list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around A Man for All Seasons on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/A_Man_for_All_Seasons/21647/default.aspx Title: A Man for All Seasons
Year: 1966
Director: Fred Zinnemann
Plot: Adapted by Robert Bolt and Constance Willis from Bolt's hit stage play, A Man for All Seasons stars Paul Scofield, triumphantly repeating his stage role as Sir Thomas More. The crux of the film is the staunchly Catholic More's refusal to acknowledge King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw)'s break from the church to divorce his first wife and marry Anne Boleyn (an unbilled Vanessa Redgrave). Sir Thomas willingly goes to the chopping block rather than sacrifice his ideals. Director Fred Zinnemann retains the play's verbosity without sacrificing the film's strong sense of visuals. The impeccably chosen cast includes Wendy Hiller as Sir Thomas' likably contentious wife Alice, John Hurt as the deceitful Richard Rich (More's put-downs of this despicable character provide some of the film's biggest laughs), Orson Welles as a dour Cardinal Woolsey, Leo McKern as the ambitious Thomas Cromwell, and Susannah York as More's daughter Margaret. The "Common Man," an important bridging-the-scenes character in the original play, is removed from the film version, which does just fine without him. A Man for All Seasons won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, as well as seven British Film Academy awards. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 6
Number of Lists: 6
Number of blog posts: 2
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:59:27 GMTA Man for All Seasons1966Fred ZinnemannAdapted by <a href="/players/P____82352/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Robert Bolt</a> and Constance Willis from Bolt's hit stage play, A Man for All Seasons stars <a href="/players/P____64000/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Paul Scofield</a>, triumphantly repeating his stage role as Sir Thomas More. The crux of the film is the staunchly Catholic More's refusal to acknowledge King Henry VIII (<a href="/players/P___111051/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Robert Shaw</a>)'s break from the church to divorce his first wife and marry Anne Boleyn (an unbilled <a href="/players/P____59206/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Vanessa Redgrave</a>). Sir Thomas willingly goes to the chopping block rather than sacrifice his ideals. Director <a href="/players/P___117986/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Fred Zinnemann</a> retains the play's verbosity without sacrificing the film's strong sense of visuals. The impeccably chosen cast includes <a href="/players/P____32374/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Wendy Hiller</a> as Sir Thomas' likably contentious wife Alice, <a href="/players/P____34099/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>John Hurt</a> as the deceitful Richard Rich (More's put-downs of this despicable character provide some of the film's biggest laughs), <a href="/players/P___116368/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Orson Welles</a> as a dour Cardinal Woolsey, <a href="/players/P____47688/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Leo McKern</a> as the ambitious Thomas Cromwell, and <a href="/players/P____78084/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Susannah York</a> as More's daughter Margaret. The "Common Man," an important bridging-the-scenes character in the original play, is removed from the film version, which does just fine without him. A Man for All Seasons won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, as well as seven British Film Academy awards. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide6Taggedy Taggged (6-10)623http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t91572fsr8r.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/A_Man_for_All_Seasons/21647/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/cinemarian/archive/2008/5/13/28887.aspx Post By: CinemaRian
Post To: CinemaRian Blog
Post Date: 5/13/2008 4:59:39 AM
Body: Continung my marathon of Best Picture Academy Award winners, we come to the victor of 1966. And although it seems like it would three cherries on the jackpot for me (combining politics, religion, and England), I found A Man for All Seasons to be exactly what it looks like: a dull costume drama. This is ironic, as I read of a review of the film that defends its award by saying the movie is "more exciting than it looks." Disagree! I'm not going to attempt a full plot summary because I would have to include pages worth of historical background (which is one problem with understanding the film). To make a huge simplicifaction, Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England (Paul Schofield), is caught between the church and his king when the pope refuses to grand King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) a divorce. When Henry decides to break away from Rome and form his own church (now the Anglican communion or Episcopal church) he forces everyone to take a loyalty oath, and More refuses. He also refuses to aide some members of the Catholic church, meaning that he is attacked on all sides, and the movie's point appears to be that he is the only one in the whole affair with any integrity. The movie is well acted and looks decent, but suffers from a terminal lack of energy. There is just no reason to care about what is happening on the screen. I think that this is the fault of the director, Fred Zinneman, as the movie is based on an interesting historical event and adaptated by Robert Bolt (David Lean's screenwriter) from his play. Although I did make it to the end, I just could not fully devote my attention to the film the whole time. Zinnemann never really turns the material into the movie and there is way, way too much dialouge. An interesting anedecote to end a review of a very uninteresting film: in 1988 a certain actor starred in and directed a remake of this film. An actor, that based on his previous parts, would not be the first on most list to be play a respected British statements. That actor's name? Charlton Heston. A Man for All Seasons (1966)
]]>Tue, 13 May 2008 08:59:39 GMTCinemaRianCinemaRian Blog5/13/2008 4:59:39 AMContinung my marathon of Best Picture Academy Award winners, we come to the victor of 1966. And although it seems like it would three cherries on the jackpot for me (combining politics, religion, and England), I found A Man for All Seasons to be exactly what it looks like: a dull costume drama. This is ironic, as I read of a review of the film that defends its award by saying the movie is "more exciting than it looks." Disagree! I'm not going to attempt a full plot summary because I would have to include pages worth of historical background (which is one problem with understanding the film). To make a huge simplicifaction, Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor of England (Paul Schofield), is caught between the church and his king when the pope refuses to grand King Henry VIII (Robert Shaw) a divorce. When Henry decides to break away from Rome and form his own church (now the Anglican communion or Episcopal church) he forces everyone to take a loyalty oath, and More refuses. He also refuses to aide some members of the Catholic church, meaning that he is attacked on all sides, and the movie's point appears to be that he is the only one in the whole affair with any integrity. The movie is well acted and looks decent, but suffers from a terminal lack of energy. There is just no reason to care about what is happening on the screen. I think that this is the fault of the director, Fred Zinneman, as the movie is based on an interesting historical event and adaptated by Robert Bolt (David Lean's screenwriter) from his play. Although I did make it to the end, I just could not fully devote my attention to the film the whole time. Zinnemann never really turns the material into the movie and there is way, way too much dialouge. An interesting anedecote to end a review of a very uninteresting film: in 1988 a certain actor starred in and directed a remake of this film. An actor, that based on his previous parts, would not be the first on most list to be play a respected British statements. That actor's name? Charlton Heston. A Man for All Seasons (1966) http://www.spout.com/blogs/jakestevens/archive/2007/10/9/20554.aspx Post By: JakeStevens
Post To: JakeStevens Blog
Post Date: 10/9/2007 8:13:18 PM
Body: 1966's Academy Award Winner for Best Picture hasn't aged well in my opinion, and although the script is tight and well-written, it's unfortunate that it's extremely biased about Sir Thomas More's life. Apart from that, I have to say I found it hard to watch King Henry VIII without thinking of those annoying Burger King commercials. I can't say I much approve of the 60's choices of Best Picture Winners thus far that I've seen. Oh well, whatever.
]]>Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:13:18 GMTJakeStevensJakeStevens Blog10/9/2007 8:13:18 PM1966&#39;s Academy Award Winner for Best Picture hasn&#39;t aged well in my opinion, and although the script is tight and well-written, it&#39;s unfortunate that it&#39;s extremely biased about Sir Thomas More&#39;s life. Apart from that, I have to say I found it hard to watch King Henry VIII without thinking of those annoying Burger King commercials. I can&#39;t say I much approve of the 60&#39;s choices of Best Picture Winners thus far that I&#39;ve seen. Oh well, whatever. http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/religion/MemberTagFilms.aspxreligion
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