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A Man for All Seasons (1966)

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Average Rating: 7.8/10
Reviews Counted: 28
Fresh: 24 | Rotten: 4

Solid cinematography and enjoyable performances from Paul Scofield and Robert Shaw add a spark to this deliberately paced adaptation of the Robert Bolt play.

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 1

Solid cinematography and enjoyable performances from Paul Scofield and Robert Shaw add a spark to this deliberately paced adaptation of the Robert Bolt play.

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Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 8,639

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Movie Info

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

G, 2 hr. 1 min.

Drama, Classics

Directed By: Fred Zinnemann

In Theaters: Dec 12, 1966 Wide

On DVD: Feb 2, 1999

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

A Man for All Seasons Trailer & Photos

Cast

Paul Scofield
Thomas More
Wendy Hiller
Alice More
Leo McKern
Thomas Cromwell
Robert Shaw
Henry VIII
Orson Welles
Cardinal Wolsey
Susannah York
Margaret More
Nigel Davenport
Duke of Norfolk
John Hurt
Richard Rich
Corin Redgrave
William Roper
Colin Blakely
Matthew
Yootha Joyce
Averil Machin
Martin Boddey
Governor of Tower
Philip Brack
Captain of Guard
Paul Hardwick
Courtier
Eira Heath
Matthew's wife
Thomas Heathcote
Boatman
Michael Latimer
Norfolk's Aide
Cyril Luckham
Archbishop Cranmer
Eric Mason
Executioner
John Nettleton
Jailer
Anthony Nicholls
King's Representative
Vanessa Redgrave
Anne Boleyn
Molly Urquhart
Maid
Matt Zimmerman
Messenger
Jack Gwyllim
Chief Justice

Critic Reviews for A Man for All Seasons

All Critics (28) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (25) | Rotten (4) | DVD (9)

One of the most intelligent religious movies ever made.

February 20, 2009 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

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TIME Magazine

Top Critic

Producer-director Fred Zinnemann has blended all filmmaking elements into an excellent, handsome and stirring film version of A Man For All Seasons.

January 29, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

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A.D. Murphy

Variety

Top Critic

Robert Bolt's boring historical drama functions best as an anthology of British acting styles, circa 1966.

December 13, 2006 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

A Man for All Seasons is a picture that inspires admiration, courage and thought.

May 20, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

Superb movie of More's stand against Henry VIII.

December 21, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Political, religious and personal niceties of the period are streamlined, and the movie concentrates on the impressive steadfastness of Sir Thomas More.

June 24, 2009 Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews

| Comment

Donald J. Levit

ReelTalk Movie Reviews

The dry film, more boring than it had a right to be, nevertheless was sincere and won an Oscar for Best Picture.

March 1, 2008 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Ainda que a abordagem de Zinnemann n�o consiga contornar a natureza essencialmente teatral do roteiro, as atua��es (especialmente de Scofield, brilhante) e os di�logos absurdamente elegantes e bem constru�dos mant�m o filme sempre instigante.

February 9, 2008 Comment

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

Zinnemann proved to be a filmmaker for all seasons.

April 15, 2007 Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star

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Phil Villarreal

Arizona Daily Star

Waiting for More's breaking point provides the only thread of suspense.

February 24, 2007 Full Review Source: Film-Forward.com

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Kent Turner

Film-Forward.com

Prestigious, well turned out piece of British historical drama with enough genuine intrigue and wit to persuade some audiences they aren't watching a history lesson.

February 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

This absorbing film features inventive camerawork and superior production values.

December 13, 2006 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

One man's conviction against the tyranny of Henry VIII makes for an intriguing drama in A Man for All Seasons

November 21, 2006 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy

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Wesley Lovell

Oscar Guy

Splendidly acted by Paul Scofield, who won an Oscar, this version of Robert Bolt's play about the conflict between Church and State suffers from Zinnemann's restrained, middlebrow sensibility.

July 24, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Orson Welles alone relieves the boredom in a marvellous cameo as Cardinal Wolsey. If only they'd let him loose with the whole sorry history...

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Derek Adams

Time Out

It's basically a play, but the script is so good and Scofield is masterful.

November 10, 2005 Comment

Dan Fienberg

Zap2it.com

A film for all seasons.

August 12, 2005 Comment

Tony Medley

tonymedley.com Source: tonymedley.com

Outstanding adaptation of Robert Bolt's play detailing battle between Sir Thomas More and King Henry VIII

July 7, 2005 Comment

Daniel Eagan

Film Journal International

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for A Man for All Seasons

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I saw this play as a kid--I was raised Catholic, so this was seen as the triumph of a martyr for his faith--and saw just last night again on DVD. It's probably one of those stories (like Anna Karenina) that it's interesting to view at different stages of your life. So, now as a mature woman, I saw the story as that

January 10, 2012

Bathsheba Monk

Super Reviewer

With lawerly integrity, Sir Thomas More poltiely defies Henry VIII's increasingly threatening demands that he publically approve of Henry's divorce and break with the Roman Catholic Church. Released in 1966, More's principled, moving and fatal civil disobedience struck a universal chord and made this intricate

March 6, 2008

Greg S

Super Reviewer

A Man for All Seasons Quotes

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1. Thomas More: When statesmen forsake their own private conscience for the sake of their public duties, they lead their country by a short route to chaos.
– Submitted by Chad E (4 months ago)