A Man for all Seasons - Clip 1 of 3

[califgirl101]

Incredible! You know, So many years ago I could have seen Orson Welles portraying the role of Henry VII in his later years! It would have been phenomenal!

[ABookworm4Life]

moore's final remark? BUUUURRRN.

[Sascopa]

Absolutely glorious acting + absolutely glorious script = a film of utter brilliance.

[frankg3rd]

At the end of this scene what does the Cardinal say to Moore ? It sounds like you should have been a credit ?????? Which I never got !!! Does anyone know what is said ?

[partschmidt]

He says "You should have been a CLERIC." That's why it's so funny when More retorts "Like yourself, Your Grace?"

[frankg3rd]

@partschmidt Seen this movie in Catholic school ( 4th grade 1976 ). After 34 years and at least 50 view of the movie ....... I finally got my answer !!!!! Thank you !!!!!

[scifiwritir]

At 2:13, he said "Paul, are you going to help me?"

[Stilicho19801]

@scifiwritir  "More, are you going to help me?" Welles pronounced it "Moo-AW".

[Tabish29]

@scifiwritir he said "More.are u going to help me?"

[Silverwire100]

Fred Zinnemann was a great director. Unfortunately, he's become a victim of faulty categorization among his contemporaries.

In recent years, it has been said that he was overrated in his time when compared to someone like Hitchcock. This is true. But just because he wasn't as great as Hitchcock (who is within the highest pantheon of directors), doesn't mean that Zinnemann wasn't a master in his own right. He was.

[partschmidt]

agreed

[lidiabonini]

to whomever is criticizing Thomas More real reasons for denying Henry VIII his divorce, I have a question for you: would a man wealthy, powerful, respected and maybe feared, with a social standing many would kill for even today, give up all that and be be beheaded if not for profound belief and hi moral standards? I think it is high time we stop judging past events with todays sensitivities. It is simply wrong!!! And does justice to no-one.

[robpete82]

@lidiabonini You are totally right! There is violence done to history when a person does not try to put themselves in the place of a person from the 16th century or any other era.

[ericberner]

My top 10 movies of all time as of today: 1. Lawrence Of Arabia 2. Farewell My Concubine 3. A Man For All Seasons 4. Aguirre Wrath Of God 5. Dangerous Liaisons 6. Princess Mononoke 7. Doctor Strangelove 8.  Jaws 9. Andrei Rublev 10. Snow White

[Sampiro]

Another reason I sympathise with Wolsey over More is that the Pope wasn't refusing the divorce for religious reasons- granting divorces to kings with barren wives was pro forma. He denied it because the queen's nephew Charles V (king of Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, etc- the most powerful man Europe would see until Napoleon) had him literally surrounded on all sides and to have granted the divorce would have made Charlie 'not happy'.

More was an ancestor of Robert E. Lee, who revered him.

[eggboyuk]

One of the best films made methinks. Features a great lunatic King, which always helps.

[hartmut1164]

To be honest I found Cardinal Wolsey more sympathetic than Thomas Morus. Wolsey may was corrupt, but at end he cared about the life of the English, who would suffer in repeat of the War of Rose under an other name. More found his righteousness more important than 1000's of dead on the battlefield in a new dynastic war.

[mountainwarriorprod]

@hartmut1164 Uh no. More just wanted to be left alone. But they insisted he approve of something he felt was wrong and killed him because he wouldn't. If everyone stuck to their principles like More did, the world would be a better place.

[hartmut1164]

Henry VIII introduced the modern definition of the state, he used the term "imperial power", borrowed from Roman Law, into England.

Our modern states do not allow us to be "left alone", but do demand absolute allegiance in all matters by their very nature. This was a general development in Europe of this time, leading finally to the Absolute State of the 17th century.

Henry could not allow anyone to be "left alone".

If we all would "struck to our principles", the world be a grave yard.

[mountainwarriorprod]

@hartmut1164 But if he had so much imperial power, why did he need for Sir Thomas More to approve of him getting married yet again.

[hartmut1164]

It was less the question of More's approval, but a demonstration that this "new model of state" also includes the power over religious settlements which the subjects had to accept or commit High Treason.

This was a novelty defining the modern concept of state: Just think on Henry II of England or Emperor Henry IV.

[hartmut1164]

BTW:

Don't count Th. More as fighter for the freedom of conscience: He burned more heretics than Cardinal Wolsey ever did. He even criticized Wolsey of being soft on heretics. More's issue was mainly who has the last say in religious matters: The pope or king and parliament - the conscience of the single individual was was for him of no concern.

[FDWhitehurst]

The single greatest scene ever committed to film.

[stevevandien]

I agree about the quality of this film. The direction, music, soundtrack, cinematography, supporting performances are first-rate. Above all else, the film preserves Paul Scofield's great performance as More --

[stevevandien]

This scene's depth and richness are typical of the film. A perfectly cast Welles as Wolseley matching wits with Scofield's splendid More:) --

[thespotteddog]

Two of the all time giants of acting playing off each other like a fiddle and a bow. Best scene ever? Perhaps. Ranks right up there.

[lichtbroeder]

And they got the costumes right. In "The Tudors" we see in one scene, More and Wolsey standing together with More wearing the chain of office of chancellor - an office he didn't have until after Wolsey's death. Duh.

[ProsperosCloset]

The very best. Also: the Lion in Winter, superlative!

[WithYouSir]

"And we shall have my prayers to fall back on."

[cattycay]

great movie

[SatiricalTruth]

Two legendary titanic actors.

[sharpasaneraser]

@SatiricalTruth three legendary, titanic actors: welles, mckern and scofield.

[akosigundam]

@SatiricalTruth: and THREE Thomases! 

[sharpasaneraser]

wonderful stuff

[roypeter347]

Its St. Thomas More?..

[Poejoy]

I agree, certainly one of the best.