A Man for All Seasons (1966)

A Man for All Seasons is a British period drama film first released in 1966, directed by Fred Zinnemann.  The film stars Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Leo McKern, Robert Shaw and Orson Welles.  Our overall rating for this film is: excellent.


England, 1527.  King Henry VIII needs to divorce his barren wife Catherine of Aragon so that he can marry Anne Boleyn and ensure the Tudor succession.  When Cardinal Wolsey fails to obtain an annulment from the Pope, Thomas More replaces him as Lord Chancellor, but he soon loses the King’s favour when his unwillingness to support the divorce becomes apparent.   Realising that the Pope will never agree to dissolve his marriage, King Henry severs all ties with Rome and appoints himself Supreme Head of the Church of England.   Those who are close to the King are compelled to sign an oath which acknowledges his supremacy over the Pope, but Sir Thomas refuses and has no choice but to resign his position.  The King’s adviser and supreme judge Thomas Cromwell interprets this as an act of treason...

This superlative adaptation of Robert Bolt’s stage play marked something of a departure for director Fred Zinnemann, who was previously known for such big budget Hollywood offerings as High Noon (1952), From Here to Eternity (1953) and Oklahoma! (1955).  Although it has production values to match any of Zinnemann’s earlier films, A Man for All Seasons is a much more focused and restrained drama, which manages to be both literary and accessible, a rare feat for a period drama.

Although the film’s visuals are impressive, offering an authentic recreation of Tudor England, the thing that most steals our attention are the captivating character performances from an extraordinarily talented cast.  In his first substantial film role, Paul Scofield beguiled audiences with his portrayal of Sir Thomas More, the part he had previously played in the acclaimed West End production.  Although the film offers many great performances (Robert Shaw and Leo McKern are both excellent as King Henry and Cromwell respectively), it is Scofield’s vivid and humane portrayal of Thomas More which makes this such a memorable and stirring film.

The film’s producers were astounded when it proved to be a box office hit (they were particularly concerned about not having an established star in the leading role and it was only through Zinnemann’s insistence that Scofield was given the job).  And the critics loved it as much as the public.  The film won six Ocars, with awards for Best Picture, Best Director Best Actor (Paul Scofield), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Color Cinematography and Best Costume Design.   Wendy Hiller was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar and gives a heart-rending performance as More’s pragmatic wife.  John Hurt is just as impressive as the self-serving Richard Rich, the part that launched his career.

A Man for All Seasons is period drama at its best, intelligently written, beautifully crafted and played to perfection by some of Britain’s finest acting talents.  What makes it particularly praiseworthy is Paul Scofield’s unbeatable performance, which is an acting master class in its own right.  Who else could portray Thomas More with such authority and poignancy, helping us to see, through a gripping moral and intellectual conflict, the value of integrity (a rare virtue these days)?  A powerful film, powerfully delivered by true masters of their craft.

© filmsdefrance.com 2009

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