Becket

Two powerful men start as trusted allies in a realm where authority rides on both favors and faith. Thomas Becket is a wily clerk and loyal adviser whose courage and intellect earn Henry II's confidence. When Henry wagers that the crown can bend the church to its will, he elevates Becket to Archbishop of Canterbury hoping to secure a chorus of loyal bishops. The result is a clash of aims that tests friendship, ambition, and conscience. The film follows their shifting partnership through political gambits, wartime diplomacy with Rome, and the rituals that mirror a country in flux. As Becket grapples with spiritual duties, the king presses for obedience, setting collision between secular power and sacred authority that reshapes men.

Directed by Peter Glenville this 1964 drama adapts Jean Anouilh's Becket for the screen with a screenplay by Edward Anhalt and Anouilh. The production pairs a starry lineup led by Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, delivering a stately historical clash.

Becket earned about 9.1 million dollars worldwide, a solid performance for a prestige historical drama of its era. Its box office reflected strong screening demand for large scale English history with lush production values and magnetic on screen leads throughout.

The film helped cement Burton and O'Toole as premier duel-leading stars of the era, and Becket remains a touchstone for courtroom and cathedral drama on screen. Its dialogue and design influenced later epics and stage-to-film adaptations, underscoring the era's appetite for prestige period pieces that shaped audiences' expectations for history.

Critics praised the performances and Glenville's direction, highlighting how the drama probes loyalty, power and conscience without easy answers. The film foregrounds the tension between personal allegiance and institutional duty, offering a measured meditation on leadership, faith and the costs of political maneuvering. It remains a benchmark for screen historicals.