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List Price: $24.98Amazon.com's Price: $15.99 You Save: $8.99 (36%)as of 11/08/2009 08:35 EST details
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Binding: DVD
Brand: MPI
EAN: 0030306105390
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC, Widescreen
Label: MPI Home Video
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageDolby Digital 2.0 StereoEnglishPublishedDolby Digital 2.0 StereoFrenchPublishedDolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Manufacturer: MPI Home Video
MPN: MPID1053D
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: MPI Home Video
Region Code: 1
Release Date: May 15, 2007
Running Time: 150 minutes
Studio: MPI Home Video
Theatrical Release Date: March 11, 1964
Editorial Review:
Product Description:
Splendid production of famous play about turbulent relationship between thomas becket and his king henry ii of england. Studio: Mpi Home Video Release Date: 05/15/2007 Starring: Richard Burton Peter Otoole Run time: 150 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com essential video:
Made in 1964, but set in 12th-century England, this is the fact-based story of Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and his dear friend, the Archbishop of Canterbury (Richard Burton). When the king appoints his former drinking buddy to the high religious office, he believes he has placed an ally into power. Instead, he learns that Thomas very much takes his job to heart, prompting Henry to ask that fateful question--"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?"
This won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay, and it is a strong example of finely tuned performances--both leading men received Academy Award nominations for their roles. There is much passion and rage on the screen, but the beauty of their performances is that we always know that love is there as well. The film, shot on location in England, is also visually appealing. Trivia buffs may be interested to know that Peter O'Toole played Henry II four years later in The Lion in Winter. --Rochelle O'Gorman
On the DVD:
The primary bonus feature is a treat: a feature-length commentary by Peter O'Toole, accompanied by a moderator. With only occasional gaps of silence, the still sharp and well-spoken O'Toole recalls the making of the film, how he didn't research the historical King Henry ("The author has made the character; that's his job. My job is to play it."), and his memories of Richard Burton, both personal ("We found that we both enjoyed rugby, we both enjoyed songs, and we both enjoyed drinking, and got along very well.") and professional ("he had an astonishing presence on the stage"). There are also two archival interviews with Burton from 1967 and 1977 (26 minutes total), in which he doesn't discuss Becket, but he does say a lot about his life on stage, he recites some lines, and speaks candidly about his drinking problem.
Don't skip over the interviews with the film's editor Anne Coates and composer Laurence Rosenthal. Coates (7 minutes) has some good stories, and Rosenthal (12 minutes) discusses the influences on his Oscar-nominated score and how he had to teach Gregorian chant to Burton ("He was one of these people whom you really can't teach anything. He had this characteristic that you can only remind him of something he already knows. But he didn't know how to sing Gregorian chant."). In addition to a photo gallery and the four-and-a-half-minute theatrical trailer, MPI's long-delayed DVD looks better than many major-studio classics. --David Horiuchi
Beyond Becket 
Other Peter O'Toole Films | 
Other Richard Burton Films | 
More King Henrys on DVD |
Stills from Becket (click for larger image)
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I don't think this is a great movie, but it's a very good one.
With the elaborate costumes and sets, the movie really benefits from the hi-def treatment -- with only a couple exceptions, the Blu-ray looks far superior to the DVD. (The exceptions are places where enhanced clarity makes film tricks like matte paintings more obvious. I still prefer the hi-def image without reservation.)
I tend to imagine Peter O'Toole as too big a star to give his attention to DVD commentary ... Read More
Rating:  -
I saw this movie back in the 60s when I lived in the UK. Then I thought Burton and O'Toole seemed unbeatable as actors, now I think they are even more so. For them not to BOTH share the Academy awards that year seems like a travesty, though I must admit I do not know who beat them out (whomever it was it must have been one helluva performance). Becket is a movie for all times and the performances of these two fine actors are just EVERGREEN. Reminds me of the Tudor series on Showtime....also fine performances.
Rating: -
We waited years for this film to appear on DVD and when MPI finally released it on standard DVD I was delighted to see and hear it so well restored considering the film's apparently bumpy history. Then it seemed, before one could take a breath, out it came on Blu-ray. Since this is probably my favorite of all films, at least in this genre, I immediately ordered it. The beautiful rendering of sight and sound of this film brought tears to my eyes. I had difficulty believing that this forty-five year old movie ... Read More
Rating:  -
I remembered "Becket" from its movie release ('66?), recalling it as a wonderfully powerful film of conscience with robust contributions by Burton & O'Toole. When it came to DVD I immediately ordered it. However, I found that the film did not stand up to the memories of a 14 year old. Shot almost as a play -- though there are good location scenes -- it came across as overly dialogue-driven ... again, great theater but not-so-great cinema. Also, and unfortunately, the acting now seems over-the-top almost to the ... Read More
Rating: -
This GREAT epic based on historical facts is now available in Blu-ray format. Buy it ONLY from Amazon, com if you wish to save money.
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