Rent A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Nearly perfect - A Man for All Seasons review by CSF

I know it focuses on Thomas More but it doest's show enough of Anne Boleyn's thoughts and reaction concerning the attitude of More.

Apart from that everything is great: script, actors, decors... And it doesn's date!

Historical Drama With Fantastic Cast - A Man for All Seasons review by GI

An impeccable cast, a fantastic script based on a celebrated play and a story that invokes the nuances of politics and law as manipulated by power hungry wannabes makes this historical drama a fantastic film that deserves a resurgence. With Robert Shaw as Henry VIII (Oscar nominated), Paul Scofield as Sir Thomas More (Best Actor Oscar), Orson Welles as Cardinal Wolsey, Leo McKern as Thomas Cromwell and other greats such as John Hurt, Vanessa Redgrave, Susannah York and Nigel Davenport this is a cast to die for! This is the story of Sir Thomas More who was Chancellor of England and a devout catholic who refused to take the oath of allegiance to Henry when he renounced Rome and set himself up as the Head of the Church of England in order to secure a divorce and marry Anne Boleyn. But More cleverly stands on his principles without incriminating himself. But a reluctance to go against the King's wishes by the court and betrayed by a liar he is nevertheless condemned. What's remarkable about this film is how it resonates with politics even to this day with the casual use of lies and innuendo, a lack of morality and sycophancy that drives the characters to get what they want. This is a wonderful film and one to really savour time and time again, it thoroughly deserved it's 6 Oscars, 7 BAFTAs and 4 Golden Globes. If you missed it then I urge you to seek it out.

Political History. - A Man for All Seasons review by Steve

Handsome and intelligent account of the English Reformation under Henry VIII from the point of view of his Chancellor Thomas More, who became its martyr. This was a huge Oscar winner and not just for its sumptuous production design but for many of the big ones, like best director for Fred Zinnemann, best actor for Paul Scofield as More, and best picture.

And crucially, Robert Bolt for his adaptation of his stage hit. While the early exchanges dawdle, once the legal hostilities erupt between More and Thomas Cromwell (Leo McKern) the scenes crackle with cerebral vitality. Scofield is convincing as the erudite, resolute More, who is presented as a flawless hero. But despite his Academy Award he is eclipsed by the more charismatic support roles.

Robert Shaw plays Henry as a shifty, malevolent toddler. A sociopath. But with enough charm to suggest why he might be indulged as well as feared. Susannah York makes an impression as More's shrewd, educated daughter. And McKern is equal to the star. But credit to Scofield, he is up on screen for the entire running time.

The production makes excellent use of real locations, like More's rural mansion, and especially the River Thames. But for all of its richness of detail, it doesn't stray far from the theatrical source, which draws on contemporary records. The politics is fascinating, but it is a sedate, scholarly film more likely to appeal to those interested in the period.