conveniently overlooks the fact, but you do realize he was a prolific hunter of heretics and very enthusiastic about burning them at the stake, right? More didn't die in the name of freedom of conscience. He died for the right of the Catholic Church to dictate what your conscience should say.

No, not necessarily. Principles, like powerful handguns, can be a very dangerous thing in the wrong hands.

@@Guitcad1 To him, they were one and the same.

Of course, I don't mean that to say he was treated fairly. No, he was the victim of straight-up judicial murder.

It was known as the collar of ss or esses....