Becket

Two of Britain’s most extravagantly gifted actors collide in powerful performances, in this sumptuously filmed 1964 classic, now magnificently restored. Peter O’Toole (Venus; Troy; Goodbye, Mr. Chips; The Lion in Winter; Lord Jim; Lawrence of Arabia) stars as tempestuous Henry II, who, on a whim, makes his boyhood chum the Archbishop of Canterbury. The king expects his carousing to continue with Thomas à Becket’s blessing (Richard Burton, The Wild Geese, The Gathering Storm, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, Wagner). But the old friends are soon caught in a deadly entanglement of religion, politics and a sub-current of homoerotic attraction. You’ll run for cover as sparks fly in this awesome battle between the king and his conscience, portrayed by O’Toole and Burton in their prime. Sir John Gielgud also stars as wily King Louis VII of France. Extras include commentary by Peter O’Toole, original trailers, more.