A Man for All Seasons (1966)

Synopsis of A Man for All Seasons

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, Rovi

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Theatrical Feature Running Time:

120 mins

Director(s):

Fred Zinnemann

Writer(s):

Robert Bolt, Constance Willis

Producer(s):

Fred Zinnemann

Theatrical MPAA Rating:

G(Questionable for Children, Adult Situations)

• 1967 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best British Film
• 1967 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Cinematography for Color [British]
• 1967 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best British Actor
• 1967 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Art Direction for a Color British Film
• 1967 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Film - Any Source
• 1967 - British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Best Screenplay for a British Film
• 1966 - Directors Guild of America - Best Director
• 1966 - Golden Globe - Best Picture - Drama
• 1966 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Picture - Drama
• 1966 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Screenplay
• 1966 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Director
• 1966 - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
• 1966 - National Board of Review - Best Picture
• 1966 - National Board of Review - Best Director
• 1966 - National Board of Review - Best Actor
• 1966 - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actor
• 1966 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Director
• 1966 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Actor
• 1966 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Screenplay
• 1966 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Picture

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