Extraordinary well written and acted film; entire cast is wonderful, but O'Toole should have copped Oscar. Patrick Wolfit also extraordinary in minor role as Bishop of England. Burton and Gielgud also terrific. One of the greats.

an extremely well written movie, o'toole and burton are so well immersed in their roles--but that's what you should expect from o'toole. it's a great story and the drama in it translates from the stage seemlessly, which is rare for a movie adapted from a play.

I wish I could like this movie more. Its actually quite good. Unfortunately it did nothing for me. I think it was the lack of any atmosphere.

Two snaps and a twist.

83.500.

Movie seems a little long at times but is worth it as both Burton and O'Toole are very good.

Great acting and great dialogue. Somewhat boring film though.

O'Toole Burton

The film is beautifully shot. The script is clever and witty. Peter O'Toole's performance of the playboy King Henry II is fantastic. Richard Burton's portrayal of Thomas Becket as a man dedicated fully to whatever his duty entails is nothing short of perfection. A must see for sure, especially the newly restored DVD version.

A beautiful movie. And you get all the great acting you expect from the leads.

The film is literate and heady, taking full advantage of the imposing castles and landscapes that serve as the setting. The earliest scenes are strongest, generating frisson in their loose energy. As the king, O'Toole strides triumphantly through scenes with spirited combustibility and Burton plays Becket with an amused ease. As the movie gets more serious it gets less fun, suffering most from lengthy stretches where Burton and O'Toole no longer have the luxury of playing off of each other.

Damn near perfect. Now THIS is a heroic saga that can put all the superhero films that are the rage today to shame. Beautifully done in every way

It's an interesting epic, very well told and acted. The themes that run through the film of friendship, loyalty and honor are very well executed and you can really feel for both Burton and O'Toole's characters as the story unfolds.

Jean Anouilh's bitter stage comedy is filmed literally and soberly as a rather anaemic epic, so that the point is lost and the edge blunted. The paucity of physical action causes good scenes to alternate with long stretches of tedium.

Histrionic history lesson, with Burton and O'Toole showing their stuff, or stuffing their show, as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, and His Royal Majesty Henry II, respectively, once inseparable friends, driven apart by the demands of their posts. On the tongues of these actors, talkiness becomes talkier.

I'm not sure why O'Toole felt like ruining a perfectly good movie, but he gets points for doing it in the most ridiculous manner imaginable.