Following the Norman Conquest, King Henry II (Peter O'Toole) now rules England alongside the French aristocracy. After hitting speed bumps with the clergy, he sees his opportunity for a power play when the Archbishop of Canterbury dies and appoints his loyal friend and confidant Thomas Becket (Richard Burton) to the post. However, the honorable Becket hears a calling from God and begins to take his duties seriously, often clashing with the king, and causing the weak leader to reassess the terms of their friendship. Peter Glenville's film adaptation of Jean Anouilh's stage play "Becket" is a costume drama, done to the highest degree and featuring two lions of the British cinema's finest actors in career defining roles. Both nominated in the Best Actor category for their performances, Burton and O'Toole give completely divergent and entirely effective performances as a brave stoic and a drunken clod, respectively. The great actor John Gielgud also delivers a wonderful supporting turn as King Louis VII of France. "Becket" is a grand entertainment, wonderfully staged and written, and also an extra special delight we are given the pleasure of watching two of film's greatest actors go toe-to-toe in some the of the best work of their remarkable careers.
