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In November 2003 the Academy presented in London the world
premiere of this restoration. With this West Coast premiere screening,
Los Angeles audiences have a chance to experience this hard-to-see, and
now impeccably preserved, film.
With 12 Academy Award nominations, Becket ranks among the most-nominated
films in Oscar history. Stunningly photographed on location in England,
and featuring brilliant dialogue from an Oscar-winning screenplay by Edward
Anhalt (adapted from the play by Jean Anouilh), this film has long been
unavailable for viewing, a situation that this long-awaited Academy restoration
corrects to impressive effect. The magnificent acting of Richard Burton
as Thomas à Becket and Peter O’Toole as his King, Henry II,
brings the intense friendship and power struggle between these two outsized
historical figures to vivid life. Support for this restoration was provided
by the Film Foundation.
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Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton in Becket (1964) |
Starring Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, Sir Donald Wolfit, Sir
John Gielgud, Martita Hunt, Pamela Brown, Sian Phillips. Directed by Peter
Glenville. Produced by Hal Wallis. Screenplay by Edward Anhalt. Based
on the play by Jean Anouilh. Director of Photography Geoffrey Unsworth
B.S.C. Production Designer John Bryan. Musical Score by Laurence Rosenthal.
Producer Supervisor Denis Holt. 1st Assistant Director Colin Brewer. Sound
mixed by Buster Ambler. Art Director Maurice Carter. Set Decorator Robert
Cartwright. Costumes by Margaret Furse, Phyllis Dalton. Chief Make-up
Charles Parker. Hairdresser Joan Smallwood. Stills Photographer Robert
Penn. Editor Anne Coates. A Hal Wallis Production. Paramount Pictures,
1964. Print courtesy of Paramount Pictures. Running Time: 148 mins.
Academy Awards: Writing (Screenplay based on material from another medium)
(Anhalt).
Nominations: Actor (Burton), Actor (O’Toole), Actor in a Supporting
Role (Gielgud), Art Direction (Color) (Bryan, Carter, McLoughlin, Cartwright),
Cinematography (Color) (Unsworth), Costume Design (Furse), Directing (Glenville),
Film Editing (Coates), Music (Music Score – substantially original)
(Rosenthal), Best Picture (Wallis), Sound (Shepperton Studio Sound Department
-- John Cox, Sound Director). |
