Man for All Seasons [Blu-ray]

My favorite Movie of all time and fairly accurate historically. It presents the man as he was with all his flaws but also his greatness. I wish that the film had been able to present a more complete biography, but it would take 6 or 7 hours to do so and that was not possible for a film (maybe a mini-series, but it would have lost its impact). Sir Thomas More was a lawyer who was the son of a Lawyer. He was a brilliant man who knew Latin and Greek and had studied the Roman and Greek writings available to him at the time. He was a friend of Erasmus, the ultimate intellectual of the age. He was also a devout Catholic in an age Lutheran revolt. The film does not cover this aspect of his life, but as Chancellor of England, he was responsible for burning Protestants at the stake pursuant to law. Not admirable by modern standards, but we should not judge him by modern standards, but by standard of his own time. The film is based on Robert Bolt's play and presents short period of the lives of both Sir Thomas More and King Henry the 8th. The acting is outstanding, Orson Welles is Cardinal Woolsey and well cast, and the actor who plays Thomas Cromwell is also excellent (He also played Rumple of the Bailey for BBC)---All the other actors are excellent, even the minor ones. The movie covers the events around Henry the 8th's divorce (actually an annulment in modern terms) of Catherine of Aragon and his marriage to Ann Boleyn wherein England left the Roman Catholic Church. The film accurately shows King Henry to be an intellectual well versed in history, law and Catholic theology---he was not an intellectual light weight. He was a man willing to do wrong and rationalize it effectively and he was a tyrant willing to pervert justice and english law to gain his ends. He appointed Sir Thomas More to be his Chancellor replacing Cardinal Woolsey, but he miss judged More's allegiance to English law and Catholic theology. It accurately presents Henry as a very orthodox Catholic, but who threw off the authority of the Bishop of Rome, aka, the Pope. Henry believed More would as a loyal British subject support his king. More was loyal to Henry, but gave his greatest allegiance to God and upheld Roman Catholic and British law. Things not included are that Henry and More together wrote a rebuttal to Luther in around 1520 (7 or 8 years prior to the events in this movie) which caused the Pope to give Henry the title of "Defender of the Faith." More, a commoner, but a brilliant lawyer was a member of Henry's court by virtue of his amazing intellect and learning which Henry appreciated as he was also an very learned man. All Characters are presented sympathetically in the film, but when great moral questions arise, people have to make decisions. My wife thinks More made the wrong decision, I disagree but understand her view. Last historical tidbit, Sir Thomas More was made a Saint of the Catholic Church which may surprise people who think all attorneys are in league with the devil---being an attorney, I appreciate that, even though I am a Protestant and kind of don't like burning Protestants.

This is an absolutely exquisite edition of this classic film. The color, the sharpness, and the quality of the audio are superb. I have seen this film in many formats, starting with a theatrical viewing in the year of its release. This may be the best looking version ever. As far as the film is concerned, it is a gripping classic, brilliantly written, acted, directed, photographed, etc…. The script has much to say about personal freedom, law, and justice, that is still relevant today. Scofield's somewhat reserved, understated performance plays beautifully alongside the explosive Robert Shaw. John Hurt and Leo McKern are standouts, with a supporting cast that is world-class.

This is one of my favorite films ever. I watch it just about once a year. From the very beginning, as strident chords resound while the camera alternately glimpses the English countryside and follows the King's courtier in a row boat up the Thames on his way to summon Thomas More to court, we are transported back in time to the 16th century. Great music, direction, pacing, acting, dialogue, everything. The film has a beauty about it that I wish I'd see in more films. Fred Zinnemann's use of shots of surrounding landscapes at various intervals throughout the film should be studied by all students of film. Witness a man who refused to compromise his convictions and paid the ultimate price. More was one of only a handful of influential people in England who had the courage to refuse to go along with Henry VIII's shenanigans. We know what human beings are capable of regarding evil. More's action is a testament to what human beings are capable of moving in the opposite direction--sacrifice for a cause that is dear to one's heart and soul, in this case the cause being the sanctity of the marriage vow. My favorite quote from the film: "When statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos."

This is simply one of the greatest movies ever made...certainly the screenplay, by Robert Bolt, is one of the greatest ever. While it may lack some of the wordplay of Shakespeare, it lacks none of the depth. For the thinking man, it can hardly get better than this. Add in terrific performances by all involved, and you have as near a perfect film as it's possible to get, imho. (The interchange between Thomas and Alice, his wife, in the Tower of London prior to his beheading makes me cry every time, just as Thomas' remark about Wales to Richard in court makes me laugh :)

Fred Zinnemann outdid himself. The grave beauty of the images, the regal music, Robert Shaw's explosiveness as Henry the Eighth, Paul Scofield's patience as the noose of conspiracy tightens around him.Leo McKern gives an Oscar performance, but he couldn't win because he plays a villain.The refrain, "This isn't Spain, this is England!" intended to justify the wrongdoing, actually has a sinister irony, since what is going on at the court of Henry the 8th is no different from the cruelties of the Spanish Inquisition.The voice under the end credits tell us what we need to hear after the tragedy: "Cromwell was headed five years later for high treason, the Archbishop was burned at the stake. The Duke of Norfolk should have been beheaded, but the King died of syphilis the night before."Many think this the best film of all time. If it isn't, it's certainly close.

I have owned a DVD copy of this wonderful film for at least 20 years and I never tire of watching it. In fact, and without exaggeration, I must have watched it hundreds and hundreds of times. This new Blu-ray re-scan of the film and its provision as a DVD too is a great improvement on the quality of the picture and I was knocked out by just how much it has been improved.However, no amount of re-scanning could improve upon what I personally consider to be the height of Directorial expertise and superb acting performances from the whole cast. It also achieves something that many films depicting this era; it seems to bring that era to life.One more however, however, there are two versions in book and film form as to the character of Sir Thomas More; one as a devout Catholic who will not go against the literal command of the bible and one as a Fundamentalist Catholic who was prepared to put men to the rack in order to save their soles, as in the series Wolf Hall (Well worth watching).As a convinced atheist, the religious goings in the play simply confirm my rejection of the existence of a God but, by ignoring this aspect of his portrayal in this film and Wolf Hall I find no clash with the religious plotting that brought Sir Thomas More to his end.Quite simply, if you haven't seen this film then for the past 53 years you have been denying yourself the opportunity to experience a true masterpiece.

The acting is depicted “as it was”.......seems so authentic to the times. Robert Shaw as Henry V111, his personal conflicts evident by the ranges of temperament.The fearful apprehension of the King’s power and that temperament of what “might come next“.The position Cardinal Wolsey put Thomas More in by naming him as his successor (if he did) knowing full well More could not reconcile the King’s wishes for divorce by rationalising his marriage as not “legal”.Paul Schofield depicts the person of Thomas More, the writing is carefully thought out.Raises discussion about the Pope, Christian belief, and a massive turning point in British history, all brought about by one man, a King, who was so worried about accession, needing a son, and the accession of female off spring.Fascinating.

Quite often, films that are supposed to be excellent prove to be merely OK or worse, but this one really is as good as its reputation suggests.I don't want to spoil the plot for anyone who hasn't seen it yet, so I will simply say that it is an excellent film of an excellent play, with excellent acting.Anyone with an interest in questions of ethics and morality will find this an interesting and absorbing film, which rewards being watched and re-watched, and will also provide much material for discussion and reflection.Highly recommended.

A classic film, absorbing, well scripted and well acted. I was a little dubious of the seemingly cheap pricing of a blu ray DVD but I have to say the quality was excellent. A Man For All Seasons is a must have film for all those fascinated by the Tudor dynasty and the portrayal of Thomas Moore is both thought provoking and poignant. Once again, Amazon's pricing was competitive, delivery faultless and the sealed DVD was in pristine cobdition

I waited many years to be able to see this film and it WAS worth the wait. A stellar cast, Rbt.Shaw, Paul Scofield, John Hurt, Wendy Hiller and known faces of Cyril Luckham and Thomas Heathcote, so many. Some were already well-known and others were to go on to other, bigger things. This film even though nearly 2 hours is unable to cover very much of the history of the time and does very well to achieve what it does. I saw John Hurt in what I believe to be his first feature a few years before this (The Wild and The Willing) and he, in my opinion is one of the Worlds Leading Actors, Best Actors. Love the bit when Shaw jumps from the boat and all the lackies follow, a lighter moment in a serious historical film. Wonderful screenplay from Rbt. Bolt and Zinneman Directs with his usual excellence.